Improvement of the road network is essential for land transportation, which is a major means of domestic transportation. National Route 36 connecting Sapporo with Muroran via Chitose is a particularly important road with heavy traffic. Also, the Hokkaido North-South Expressway connecting Kenbuchi, Sapporo, Chitose and Tomakomai has opened as far as Kunnui, and is being extended to eventually connect Hakodate in southern Hokkaido and Hokkaido's northernmost city, Wakkanai. This expressway is connected to the Hokkaido East-West Expressway at Chitose-Eniwa Junction. For the latter expressway, the section between Chitose and Yubari is in operation already, and will be extended to Obihiro, Kitami and Kushiro, and further to Nemuro in the future. Chitose is thus an important location as an access point to major industrial highways.

Expressways link Chitose to the ports of Tomakomai, Muroran and Otaru, where large ferries depart. Sea transportation to cities outside Hokkaido is easily accessible from Chitose. Regular international container service to North America, Asia operates from Tomakomai Port, which is 25 km (or 30 minutes by car) from Chitose.

The JR Chitose Line has the largest transportation capacity of any line in Hokkaido and links with New Chitose Airport in the basement of the airport's Passenger Terminal, further enhancing convenience. The JR Minami Chitose Station is a junction of the Sekisho Line to central and eastern Hokkaido. There is also a complete freight network, including high-speed freight train service to Honshu (mainland Japan) through the Seikan Tunnel.