6+ Hours at Sacramento International Airport
Maeve Power
Spend your 6+ hour layover exploring the city or the surrounding area instead of sitting in the terminal. Check out these options for a longer layover at Sacramento International Airport.
Head downtown
If you have 6+ hours on your layover, don’t spend it at the airport. Head to downtown Sacramento and explore the city. The city center is located 10.5 miles from the airport and is easily accessible via public transport links. See ‘Transport Options’ below for more details. There is a lot to do in Sacramento. Explore the many museums and art galleries in Old Sacramento, visit the animals at Sacramento zoo or spend your day exploring the vibrant food scene. For more details on what to do during your layover in Sacramento, visit The Lonely Planet Guide to Sacramento.Avoid downtown
If you have a longer layover but don’t want to spend it in the city, instead head north of the airport to Fremont Weir Wildlife Area and get out in nature. The Fremont Weir Wildlife Area consists of approximately 1,500 acres of marsh and wooded vegetation. It is a popular spot for bird watching and fishing and a great place to spend an afternoon walking in nature. The park is located 12.7 miles from the airport. You will need to get a taxi from the terminal as there are no public transport routes available.Transport Options
Taxi: Taxi ranks can be found in the ground transportation area adjacent to the baggage claim area. A round trip from SMF to downtown Sacramento and back is approx. $66.Bus: Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) runs an express bus service from the airport to downtown Sacramento. Route 142 runs every 20/30 minutes, 7 days a week.Overnight Layover?
If you have an overnight layover at SMF and want to get a good night sleep there are many options available to you within 5 minutes of the airport. The Four Points by Sheraton Sacramento International Airport and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Sacramento Airport Natomas are within a few minutes’ drive of the airport and both hotels offer complimentary 24-hour shuttle buses.Luggage Storage
As with most airports in the US, there are no luggage storage facilities available at Sacramento International Airport. If you have a layover at SMF and want to store your luggage try these options:- Ask at the airport information desk for recommendations on nearby luggage storage facilities.
- If you are heading downtown, check for luggage storage lockers at bus and train terminals.
- Use Google to find a luggage storage service. There are lots of apps and websites that offer luggage storage options in large cities across the US.