SACRAMENTO AIRPORT (SMF) INFORMATION

Sacramento International Airport is the main gateway to the State Capitol of California and its surrounding areas. It is located 10.5 mi/16.9 km northwest of downtown Sacramento in Sacramento County.

The IATA code is SMF and the ICAO code is KSMF and the airport is owned by the County of Sacramento and operated by Sacramento County Airport System and the airport is self-supporting through user fees and rentals with no local, state or federal tax funds going into its operation costs.

The airport opened in October, 1967, at that time it was called Sacramento Metropolitan Airport, and it served five airlines; Pacific Air Lines, Pacific Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Western Airlines and West Coast Airlines. One runway on the west side of the airfield, Sacramento Metropolitan Field, was in operation at this time. The airport was the first airport built for public use west of the Mississippi at the time of its opening.

The east runway opened in 1987 and more airlines joined the carriers already operating at the airport.

Terminal A and the rental car facility opened in 1998, with the rental car facility being the first of its kind in the US giving the rental car customers one single point of access, easily accessed through a single shuttle ride, helping to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality as well as improving and enhancing the travelers’ experience.

As Terminal A opened the airport changed its name to the current Sacramento International Airport although international flights didn’t actually begin until 2002 with Mexicana’s nonstop flights to Guadalajara.

In 2008 several airlines discontinued their flights due to the nation’s economy, including international flights with Mexicana and Air Canada.

Terminal B was opened in 2011 and that year the airport carried an estimated 9 million passengers.

The airport’s two runways are almost exactly the same length and made of concrete and they run parallel on each side of the airport, one to the west and one to the east. One is 8,605 ft/2,623 m while the other is 8,600 ft/2,621 m. The west runway was resurfaced from asphalt to concrete in 2019.

The two terminals, Terminal A and Terminal B, have a total of 32 gates, 13 in Terminal A and 19 in Terminal B with 9 airlines operating from Terminal B and 4 from Terminal A. The airport saw its busiest year in 2019 with 13,172,840 passengers coming through while 2020 saw 5,583,052, the decrease being due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arrivals, Departures and Airlines at Sacramento Airport

• See live flight arrivals information at Sacramento Airport
• See live flight departures information at Sacramento Airport
• See all airlines and routes that serve Sacramento Airport

Transfers at Sacramento International Airport, SMF

Terminal Shuttles – Moving from one terminal to the other is easily done using the Daily Parking shuttles that depart and arrive approximately every 10 minutes from//to the ground transportation area outside the baggage claim areas. Travelers transferring from Terminal A to Terminal B can board any parking shuttle as the next stop always is Terminal B

Rental Cars – The rental car terminal houses all on-airport rental car companies at Sacramento Airport and it can be reached using the shuttles between each of the terminals and the facility. Be mindful of boarding the correct shuttle going from the rental car terminal to the terminal of departure as they are assigned to a specific terminal. Shuttles depart every 10 minutes.

Off-airport rental car companies with permits may collect or drop off their customers at the rental car facility.

Public Transport Buses – Buses to or from downtown Sacramento/Sacramento Airport depart every 20-30 minutes through the three routes servicing the airport, SacRT’s Route 142 (an express bus going directly to downtown Sacramento) and Yolobus Route 42A and Route 42B services not only downtown Sacramento, but also some of the other areas of Sacramento. Services begin in the early morning and end in the late evening, exact time depends on the day of the week, every day of the week. Tickets are purchased in exact change when boarding the bus.

Taxis – Official Sacramento airport taxis are white with airport branding and are connected with SITOA, Sacramento Independent Taxi Owners Association and they can be found at the taxi ranks located on ground transportation level of the terminals, outside the baggage claim areas.

The fare for a single journey to downtown Sacramento is around $40 and traveling time is 20 minutes if the traffic is calm.

Private Transfers - Private transfers can be arranged to or from Sacramento Airport in advance.

