Sacramento Airport (SMF) car rental prices

Compare car rental at Sacramento Airport (SMF) across suppliers and car types for your exact dates, and see exactly how pickup works before you land.

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Compare car rental at Sacramento Airport (SMF)

See current prices across suppliers and car types at Sacramento International Airport, for your exact dates, then book the one that fits. No markup, no countdown tricks.

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Picking up at SMF

Rental center
The Rental Car Terminal sits just south of Terminal A, in a separate building from both terminals. Shuttles leave the curb at either terminal about every 10 minutes; from Terminal B you exit the east side and cross Airport Boulevard West to the stop. Plan on 10-15 minutes including the ride.
Driving & tolls
Sacramento has no toll roads; I-5, I-80 and Highway 99 are all free to drive. Tule fog settles into the Central Valley on winter mornings and can cut visibility to near zero on I-5 and I-80, the biggest local driving hazard. Summer brings a steady Delta breeze but traffic is light compared to the Bay Area.
Terminals
Terminal A, Terminal B

Good to know before you book at SMF

Suppliers on site
SMF's on-airport counters include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty and Zipcar, reached via a 24-hour shuttle from both terminals.
Fees that inflate the rate
Sacramento charges a customer facility charge of $9 per day capped at 5 days ($45 maximum), plus a concession recovery fee on-airport brands cite in the roughly 8 to 11% range.
When prices peak
July is SMF's busiest month and summer is peak season, pushing rental demand highest; winter outside the holiday weeks is the quietest and cheapest time to rent.
Money-saving tip
Picking up at a non-airport Sacramento location skips the roughly 11% airport concession fee, though you must arrange your own transport there.

Driving from Sacramento (SMF)

Expect daytime highs around 39°C in July and around 14°C in January. Check the A/C blows cold before you leave the lot in summer.

Lake Tahoe
120 miles, about 2h 27m by car
Napa Valley
63 miles, about 1h 19m by car
San Francisco
92 miles, about 1h 54m by car
Yosemite National Park
177 miles, about 4h 15m by car

Car rental at Sacramento (SMF): common questions

Where do you pick up a rental car at Sacramento (SMF)?

The Rental Car Terminal sits just south of Terminal A, in a separate building from both terminals. Shuttles leave the curb at either terminal about every 10 minutes; from Terminal B you exit the east side and cross Airport Boulevard West to the stop. Plan on 10-15 minutes including the ride.

When is the cheapest time to book a rental car at SMF?

Prices at SMF move week to week, so there is no fixed answer. As a rule, booking two to three weeks ahead beats the walk-up rate, and midweek pickups are usually cheaper than weekend ones. Compare your exact dates above before you commit.

Do I need to watch out for tolls driving from Sacramento?

Sacramento has no toll roads; I-5, I-80 and Highway 99 are all free to drive. Tule fog settles into the Central Valley on winter mornings and can cut visibility to near zero on I-5 and I-80, the biggest local driving hazard. Summer brings a steady Delta breeze but traffic is light compared to the Bay Area.

Which car type should I rent at SMF?

For city trips a compact or economy car is usually enough and cheapest. If you are heading to Lake Tahoe or Napa Valley, size up for the luggage and distance. Compare the rate per car type above before deciding.

Does it cost more to book through CarPriceRadar than going direct?

No. You pay the same price the rental company lists either way. If you book through one of our partner links they pay us a commission, not you, and that is what funds the price tracking.

Nearby airports

SFOSan Francisco86 miles awayLAXLos Angeles373 miles awayLASLas Vegas396 miles away