Dec 8, 2015, 10:11 am
Last edit by: TWA884
Sacramento International Airport - SMF / KSMF
Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County, California
N.B. There is a discussion and preview thread about SMF Terminal B here.
GOING TO SMF
DRIVING TO SMF VIA PRIVATE / RENTED VEHICLE
SMF is 10 miles northwest of Sacramento immediately north of Interstate 5 (connects San Diego to Seattle). (Note: there is an on-airport gasoline / petrol station for those renting from SMF.)
From San Francisco or Lake Tahoe, use I-80 to I-5 northbound (Woodland and Seattle). From Stockton use I-5 (or US 99 connecting to I-5 via I-80 westbound) northbound. From I-5 north the airport is 10 miles "southbound" (east) of Woodland. The airport is 0.5 miles north of the Interstate 5 on Airport Boulevard.
For GPS, use the address 6900 Airport Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95837
SMF / KSMF / Sacramento International Airport website: link
Exiting north from I-5, proceed according to the map:
GETTING TO AND FROM TERMINAL "A"
Follow signage and keep to Airport Boulevard East - a one way multi-lane road running counterclockwise will take you to an area you can stop and drop off or pick up passengers. Parking or stopping for any length of time to wait is prohibited; the Sheriffs are quite quick to get you to move on. A free cellular / mobile phone lot at the airport entry, west side, is the best place to stop to wait for arriving passengers to call drivers.
GETTING TO AND FROM TERMINAL "B"
Folow signage and keep to Airport Boulevard West - the new terminal includes a two level roadway, running clockwise. The upper level is for departures and the lower level serves arriving passengers and baggage claim. Passengers departing or arriving on Southwest will find it easiest to use the West side; those using all other airlines will find it easier using the East side.
GETTING AROUND SMF
Courtesy shuttle busses travel four routes: between terminals, to parking lots (daily and economy are separate) and to the rental car center. These are all accessible. One can walk or use a wheelchair between terminals, which are connected via the parking garage - but note that though the garage has a ceiling, it is not enclosed fully.
SECURITY at SMF / Sacramento International Airport
Currently, there are Priority lines at SMF - Terminal A; at Terminal B it is on your far left, separate from the non-priority queue entries. There are now TSA PreCheck queues at both SMF terminals (October 17 2013); the SMF website does offer indications of how long it is taking to transit security.
Terminal A has PreCheck,
Terminal B:
-Along the far left wall is the known crewmember checkpoint
-In the middle are two lines: PreCheck, which splits off to the left, and general boarding, which splits off to the right.
-Along the far right wall is the Premier/First Class/Business Select/etc line.
For international arrivals there are now Global Entry kiosks.
PARKING
Parking varies considerably, from the parking garage to "economy" lots; best thing for current information is to visit the SMF parking map and click on the appropriate garage / lot number for current rates.
"Cell phone lot" / waiting area: This area offers free parking for a short period of time for occupied vehicles whose occupants are waiting for passengers, who can call them when they arrive. This allows comfortable waiting within five minutes of any terminal, without causing congestion (and inviting a ticket from the officers patrolling the arrivals area, where waiting is not permitted).
TRANSPORTATION to/from SMF / Sacramento International Airport
TAXIS (SITOA airport authorized taxis at SMF) in Sacramento charge
- $3 flag drop, $2.50 for each additional mile
- Rate to wait is $25 per hour
- One way SMF to Sacramento downtown is $33.00
- Round-trip between SMF and downtown Sacramento is $66.00
- Waiting is charged at $25 hourly
- Seniors and military personnel are eligible for a 20% discount
- Uber is $20 SMF - downtown
- SMF - Roseville approx. $80
- See SMF TaxiFareFinder for more fares
To / from the Arden area, 12 miles, approximately:
- Bus Service 17.00 USD
- Limousine 75.00 USD
- SuperShuttle (Executive Premier Limo Inc.)
- Rental Car 40.00 USD
- Taxi 50.00 USD
These prices are approximate.
From downtown, 10 miles, approximately:
- YoloBus Bus Service $2.00 USD
- Limousine 85.00 USD
- SuperShuttle (Executive Premier Limo Inc.)
- Taxi 35.00 USD
- Uber, $20.00 USD
SHUTTLE SERVICE
SuperShuttle serves Sacramento International Airport via Executive Premier Limo Inc. The options offered are non-stop shuttle vans, not shared rides, and black car service.
BUS
Sacramento, Davis and Woodland, Yolo County
Yolo County Transportation District's Yolobus offers two routes, 42A (clockwise) and 42B (counterclockwise) that connect SMF to Sacramento, Davis and Woodland (clockwise) and the reverse. Service is approximately hourly beginning at 5:24 AM and ending at 10:22 PM at SMF. PDF schedules etc. here, and fares and passes information is here.
