Traveling via plane is fun — jetsetting over beautiful blue waters or rolling hills, taking in cloud formations, and landing in a completely different location in a matter of hours is unlike anything else.
The whole navigating the airport part? Less exciting, and sometimes pretty stressful. To help make your time at Sacramento International Airport — or SMF — as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 41 nonstop flights.
What to know
- Map it out | If you’re like us and need to completely visualize a place before you step foot inside, these maps of the entire airport will be your saving grace.
- Food and drink | We’ve curated a list of the 20+ dining options available at SMF for hungry travelers from coffee kiosks to burgers — with some newcomers.
- Reminder | Starting May 7, 2025, you need a REAL ID to board commercial flights in the US.
- Flight status | While we recommend staying updated via your respective airline, you can also check the airport’s dashboard for your flight status in a pinch.
Current airport updates
Sacramento International Airport is set to undergo a massive renovation known as SMForward. The $1.3 billion project began in the summer of 2024 and will add new walkways, terminal expansions, and additional parking.
Last we heard, SMF broke ground on a $140 million pedestrian walkway in August of 2024. The walkway should connect Terminal B to Concourse B — think: a skybridge with moving sidewalks and escalators.
Parking, shuttles, and rideshare
Not everyone has a bestie who will drop everything to pick them up from their 3 a.m. arrival. Each lot offers 30 minutes of parking for $2. Beyond that, the price per day is as listed:
- Parking garage, terminals A and B | $19/day and $2 per half hour
- Daily lot, terminals A and B | $13/day, 2 per half hour
If you don’t mind parking farther away from the terminals, there’s also the Free Waiting Area. Located near the I-5 entrance, it offers up to three hours of parking and EV charging stations.
Hate the thought of driving yourself? Try out a shuttle, rideshare, or taxi service that will take you to and from the terminal. These services are suggested by the airport:
- SacRT | Bus service | SMF to Downtown every 30 minutes, 7 days/week
- Sacramento Independent Taxi Owners Association | Taxi service | Round trip from SMF to Downtown for $60
- Yolobus | Bus service | Service to Davis, Woodland, and more
- Uber | Rideshare service
- Lyft | Rideshare service
The rideshare pick-up and drop-off location for Terminal A is located at the West Curb of Airport Blvd. East, and the pick-up and drop-off location for Terminal B is at Lindbergh Dr.
Nonstop flights
SMF offers 40+ nonstop flights — 36 domestic that go to five US regions, plus five international flights to two countries. Here are five nearby nonstop flights for a quick vacay.
Pro tip: Remember that flight times and schedules will often change — you should rely on your respective airline for exact timing and to stay updated on any changes.
- Los Angeles | American, Delta, Southwest, United
- San Diego | Alaska, Southwest, Spirit
- Palm Springs | Southwest
- Portland, OR | Alaska, Southwest
- Seattle, WA | Alaska, Southwest, Delta
Food and drink
Sacramento International Airport is a hub of eateries with 20+ restaurants, bars, and coffee shops for fliers to dine before or between flights, like:
- Iron Horse Tavern | Terminal A - Upper Level | This spot not only offers breakfast dishes until 10:30 a.m. daily — it also offers breakfast cocktails.
- Burgers & Brew | Terminal B | The name itself should tell you everything to know — beer + beef are king here.
- Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters | Terminal B | One of Zagat’s top 11 restaurants in Sacramento, the coffee shop brings its award-winning roasts to SMF.
In February 2024, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors approved 13 new food operators for SMF that will replace or upgrade all concessions in phases. SMF is expected to have a “completely rejuvenated food experience by January 2026,” according to a report from The Sacramento Bee.
SACtoday reached out to SMF for updated information on concessions in November 2024, but we have not yet heard back.
Fly comfortably
While we may not be able to offer solutions for crying babies or mysterious in-flight meals, we do have some tricks up our sleeves for upping your comfort while flying. Browse some of our favorite travel essentials:
- The AirFly Pro | Make sure you can always access in-flight entertainment (while avoiding the wired headphones airlines pass out) by using an AirFly. It plugs into your seat’s headphone jack and connects to your earbuds or headphones via Bluetooth.
- Trtl travel pillow | The Trtl pillow is scientifically designed to provide a better head position when sleeping upright, thanks to an internal support system comfortably cushioned in cozy fleece.
- Bose Noise Canceling Headphones | These headphones are tried-and-true traveling companions, beloved for their crisp sound and ability to block exterior noise.
- Cozy Earth joggers | These Oprah-approved joggers are polished enough to navigate the airport in, but comfy and stretchy enough for long flights.
- Anti-nausea wristbands | Some simple anti-nausea wristbands might relieve a nervous stomach or sensitivity to turbulence while flying.
