Sacramento, CA

Key Highlights

Hotels	327
Total Sleeping Rooms	27,953
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	400
Committable Meeting Rooms*	19
Largest Exhibit Space	134,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	16,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $99
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $61
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $280
*Maximum for a single hotel

Sacramento, CA Meeting Planning Overview

Cvent’s Sacramento meeting planning guide is an extensive city guide for Sacramento meeting planners. Sacramento's vibrant downtown area, paired with its historic Old Sacramento district, make this capital city an ideal locale for both business and recreation. Sacramento attracts more than six million visitors each year and is conveniently located in the center of Northern California, just hours away from tourist hotspots San Francisco, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe.

With a prime location in the heart of downtown, the Sacramento Convention Center, catering to large-scale Sacramento meeting planning, welcomes over one million visitors and more than 600 events every year. The center offers 31 meeting rooms and 384,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space to accommodate a variety of group sizes. It also provides access to the historic 3,800-seat Memorial Auditorium and 272-seat Jean Runyon Little Theater located directly across the street. To top it all off, all conventions and exhibitions hosted at the Sacramento Convention Center are certified "green." Planners and corporations who elect to hold their meetings in Sacramento's Convention Center are invited to use the nationally recognized Green-e symbol in all printed material in order to increase attendee awareness of the green initiative.

Planners will find numerous hotels located in downtown Sacramento and its surrounding areas including the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, the Sheraton Grand Sacramento, the Courtyard by Marriott-Sacramento Airport and Hawthorn Suites, to name just a few. Over 2,500 hotel rooms can be found in the downtown area alone. With a plethora of options, planners are sure to find accommodations to meet their needs regardless of budget restrictions or location requirements.

Bolstered by its annual events such as the Sacramento Film and Music Festival in the summer and West Coast Brew Fest in the spring, the vibrant scene is full of unique Sacramento event venues. From a murder mystery dinner to a champagne brunch, any type of event on the Sacramento River Train is sure to be unforgettable. A kid's dream come true during the day, Fairytale Town transforms at night into a sophisticated and majestic outdoor space for dinners and receptions under twinkling lights. The historic Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento has several rooms for dinners and parties, including the 250-seat Outdoor Courtyard and the Golden Eagle Room for up to 150 guests.

Interstate 80, U.S. Highway 50, Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway 99 all offer direct routes to Sacramento, making it easily accessible by car from any direction. With more than 150 flights available a day at Sacramento International Airport, the city is also easily reached by air. Direct flights service more than 52 cities including Atlanta, Chicago and Denver.

Sacramento is home to several colleges and universities, including California State University at Sacramento and the University of Sacramento, and serves as a branch location for both the National University of California and University of Southern California. Notable businesses headquartered in Sacramento include Blue Diamond Growers, California Air Resources Board, California Conservation Corps and California Architects Board. Situated where the Sacramento River meets the American River, Sacramento is a major shipping center and is responsible for the transportation of fruits, vegetables, wheat, rice and other goods throughout the Sacramento Valley. As a result, food processing has long been a staple of Sacramento's economy.

About Sacramento, CA / Additional Info

Located in the center of Northern California and nestled among the American and Sacramento rivers, the city of Sacramento spans 99 square miles and is located just 90 miles northeast of San Francisco and 383 miles north of Los Angeles. Its nearly 100 square miles are home to over two million people, a diverse mix of African American, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander and Latino residents. With its edges sprawling to the Sierra Nevada foothills, the city's location offers a mild, low humidity climate, with an average year-round high of 75°F and average year-round low of 51°F.

As the capital city of California, Sacramento boasts a unique blend of cosmopolitan flair and historic charm. Sacramento, first settled in 1839, was the locale of the California Gold Rush, which began on the banks of the Sacramento River in 1849. During this time the city served as a major distribution site, as well as the terminus for riverboats, stage coaches, the Pony Express and the First Transcontinental Railroad. Sacramento is currently one of the fastest growing regions in the United States.

True to its wealth of history, one of the city's notable attractions is Old Sacramento, a 28-acre town of historic buildings, museums, monuments, shops and restaurants that has been preserved to reflect life in the mid-1800s. Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is home to the oldest restored fort in the United States, while the California State Capitol Museum boasts an unrivaled collection of hundreds of paintings, statues, murals and furniture pieces that portray California's history.