These also offer the option of connecting with AMTRAK's California Capitol services to the SF Bay area at the Davis or Sacramento AMTRAK stations. Check here and here for California Capitol schedules, ticket prices, etc.
Sacramento Regional Transit District serves Sacramento International Airport as of January, 2020 via SacRT’s Airport Express Bus, Route 142, offering direct service between downtown Sacramento and Terminals A and B. Route 142 operates every 60 minutes, seven days a week. The current operating hours are between 5:15am (first downtown departure) and 10:33pm (last airport departure). They hope to restore the service to every 30 minutes on August 28, 2022. The fare is $2.50 for a single ride, $1.25 for discounted eligible riders and free for students in grades TK through 12.
RENTAL CARS and FUEL
All rental car companies at Sacramento International Airport are located at the central rental car terminal. Take the Rental Car Terminal Shuttle busses for acccess to all on-airport rental car agencies listed:
Rental Car Agencies
- Advance Rent A Car ** (916) 442-1362
- Alamo (800) 327-9633
- Avis (916) 922-5601
- Budget (800) 763-2999
- Dollar (800) 800-4000
- Enterprise (800) 736-8227
- Hertz (800) 654-3131
- National (800) 227-7366
- Payless Car Rental ** (800) 729-5377
* *Off airport fleet
Gasoline Station
There is an ARCO station near the entrance to the airport, #22 on the map, to top up your rental vehicle.
AIRPORT LOUNGES AT SMF
Each terminal has an Escape Lounge, accessible by membership, $43.10 per person fee or American Express Platinum Card members (who may guest in up to two others)
LODGING NEAR SMF
The Host Airport Hotel at Sacramento International Airport (across from the old Terminal B complex) closed July 31, 2008, to make way for the new Terminal B construction. A new 135 room Hyatt Place was to be built adjacent to the parking garage, but that may not happen. In the meantime:
Several hotels do provide complimentary shuttle services to / from SMF airport.
Hotels providing shuttle services include
- Fairfield Inn & Suites – 10 miles
- Four Points by Sheraton – 8 miles
- Hampton Inn – 7 miles (N. Natomas)
- Hampton Inn - Woodland – 10 miles
- Holiday Inn Express – 7 miles (N. Natomas)
- Hilton Garden Inn S. Natomas – 11 miles (my go-to hotel, free overnight and ~up to 10 days parking, free hourly airport shuttle)
- Homewood Suites by Hilton - 7 miles (N. Natomas)
- La Quinta Inn – 11 miles
- Quality Inn Natomas – 12 miles
- Ramada Limited – 11 miles
- Vagabond Executive – 12 miles
OTHER AIRPORT SERVICES
Lost and Found"The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, Airport Division manages the lost and found program at Sacramento International Airport. Please visit the Lost & Found Web page to report your lost item. Please call (916) 874.0701 and leave a detailed message concerning your lost object. The Sheriffs frequently listen to these messages and will return your call if they have the object. If the item has been lost on board an aircraft, please contact your airline directly."
Paging "Paging is managed by the Sacramento International Airport Communications Center. Please call (916) 929.5411 and press the appropriate prompt key to reach the operator."
WiFi / Wireless Internet - FlySacramento is the net name you should use. You will be required to watch a brief advert for free WiFi."Sacramento International Airport has free wireless Internet (WiFi) service throughout the indoor, public areas of the airport. SMF’s Wi-Fi network has 4 T1 connection, which provides users with speeds of up to 1.5 Mbps. The Wi-Fi 802.11b/g technology allows for speeds up to 54 Mbps, but throughput is governed by the speed at which the device is connected."
Contact Information:
Sacramento International Airport
6900 Airport Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95837
(916) 929.5411
air-market <at> saccounty.net
Pilot Information link
Airport FAQ link
Typical Nonstop Destinations from SMF will change) (Use SMF Flight Search for more information)Atlanta, GA
Baltimore, MD
Boise, ID
Burbank, CA
Charlotte, NC
Chicago (Midway), IL
Chicago (O’Hare), IL
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Guadalajara, Mexico
Honolulu, HI
Houston (Intercontinental), TX
Las Vegas, NV
Long Beach, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Los Cabos, Mexico (2017)
Maui (Kahului), HI
Mexico City, Mexico
Minneapolis, MN
New York (JFK), NY
Ontario, CA
Orange County, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Portland, OR
Salt Lake City, UT
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Washington, D.C.
Please use SMF Flight Search to find nonstop and direct flights to your destination or return.
Sacramento International Airport / SMF - the definitive thread
Dec 8, 2015, 8:25 am
#76
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
Hee hee! I have to visit family in Woodland twice a year and even then I avoid staying in Woodland!
