Travelling from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport (SMF): What you need to know
Kick off your journey at one of Chicago's main airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Check out your options for booking a flight from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) departing from either of these.
Take off on a direct Chicago to Sacramento International Airport flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 4 hours 35 minutes.
Sacramento is two hours behind Chicago. Sacramento International Airport is located in Sacramento, which runs on the UTC-7 timezone.
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is the most popular route. There are 24 direct weekly flights to choose from. If you have things to do before heading off, take the last flight with United Airlines at 8:35pm. Go for the first ORD to SMF departure with United Airlines at 7:20am if you'd rather not wait around.
Your flight from Chicago to SMF won't wait if you're late, so get to the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're travelling internationally.
In peak travel periods, allow for longer wait times and get there earlier. Aim for at least two hours ahead for domestic flights and as much as four hours for international journeys.
Airports in Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is a convenient option for travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) depart from this terminal.
When leaving from ORD, you can catch a direct flight from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport with United Airlines.
Most passengers choose to fly with United Airlines from ORD to SMF.
The carrier with the top on-time arrival performance on this route is United Airlines.
Travelling from central Chicago to ORD takes about 55 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a cab, you'll cover the 40 kilometres in 35 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Booked an early flight from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by staying at one of these stays near O'Hare International Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of O'Hare International Airport, 74.85% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
ORD is located at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Think about kicking off your journey from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). You can book a direct Chicago to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) plane ticket from this hub.
From MDW, direct flights from Chicago to SMF are offered by Southwest Airlines.
Southwest Airlines takes the lead in bookings on the MDW to SMF route.
The carrier with the best on-time performance is Southwest Airlines. Its Chicago Midway International Airport to Sacramento International Airport flights land as scheduled 73.77% of the time.
You can get to MDW from central Chicago in about 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The journey by public transport will take roughly 45 minutes to travel the 19 kilometres or so.
Get your holiday started early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your Chicago to SMF flight, unwind in one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport:
77.88% of all departures from Chicago Midway International Airport meet their expected arrival time.
You'll find MDW at 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
RFD is around 137 kilometres from central Chicago. Driving from the city centre to the airport takes about 1 hour 25 minutes. If you're planning to use public transport, you can expect a journey of around 4 hours 15 minutes.
Make departure day worry-free — stay close to Chicago Rockford International Airport and know you'll be at your gate with time to spare. Check in to one of these hotels the day before if you have an early Chicago to Sacramento International Airport flight:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that tracks how often flights get to their destinations without delays. At RFD, that figure is 76.19%.
You'll find Chicago Rockford International Airport at 2 Airport Cir.
About Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Consider staying at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento Airport Natomas after touching down from your flight from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport. It's not too far from SMF and a comfortable option if you'd like to relax as soon as possible.
Grab a Sacramento International Airport rental car and discover Sacramento and beyond with your own set of wheels. Thrifty, Dollar and Budget are well-known companies to choose from here.
Lock in the best deal by reserving your vehicle around two weeks ahead of your Chicago to Sacramento International Airport flight.
SMF is located at 6900 Airport Boulevard.
Getting from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to central Sacramento
Sacramento International Airport is roughly 14 kilometres from central Sacramento. How long it takes to get there in a car hire or cab will depend on the time of day. Do a little research before your trip.
Travelling on public transport takes roughly 25 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
R 1,181 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport. A return flight starts from R 2,811. These fares can change depending on demand.
Booking early is often the key to finding a cheap flight from Chicago to SMF. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely spend.
Affordable Chicago to Sacramento International Airport tickets are easier to find when your travel dates are flexible. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare fares across the month and then choose the cheapest day.
There's no need to search every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as a better deal comes up on plane tickets from Chicago to SMF.
Discover the best deal on a flight from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport with the help of the filters. Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest.'
The best time to fly from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
It's time to work out when to book your flight from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport (SMF). August is the peak month for travel to Sacramento. If a slower pace sounds more appealing, go in May.
Lock in a Chicago to SMF plane ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Sacramento to range from 15ºC (59ºF) to 37ºC (99ºF).
Look for cheap tickets from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC (36ºF) and 17ºC (63ºF).
More about Sacramento
Once you've booked your flight from Chicago to Sacramento International Airport, find a hotel that puts you in a great location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Sacramento:
You'll find plenty of awesome things to do in Sacramento when you're ready to see the sights. Start exploring at Old Sacramento Waterfront followed by Fright Planet - America's Haunted Theme Park and California State Railroad Museum.
Explore more of the United States
You've visited Sacramento, now it's time to explore more of the United States. Journey about 153 kilometres south to San Jose to check off its top attractions. From Japantown (San Jose) to Winchester Mystery House and The Tech Museum of Innovation, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.
If you're interested in discovering another well-known destination in the United States, consider San Francisco, roughly 129 kilometres south-west of Sacramento. Golden Gate Bridge, Painted Ladies - Alamo Square and Alcatraz Island are among the biggest draws.