Known for its expansive arts scene, Sacramento has more than 40 art galleries and dozens of museums. A few of the most notable include the Crocker Art Museum, the oldest public art museum west of the Mississippi River, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the largest museum of its kind in North America. Evening entertainment ranges from lively jazz clubs such as Sky Bar to more subdued atmospheres like that of Biba, which offers some of the best Italian in the city and live piano nightly.

Mild temperatures welcome visitors to enjoy Sacramento's more than 1,000 miles of waterways. The nearby American River offers world-class whitewater rafting, or, for the less adventuresome, a great opportunity to relax and enjoy riverfront dining such as that at the Pilothouse, found on the third deck of historic Delta King Riverboat. The city also offers more than 540 acres of municipal golf courses, as well as 120 city parks that cover more than 2,000 acres.

Sacramento, CA Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Pacific Time (PT)
Convention Center(s):

Sacramento Convention Center Complex

Hotel at Convention Center? No
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 0

Airport(s):

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Smoke-free Restaurants
Historic Destination

Special Event Venues
130
Population
2,104,974
Restaurants
74
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
8.75%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Sacramento, CA

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Napa, CA	61 mi	1hr 13 min	n/a	N/A
San Francisco, CA	87 mi	1 hr 35 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $275+
Reno, NV	132 mi	2 hr 10 min	2 hr 38 min	USD $315+
Los Angeles, CA	385 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 23 min	USD $260+
Las Vegas, NV	570 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 21 min	USD $280+

Sacramento, CA Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	53	60	64	71	80	87	93	91	88	78	64	53
Avg. Low (°F)	38	41	43	46	50	55	58	58	56	50	43	38
Rec. High (°F)	70	76	88	93	105	115	114	109	108	101	87	72
Rec. Low (°F)	20	23	26	32	34	41	48	48	43	35	26	18
Rainfall (in)	3.7	2.8	2.6	1.2	0.4	0.1	-	0.1	0.3	0.9	2.2	2.8

Sacramento enjoys a Mediterranean climate of mild temperatures year-round, dry summers, little humidity and abundant sunshine. Spring and fall bring average temperatures in the mid-70s, while the summer months have temperatures reaching highs of over 90°F. The average year-round temperature high is 75°F, while the average year-round low temperature is 51°F.

Sacramento experiences an average of 18 inches of rain per year with January seeing the most precipitation and July, the least. The best time to visit Sacramento is in the spring or fall, which bring mild temperatures and very little rainfall.

Meeting Planning in Sacramento, CA

Sacramento Convention Center Complex

This Sacramento meeting facility, located in the heart of bustling downtown Sacramento, features 384,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space. The Prime Site Facilities award-winning convention center features an innovative, modern design that includes glass-walled function spaces and garden terraces offering beautiful views of the downtown area. What other Sacramento meeting facilities cannot offer is a 24,000-square-foot ballroom, 134,000 contiguous square feet of exhibit space, a two-story, 6,000-square-foot pre-meeting space and 31 meeting rooms are available to accommodate a wide range of meetings and events. Across the street, the historic Memorial Auditorium, one of the most recognizable buildings in the city, seats 3,800 guests for a wide range of events, from rock concerts to graduations. The Memorial Auditorium also houses the 272-seat Jean Runyon Little Theater.

The Sacramento Convention Center features portable telescopic risers that can create arena seating for up to 6,500 people, as well as on-site restaurants, award-winning catering and in-house telecommunications, audio-visual and theatrical lighting services. Located just 15 minutes from Sacramento International Airport, the Sacramento Convention Center is within walking distance of more than 1,800 hotel rooms, including those at the Hyatt Regency and Sheraton Grand across the street. No on-site parking is available at the center, but visitors are welcome to use any of the five municipal lots that line the blocks around the center. The Sacramento Convention Center has hosted events such as the Green California Summit and Low Carbon Fuels Expo and groups such as the Society of Wetland Scientists and National Food Laboratory.

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Sacramento, CA Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Located 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco, San Francisco International has been ranked as one of the world’s 30 busiest airports, serving more than 33 million passengers every year.

Currently, San Francisco International is committed to showcasing its home city. Nearly all of its eateries are branches of local restaurants, bars and cafes, so passengers can get a true taste of San Francisco even if they can’t leave the airport. Much of the airport’s eclectic mix of bookstores, gift shops, travel outfitters and luxury boutiques has ties to local purveyors as well.

San Francisco International is also home to the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, a 7,000-square-foot public exhibition space with various historic transportation artifacts. Admission is free and groups of up to 250 people are welcome to hold private events in the sprawling space.