Lots of limited service options in Natomas as mentioned above. Uber to Downtown Sacramento is under $20
Lots of limited service options in Natomas as mentioned above. Uber to Downtown Sacramento is under $20
Dec 8, 2015, 10:06 am
#77
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Uber is ~$20 to downtown Sacramento, the SITOA taxis from the airport are $33.
I usually stay at the Hilton Garden In. South Natomas off Garden Highway; their courtesy shuttle will pick you up on demand, and have shuttle outbound to the airport every hour.
Terminal A is still not done with its restaurants offerings and refurbishments. It's getting tedious. And of course power, unlike Terminal B where both standard AC and USB ports are available for nearly every seat, Terminal A is deficient in this amenity.
I usually stay at the Hilton Garden In. South Natomas off Garden Highway; their courtesy shuttle will pick you up on demand, and have shuttle outbound to the airport every hour.
Terminal A is still not done with its restaurants offerings and refurbishments. It's getting tedious. And of course power, unlike Terminal B where both standard AC and USB ports are available for nearly every seat, Terminal A is deficient in this amenity.
Dec 8, 2015, 9:18 pm
#78
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: SNA
Posts: 410
Thanks all. We'll actually have a rental car. We're going up to Napa, which I know isn't very far, but we're going to be flying in late after a long day, and want to just crash somewhere nearby rather than driving out there (into unfamiliar territory) that night. Then we'll get an early start the next morning. So no need for shuttles or Ubers, just a safe and quiet place to sleep and avoid the hour+ drive in the middle of the night.
We were also considering finding somewhere in Davis which is kind of splitting the difference, but it seems like there are almost no options there, and also if we're going to drive that far we might as well just keep going?
We were also considering finding somewhere in Davis which is kind of splitting the difference, but it seems like there are almost no options there, and also if we're going to drive that far we might as well just keep going?
Dec 8, 2015, 10:13 pm
#79
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Thanks all. We'll actually have a rental car. We're going up to Napa, which I know isn't very far, but we're going to be flying in late after a long day, and want to just crash somewhere nearby rather than driving out there (into unfamiliar territory) that night. Then we'll get an early start the next morning. So no need for shuttles or Ubers, just a safe and quiet place to sleep and avoid the hour+ drive in the middle of the night.
We were also considering finding somewhere in Davis which is kind of splitting the difference, but it seems like there are almost no options there, and also if we're going to drive that far we might as well just keep going?
We were also considering finding somewhere in Davis which is kind of splitting the difference, but it seems like there are almost no options there, and also if we're going to drive that far we might as well just keep going?
Dec 8, 2015, 11:43 pm
#80
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Thanks all. We'll actually have a rental car. We're going up to Napa, which I know isn't very far, but we're going to be flying in late after a long day, and want to just crash somewhere nearby rather than driving out there (into unfamiliar territory) that night. Then we'll get an early start the next morning. So no need for shuttles or Ubers, just a safe and quiet place to sleep and avoid the hour+ drive in the middle of the night.
We were also considering finding somewhere in Davis which is kind of splitting the difference, but it seems like there are almost no options there, and also if we're going to drive that far we might as well just keep going?
We were also considering finding somewhere in Davis which is kind of splitting the difference, but it seems like there are almost no options there, and also if we're going to drive that far we might as well just keep going?
There's a hotel cluster down I-5 from SMF, just a few minutes' drive, including a Homewood Suites, a Holiday Inn (3001 Advantage Dr., Sacramento) and a Hampton Inn. These are all next to each other on Advantage drive, reached by going south on I-5 to East on Del Paso Rd. and south on E. Commerce, immediately west on Advantage.
In the morning, continue a very short bit to the I-80 west and you're on your way to Napa.
Jan 30, 2016, 7:52 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Ugh, sounds like one of my travel nightmares, glad you made your flight! Looks like I'll be sticking to the ticket+manned kiosk process, then. Wish they'd get the machines fixed, or at least have a pay before you leave the terminal machine like at other airports and parking garages. 
Feb 19, 2016, 6:45 pm
#84
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Just saw it announced that Sacramento is getting new nonstop service to BWI on WN starting Aug 7. This route should come close to WN's currently longest route, OAK-BWI. It'll be nice to have a nonstop to the east coast on Southwest.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacrament...new-route.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacrament...new-route.html
Feb 19, 2016, 9:47 pm
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Just saw it announced that Sacramento is getting new nonstop service to BWI on WN starting Aug 7. This route should come close to WN's currently longest route, OAK-BWI. It'll be nice to have a nonstop to the east coast on Southwest.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacrament...new-route.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacrament...new-route.html
Jul 7, 2016, 10:57 pm
#86
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Good news for those of us who may fly internationally occasionally to/from SMF. 2 Global Entry kiosks have now been added within terminal B. While Guadalajara and Mexico City are the only international destinations I know of, this is still a welcome change.
Jul 7, 2016, 11:11 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Wow that's awesome. I haven't done the Mexico flights yet but this is still good news.