Travelling from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport (SMF): What you need to know
Start planning your trip by looking up the most convenient departure point for your flight from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport (SMF). Explore your options for leaving from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) or Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), the city's main airports.
Sacramento International Airport is located in Sacramento. The city is in the UTC-7 timezone and is three hours behind Washington DC.
Your flight from Washington DC to SMF won't wait if you're running late, so show up at the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead for international travel.
Delays at check-in and security are likely if you're heading away during high season, so give yourself some extra breathing room. The recommendation for peak periods? Arrive up to four hours ahead for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.
Airports in Washington DC
Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA)
DCA is about 8 kilometres from central Washington DC. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 45 minutes.
Want an easy start to your journey? Stay near Ronald Reagan National Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are the ideal choice:
Of the departures from Ronald Reagan National Airport, 76.44% land on schedule at their destination.
DCA is located at 1 Aviation Circle.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)
You can book a direct Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) flight ticket with departures from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). Work out whether departing from IAD makes the most sense for you.
From IAD, direct flights from Washington DC to SMF can be booked with United Airlines.
United Airlines has the largest share of bookings on the IAD to SMF route.
Fly with United Airlines if punctuality is a priority. Its flights between Washington Dulles International Airport and Sacramento International Airport land as scheduled 85.0% of the time.
IAD is around 56 kilometres from central Washington DC. It'll take you 50 minutes or so to get to the airport by car from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.
Flying off with the first light? You might like to check in to one of these hotels near Washington Dulles International Airport the day before your Washington DC to SMF flight:
74.39% of flights leaving Washington Dulles International Airport make it to their destination as expected.
IAD is located at 1 Saarinen Circle.
Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Begin your trip at Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and head straight to your destination without any layovers. You can book direct flights from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport from here.
Get on board with Southwest Airlines. It offers direct Washington DC to SMF flight tickets from BWI.
Southwest Airlines is the airline most travellers choose for flights from BWI to SMF.
From the centre of Washington DC, BWI is around 48 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 50 minutes to get there by car and 1 hour 30 minutes or so if you're on public transport.
Skip the morning rush on departure day — stay close to Baltimore/Wash International Thurgood Marshall Airport and know you'll make it to your boarding gate with time to spare. Check in to one of these hotels the day before if you've booked an early Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport flight:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that tracks how often flights touch down within the expected time frame. At BWI, that figure is 77.13%.
About Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Have a late flight from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport? Don't let it steal your sleep. Stay a short drive from SMF at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento Airport Natomas.
Follow your own route with a Sacramento International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Thrifty, Dollar or Budget and chase adventure across Sacramento and beyond.
To get the best deal, reserve your ride around two weeks ahead of your Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport flight.
SMF is located at 6900 Airport Boulevard.
Getting from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to central Sacramento
The centre of Sacramento is around 14 kilometres from Sacramento International Airport. Travel times by cab or car hire will vary depending on time of day, so do some research ahead of your trip.
Travelling by public transport will take you roughly 25 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
ر.ق. 377 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport. A return flight starts from ر.ق. 826. These fares can change depending on demand and availability.
To snap up cheap flights from Washington DC to SMF, book your ticket three months ahead of your planned departure.
Organise your trip for August. That's the best month for landing an incredible deal on Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport tickets. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
Save time searching for cheap flight tickets from Washington DC to SMF by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when prices go down.
Filters make it easier to dig up a deal for your flight from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport. Choose the departure times, airlines and number of stops that line up with your plans. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to bring up the lowest fares right away.
The best time to fly from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
August is the most popular month for flights from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport (SMF). Plan your visit to Sacramento in May if you'd rather be there when it's quieter.
Before locking in your Washington DC to SMF flight ticket, consider what kind of weather works for you. July is the warmest month in Sacramento, with temperatures ranging from 15ºC to 37ºC.
Search for cheap tickets from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 17ºC.
More about Sacramento
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best stays in Sacramento right here. Check out these hotels after you've booked your flight from Washington DC to Sacramento International Airport:
There are so many things to explore in this city, it can be difficult to know where to start. Old Sacramento Waterfront, Fright Planet - America's Haunted Theme Park and California State Railroad Museum are major attractions which should feature on any well-planned Sacramento itinerary.
Explore more of the United States
San Jose is just one of the many cities in the United States waiting to be explored once you've seen the sights of Sacramento. Around 153 kilometres away to the south, well-known attractions include Japantown (San Jose), Winchester Mystery House and The Tech Museum of Innovation.
Around 129 kilometres south-west of Sacramento, San Francisco is another essential stop in the United States. Start your sightseeing at Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island.