San Francisco International offers parking in hourly, daily and long-term areas. The airport also provides direct service to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Rapid Rail and San Mateo County Transit (samTrans) bus system.

Traveling between terminals is easy thanks to AirTrain, a fully-automated people mover that runs 24 hours a day. AirTrain’s Red Line connects all terminals and terminal garages, as well as provides direct access to the BART station. AirTrain’s Blue Line connects all terminals and terminal garages, as well as provides direct access to the BART station and the Rental Car Center.

Airline carriers serving San Francisco International Airport

Aer Lingus
AeroMexico
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air New Zealand
AirTran Airways
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asiana
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines

Continental
Delta/Northwest
Emirates
EVA Air
Frontier
Hawaiian Airlines
Horizon
Japan Airlines
JetBlue
KLM
Korean Air
LACSA
Lufthansa
Mexicana

Midwest
Philippine Airlines
Qantas
Singapore Airlines
Southwest
Sun Country
TACA
United
United Express
US Airways
Virgin America
Virgin Atlantic
WestJet

Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

Approximate taxi fare: $33.63 USD

Located just 12 miles northwest of downtown Sacramento, Sacramento International Airport operates more than 150 departures and arrivals per day. Serving more than 10 million passengers each year, the airport encompasses 5,500 acres, two terminals and two runways. Sacramento International services 15 airlines, providing non-stop access to all major California cities, major cities in the continental United States, Hawaii and Guadalajara.

The airport features numerous shops and restaurants and free wireless Internet access throughout both terminals, as well as parking space for more than 16,000 vehicles. The Host International Airport hotel is located directly opposite Terminal B.

Airline carriers serving Sacramento International Airport

Air Canada
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines

ExpressJet
Frontier Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Horizon Air
Jet Blue

Mexicana Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
United Airlines/United Express
U.S. Airways

Sacramento, CA Train Information

Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station

The Sacramento Valley Amtrak station is located in downtown Sacramento and services four trains. The California Zephyr runs daily between Chicago and San Francisco, through Nebraska and Denver to Salt Lake City, and then through Reno and Sacramento. The Capitol Corridor train route is a three-hour journey with daily trips through Northern California including stops in San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento and Auburn. The Coast Starlight runs daily from Los Angeles to Seattle, while the San Joaquins travels through California's Central Valley, stretching from Sacramento to Bakersfield.

Sacramento, CA Public Transportation

Sacramento Regional Transit District

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) oversees the city's transportation network.

Buses

RT buses service more than 3,600 stops throughout Sacramento County, with a weekday ridership average of about 58,000 passengers per day. About 250 buses travel on 93 bus routes in a 418-square-mile service area. Buses run daily every 15 to 75 minutes, depending on route, from 5 AM to 11:30 PM. Single ride fare is $1 for children ages 5-18 and $2 for adults. Daily passes are $2.50 for children ages 5-18 and $5 for adults. Tickets may also be used for RT light rail service.

Light Rail

The RT light rail includes about 76 vehicles along 37.4 miles of track. The Blue Line route links Watt/I-80 and Meadowview, while the Gold Line route links Folsom and St. Rose of Lima Park. RT services more 47 light rail stations or stops, with a weekday light rail ridership average of approximately 51,000 passengers per day. Light rail trains begin operation at 4:30 AM, with service every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes in the evening. The RT Blue Line trains run until 1 AM, while the Gold Line trains run until 7 PM. Single ride fare is $1 for children ages 5-18 and $2 for adults. Daily passes are $2.50 for children and $5 for adults. Light rail tickets may also be used for RT bus service.

Car Rentals

Rental car companies at Sacramento International Airport include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Dollar, Hertz and National. The airport operates a shuttle from the main terminals to the rental car center, located adjacent to the economy parking area.

Taxis

Sacramento has several taxi companies, all of which service the Sacramento International Airport. A one-way taxi ride between the airport and downtown Sacramento is approximately $50, while a round-trip ride between the airport and downtown is $50. Taxi rates are $2.80 for the first mile and $2.40 for each additional mile.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Napa, CA	61 mi	1hr 13 min	n/a	N/A
San Francisco, CA	87 mi	1 hr 35 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $275+
Reno, NV	132 mi	2 hr 10 min	2 hr 38 min	USD $315+
Los Angeles, CA	385 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 23 min	USD $260+
Las Vegas, NV	570 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 21 min	USD $280+