El Calafate has its own airport, Aeropuerto Internacional Comandante Armando Tola (FTE), about 20 km from town. Aerolíneas Argentinas and LADE operate regular flights from Buenos Aires (Aeroparque and Ezeiza), and there are seasonal connections from Bariloche and Ushuaia. The flight from Buenos Aires takes about three hours. A taxi or remis from the airport into town takes 20–30 minutes.
By bus, El Calafate is connected to Río Gallegos (four hours), El Chaltén (three hours), and Puerto Natales in Chile (five hours). The long-distance bus terminal is a short walk from the centre.
Driving from Buenos Aires is possible but takes several days — most visitors fly.