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Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Sacramento
SFO → SMF • About 0h 50m nonstop • 2 airlines
Adults
+12 years old
Children
2-11 years old
Infants
Under 2 years
Fares shown are the lowest we have recorded recently on this route and are not a live quote. Run a search above for today's availability, or call (800) 399-8818 and an agent will price it with you.
Flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Sacramento (SMF)
The San Francisco to Sacramento route covers roughly 85 miles and takes about 0h 50m nonstop. 2 airlines compete on it — United Airlines, Alaska Airlines — which keeps fares moving and makes it worth comparing carriers rather than defaulting to the one you usually fly. We have seen one-way fares on this route start around $74.
Sacramento is California’s capital and the gateway to the Gold Country, with Old Sacramento preserving the riverfront as it looked during the Gold Rush.
It is also within two hours of Lake Tahoe, Napa and Yosemite’s northern entrance, which makes it a practical and much cheaper alternative to flying into San Francisco.
Airlines flying SFO to SMF
- United Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
Airports on this route
- Departing: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
- Departing: Oakland International Airport (OAK)
- Departing: Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)
- Arriving: Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
San Francisco is served by 3 airports. Fares between them can differ by $50 to $150 on the same dates, so ask us to price all of them before you book.
Best time to fly to Sacramento
March through May and September through October. Summers regularly exceed 100°F.
Top things to do in Sacramento
- California State Capitol
- Old Sacramento
- California State Railroad Museum
- Crocker Art Museum
- Lake Tahoe day trip
- Napa Valley day trip
How to save on San Francisco to Sacramento flights
- Shift your departure by one or two days — midweek departures on this route are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
- Book four to eight weeks ahead. Last-minute fares on SFO to SMF routinely run double the advance price.
- Compare all 2 carriers rather than checking one airline's own site.
- Sacramento is frequently much cheaper than San Francisco and only 90 minutes away.
- Lake Tahoe is about two hours east — chains may be required in winter.
- The farm-to-fork restaurant scene here is genuinely strong.
About flights from San Francisco to Sacramento
Fares on the SFO to SMF route move with demand, so flexibility is worth more than timing tricks. Shifting your departure by a day or two, flying midweek instead of Friday or Sunday, and booking four to eight weeks ahead all reduce the fare on this route. San Francisco is served by 3 airports, so ask us to price all of them — the difference is often significant. Our agents also hold consolidator and unpublished fares that do not appear in online results.
United Airlines, Alaska Airlines all operate on this route. United Airlines typically offers the most frequencies, with Alaska Airlines providing competing schedules. Availability varies by season and by which San Francisco airport you depart from, so it is worth comparing all carriers before booking.
A nonstop flight takes about 0h 50m. Itineraries with a connection typically add two to four hours depending on the layover city and the length of the stop.
The two cities are roughly 85 miles apart by air.
Departures leave from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC). Arrivals land at Sacramento International Airport (SMF).
March through May and September through October. Summers regularly exceed 100°F.