Getting Around Sacramento
Sacramento Airport information
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) sits about 10–12 miles northwest of downtown Sacramento, typically a 15–20 minute drive in normal traffic, and is the primary commercial gateway for California’s capital region rather than San Francisco Bay Area airports. SMF offers a consolidated rental car center connected by an airport-operated shuttle and serves extensive domestic routes with growing connectivity. It provides quick links to regional destinations like Napa, Lake Tahoe, and the Central Valley.
Distance: ~10.5 miles/16.9 km from downtown; drive time ~15–20 minutes depending on traffic.
Role: Moderately busy regional international airport serving Northern California’s capital area.
Rental cars: Use the Rental Car Shuttle from the outer island outside baggage claim to the consolidated center.
Airport shuttles/black car are available for pre-booked rides to/from SMF.
Distance: ~10.5 miles/16.9 km from downtown; drive time ~15–20 minutes depending on traffic.
Role: Moderately busy regional international airport serving Northern California’s capital area.
Rental cars: Use the Rental Car Shuttle from the outer island outside baggage claim to the consolidated center.
Airport shuttles/black car are available for pre-booked rides to/from SMF.
Sacramento Train information
Sacramento Valley Station (SAC) in downtown Sacramento is a key Amtrak hub served by multiple intercity and regional routes. Capitol Corridor provides frequent service linking Sacramento with Bay Area cities; Coast Starlight connects Los Angeles–Seattle via Sacramento; San Joaquins currently route most trains via Stockton, with select round trips extending to Sacramento and additional Sacramento trips planned in FY2025. Long-distance California Zephyr runs daily between Chicago and the Bay Area with a Sacramento stop.
Capitol Corridor: Frequent daily service Bay Area–Sacramento–(Auburn/Roseville) per current timetable.
San Joaquins: 7 round trips Bakersfield–Stockton; 5 continue to Oakland, 2 to Sacramento; 2 more Sacramento trips slated FY2025.
Coast Starlight: Daily long-distance service Los Angeles–Sacramento–Seattle.
California Zephyr: Daily Chicago–Bay Area service calling at Sacramento.
Capitol Corridor: Frequent daily service Bay Area–Sacramento–(Auburn/Roseville) per current timetable.
San Joaquins: 7 round trips Bakersfield–Stockton; 5 continue to Oakland, 2 to Sacramento; 2 more Sacramento trips slated FY2025.
Coast Starlight: Daily long-distance service Los Angeles–Sacramento–Seattle.
California Zephyr: Daily Chicago–Bay Area service calling at Sacramento.
Sacramento Ground information
Sacramento Regional Transit (SacRT) runs buses and light rail across the metro region, with ongoing modernization for new low-floor light rail vehicles. Light rail spans three lines (Gold, Blue, Green) and generally runs early morning to late evening with 15-minute daytime headways on core segments; recent advisories note occasional temporary service changes during construction. Yolobus also links SMF and regional communities with coordinated passes available.
Light rail hours/fares: Weekday Gold Line 4 a.m.–midnight; 15-min day/30-min early/late; basic single ride ~$2.50, day pass ~$7.00.
Modernization: Platform work for new low-floor vehicles; check alerts for temporary bus bridges or closures.
Regional buses: Yolobus adult single rides $2.00–$3.25 depending on route; youth 0–18 ride free (FY 2025–26).
Transfers/passes: SacRT + Yolobus daily pass $7; monthly combo $100 (adult).
Light rail hours/fares: Weekday Gold Line 4 a.m.–midnight; 15-min day/30-min early/late; basic single ride ~$2.50, day pass ~$7.00.
Modernization: Platform work for new low-floor vehicles; check alerts for temporary bus bridges or closures.
Regional buses: Yolobus adult single rides $2.00–$3.25 depending on route; youth 0–18 ride free (FY 2025–26).
Transfers/passes: SacRT + Yolobus daily pass $7; monthly combo $100 (adult).
Sacramento Public information
Airport–downtown transport offers multiple options with varying price and time tradeoffs. A typical metered or flat-rate taxi between SMF and downtown is around the $30 range per local operators, with black car/shuttle alternatives bookable in advance; travel time is commonly ~15 minutes in light traffic. Public bus links operate at low fares but take longer than taxis or black cars.
Taxi: Local operator advertised flat rate SMF–downtown about $30 cash; roundtrip specials may be offered.
Black car/shuttle: Pre-book exclusive or black car rides to/from SMF with curbside pickup.
Bus: Public 142-style airport–city bus noted around $2.50 one-way, ~30 minutes travel time (operator schedules vary).
Time/cost tradeoff: Taxi/black car fastest (~15 minutes) versus bus (~30 minutes) with lower fare.
Taxi: Local operator advertised flat rate SMF–downtown about $30 cash; roundtrip specials may be offered.
Black car/shuttle: Pre-book exclusive or black car rides to/from SMF with curbside pickup.
Bus: Public 142-style airport–city bus noted around $2.50 one-way, ~30 minutes travel time (operator schedules vary).
Time/cost tradeoff: Taxi/black car fastest (~15 minutes) versus bus (~30 minutes) with lower fare.