Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 9:22 AM - For Immediate Release
Spring Break Crowds Are Coming—Find the Best Parking Options at SMF
Sacramento, CA – March kicks off a busy travel season for families and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is expecting high volumes of travelers. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey, SMF is asking travelers to plan ahead and give themselves plenty of time to start their travels on a positive note.
To make your travel experience hassle-free, it’s recommended to arrive 2.5 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights. For early morning departures, TSA opens at 4:00 a.m. with coffee shops and concessions opening at 4:30 am to fuel your journey. Both terminals have coffee vending machines that are always available.
Before leaving home, download your airline’s app to check for updates at least 24 hours before your flight. Real-time parking availability is posted on the SMF website, If you're unsure about packing, check the TSA's "What Can I Bring?" tool for guidelines.
Once you arrive at the airport, look to overhead signs to instruct which lots are open. The garage and daily lot may fill while economy parking will always have a space for you, though shuttle service may take longer during peak hours. There is no walking path from the economy lots to the terminals. At the terminals self-service kiosks are available for quick check-ins, and friendly volunteers at the information desks are on hand to help with any questions. If you’re picking up someone, you can avoid circling the terminals by using the free cell waiting lot.
For those seeking alternatives to parking, rideshare services like Lyft or Uber offer convenient pickup areas in both terminals, while public transit services such as Sacramento Regional Transit’s Route 142 and YoloBus provide regular routes to and from the airport.
To save time during security, consider enrolling in TSA Pre✓ or subscribing to CLEAR for expedited screening. Both services help you breeze through the security line faster, allowing more time to enjoy your journey.
Contact: Lindsay Myers
myersli@saccounty.gov
Media Line: 916-874-0900
The Sacramento County Department of Airports is responsible for planning, developing, operating and maintaining the county’s four airports: Sacramento International Airport, Executive Airport, Mather Airport and Franklin Field. Sacramento International Airport offers more than 155 daily nonstop flights on 12 domestic and international carriers to 36 destinations. The regional economic impact of the Sacramento County Department of Airports is more than $4 billion annually. For more information, visit sacramento.aero.