App-Based Ride Share – Ride Share companies with permits may collect their customers in the ground transportation zone outside the baggage claim areas of each terminal. Rides have to be pre-arranged through the respective company’s app or website.

Shuttles for Persons with Disabilities – Services to transfer persons with disability to or from the airport can be organized with one of the two companies that have permits for the airport, Paratransit and MedStar. The arrangements have to be made in good advance.

Hotels near Sacramento Airport

There are a number of hotels to suit all budgets and requirements at or near Sacramento Airport.

Parking at Sacramento Airport

There are a total of 17,500 parking spaces available at Sacramento Airport divided into several parking lots and a parking garage. Hourly, daily and economy parking is available at different levels of fees for longer stays. There is also a Free Waiting Area/Cell Phone Lot for greeters waiting for travelers to be ready for pick-up.

Smoking at Sacramento Airport

Smoking is not allowed within 25 ft/7.6 m from any airport building door or inside the airport, this includes e-cigarettes.

Baggage Carts at Sacramento Airport

Baggage carts for rent can be found in baggage claim areas, the parking garage and near the terminal entrances. The rental is $5.00 per cart, paid in cash or with a debit or credit card. 

ATMs at Sacramento Airport

ATMs/cash machines are located throughout the airport’s both passenger terminals, on landside as well as on airside, and in the car rental facility.

WiFi and Internet at Sacramento Airport

Free WiFi through the network “FlySacramento” is provided by the airport. It is available throughout the terminals, the rental car facility and in the Free Waiting Area/Cell Phone Lot, but not in any parking areas.

Accessibility at Sacramento Airport

The airport provides services such as TDD telephones, visual paging and braille signs for persons with disabilities as well as easily accessible parking, shuttle buses with lifts, and more.

For questions and more information related to the airport please contact the Airport Communications Center at +1 916 929-5411. For questions related to the airline, please contact the airline directly.

Luggage Storage at Sacramento Airport

No luggage storage is available at the airport.

Pet Relief Areas at Sacramento Airport

Three pet relief areas are located at the airport. One on the outside on the east end of Terminal A, one on the south end of Terminal B and one on the northeast corner of the Hourly Parking lot.

Opening Hours at Sacramento Airport

The public areas are open at all hours. The concourses close 30 minutes after the last flight and the TSA security control are open approximately between 4.00AM and 12.30AM depending on the flight schedules.

Inter-terminal Connection at Sacramento Airport

It is possible to walk from one terminal to the other via the parking garage that is connected with both terminals via sky bridges. Terminal A, Level 2 is connected with Parking Garage, Level 3 while Terminal B, Level 3 is connected with Parking Garage, Level 5. Use the elevator to move between levels in the parking garage and follow the signs for the terminal of destination.

Connecting Flights at Sacramento Airport

Travelers with a connecting flight from the other terminal have to pass through the TSA security control to get back to airside, and if traveling with check-in bags they might have to be collected from the baggage claim area in the arriving terminal and checked in in the departing terminal.

For questions please contact your airline.

Nursing Rooms at Sacramento Airport

Rooms for nursing mothers can be found once through to airside. They are located near the gates in both terminals.

Food and Beverage at Sacramento Airport

There are many places to eat and drink at the airport, especially once through the security control, but both terminals have at least one place on the landside.

Shopping at Sacramento Airport

Both terminals have several shops on the airside once travelers have cleared the security control.

Lounges at Sacramento Airport

See and book airport lounges at Sacramento Airport.

Things to do in Sacramento

There are a number of activities to suit all ages and interests in the region - see a selection of tourist activities in Sacramento, California in the United States of America.

Sacramento Airport Contacts

Address: Sacramento International Airport, 6900 Airport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95837, USA
General Phone: +1 916 929-5411
General Email: air-market@saccounty.net
Lost and Found Email: air-market@saccounty.net
Lost and Found Phone: +1 916 874-0701
Official Website: https://sacramento.aero/smf

Local Information

Drive on: Right
Electricity: 120V/60Hz
Plug: A, B
Currency: US Dollar, USD, $