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
Aug 29, 2017, 10:11 am
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Fantastic News for us SMF flyers. Southwest just announced new nonstop service to 5 additional cities starting next spring (March-May): Cabo San Lucas, Austin, St Louis, New Orleans, and Orlando.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...169716642.html
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...169716642.html
MCO is nice too, but 5-6 hours of WN doesn't sound ideal.
AS did recently also add SMF-SJD but it's only once a week as well so I don't count this as an improvement.
Aug 29, 2017, 2:29 pm
#122
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Aug 30, 2017, 8:43 am
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: DL PM, MR Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 10,130
National doesn't close at midnight, but they do close for a few hours after the arrival of the last flight. You should be fine to pick it up if you want to, as there are a few other flights that arrive after midnight (ie, UA from both LAX and SFO at 12:30am).
If your flight was heavily delayed you might run the risk of not being able to get it, but I doubt you'll be the last one in as AS tends to run a pretty on time operation to and from SEA.
If your flight was heavily delayed you might run the risk of not being able to get it, but I doubt you'll be the last one in as AS tends to run a pretty on time operation to and from SEA.
Aug 30, 2017, 9:00 am
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
There are also a couple of redeyes that leave between 12:30-1am (DL to MSP and AA to DFW) so people do return cars at late hours also.
The SMF airport isn't quite a 24 hour operation yet, but it's getting there.
Sep 13, 2017, 2:16 pm
#125
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NorCal
Posts: 658
You're going North Tahoe, right? If you're going South, then you'd have to backtrack and you may as well just stay in the Natomas area.
Sep 21, 2017, 8:19 am
#126
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Aluminum, WN B+
Posts: 929
SMF named best airport in the country
SMF, in the midsize category, also had a higher score than the top airports in the other two categories: large airport (SNA) and mega airport (MCO).
^
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...174504066.html
^
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...174504066.html
Sep 21, 2017, 11:29 am
#127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
SMF, in the midsize category, also had a higher score than the top airports in the other two categories: large airport (SNA) and mega airport (MCO).
^
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...174504066.html
^
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...174504066.html
Sep 21, 2017, 12:27 pm
#128
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
SMF, in the midsize category, also had a higher score than the top airports in the other two categories: large airport (SNA) and mega airport (MCO).
^
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...174504066.html
^
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/tra...174504066.html
The challenges include connecting between the terminals, lack of airport hotel and hours of some of the retailers and restaurants, as stated by PV_Premier.
One reason I sometimes avoid SMF is higher prices on some routings. I use SFO, OAK and SJC for lower fares regularly. Significantly lower fares.
Nov 23, 2017, 10:16 am
#129
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: PHX
Programs: AA Aluminum, WN B+
Posts: 929
Heads up for AA flyers: when I was in and out of SMF over the weekend I saw AA is now using gates A5, A11, and A13 in addition to the normal A2 and A4. I don't know if there's any others down the long wing that they're also using and whether this is permanent or just for increased holiday traffic
So make sure you check your gate before blindly turning right after security.
So make sure you check your gate before blindly turning right after security.
Nov 25, 2017, 7:13 pm
#130
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Heads up for AA flyers: when I was in and out of SMF over the weekend I saw AA is now using gates A5, A11, and A13 in addition to the normal A2 and A4. I don't know if there's any others down the long wing that they're also using and whether this is permanent or just for increased holiday traffic
So make sure you check your gate before blindly turning right after security.
So make sure you check your gate before blindly turning right after security.
same for DL. As schedules have increased they've also bled over into A10 and 12
Dec 1, 2017, 10:48 am
#131
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Air Canada just announced flights between YVR and SMF starting May 17, 2018. Another great improvement for service to Sacramento. It will be great to no longer have to transit through SFO or SEA when flying to Canada.
https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramen...to-canada.html
https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramen...to-canada.html
Dec 1, 2017, 11:22 am
#132
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Air Canada just announced flights between YVR and SMF starting May 17, 2018. Another great improvement for service to Sacramento. It will be great to no longer have to transit through SFO or SEA when flying to Canada.
https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramen...to-canada.html
https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramen...to-canada.html
This is awesome for being able to take advantage of cheaper J fares out of YVR, too!
Dec 22, 2017, 1:07 am
#133
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: central California
Posts: 143
I have a question: I'm flying out of SMF Saturday (My first time at that airport), and I'm a bit confused about the security checkpoint. I'm used to SFO where there are separate boarding lines but from the pictures I see online I only see TSA pre and general lines....is there a line for either FC or disabled? If so, where is it? I'm flying out of Terminal B, the wiki says there is a line all the way to the left but pictures only show TSA Pre. (If anyone happens to spot a redhead in a wheelchair at SMF Saturday feel free to say hi !)
Dec 22, 2017, 10:39 am
#134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
I have a question: I'm flying out of SMF Saturday (My first time at that airport), and I'm a bit confused about the security checkpoint. I'm used to SFO where there are separate boarding lines but from the pictures I see online I only see TSA pre and general lines....is there a line for either FC or disabled? If so, where is it? I'm flying out of Terminal B, the wiki says there is a line all the way to the left but pictures only show TSA Pre. (If anyone happens to spot a redhead in a wheelchair at SMF Saturday feel free to say hi !)
If you are navigating on your own, there should be someone (either an airport employee or TSA person) at the head of the line checking boarding passes who can direct you to the disabled checkpoint access.
Dec 22, 2017, 12:35 pm
#135
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: central California
Posts: 143
I am PRE (and also rarely fly out of B), so I honestly don't pay that much attention...but I believe that if you have a wheelchair and an airport employee escort, you will be moved through the line more expeditiously. If the airline knows you are traveling w/ a wheelchair, they'll have one of the airport assistance people there to help you or will call one when you check in. In terminal A, there is definitely a dedicated express lane for disabled/FC so I imagine there is also one at B.
If you are navigating on your own, there should be someone (either an airport employee or TSA person) at the head of the line checking boarding passes who can direct you to the disabled checkpoint access.
If you are navigating on your own, there should be someone (either an airport employee or TSA person) at the head of the line checking boarding passes who can direct you to the disabled checkpoint access.