Sacramento Airport (SMF) TSA Security Wait Time Information
Sacramento International Airport has nonstop as well as direct flights throughout North America and connecting flights to almost anywhere. The airport is committed to making the travel experience as easy and safe as possible for all of its passengers.
Gaining the information about SMF wait times for security checkpoints can give you the comfort of enjoying a coffee in your extra hours - more info can be found below.
Get CLEAR Expedited Security at Sacramento Airport!
SMF Airport features CLEAR expedited security screening. Joining CLEAR will save you time and stress in Sacramento security lines. As and added benefit, you can also use your CLEAR credentials at MDW Airport. See below for TSA/CLEAR hours for enrollment and screening.
In partnership with iFly, CLEAR is offering a 2 month free promotion. **NEW** You can add up to 3 other family members to the 2 month trial (siblings, parents, aunts/uncles, etc.). It only takes a minute to sign up! ***LIMITED TIME PROMOTION***
Maps, Airlines & Amenities
Sacramento Airport (SMF) Terminals
Helpful Tips & Resources
iFly.com can help you get to, through, and between airports around the world. Here are some things you may need to know that can help you on your journey specific to SMF:
- Once you get through security, pull up the interactive terminal map to navigate to your gate, and see all the restaurant and shopping options along the way.
- Remember that a great low-cost alternative to parking within the airport facility is to use on off-airport parking lot. They offer lower costs, a bit further away from the terminals. Reserve here.
- If you have some time before your flight's departure, be sure to grab a bite, peruse the shops, or jump on the free wifi and get caught up on those emails.
- Lose something while in the terminal area? Find the contact info you need for lost & found here.
- If your flight is arriving to the airport from another city and need a quick way to get to your destination, give a call to one of these taxi or limo service providers.
SMF Flight Delays
Before you head to the airport, be sure to check SMF Arrival Delays, SMF Departure Delays, or use iFLY's SMF Flight Tracker.
SMF Airport Security Checkpoints - Location and Hours
SMF is a quite busy airport, but there are only two checkpoints for travelers. And the good news is both the security checkpoints allow the PreCheck option and are equipped with smart devices. This helps travelers with easy passage through the checkpoints without waiting in queues for hours. The hours shown below are subject to change:
SMF Terminal A Checkpoint
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
TSA Pre Hours: Daily, 3:00 AM to 6:00 PM
CLEAR Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM
SMF Terminal B Checkpoint
Type: All passengers and TSA Pre
TSA Pre Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 4:00 PM
CLEAR Hours: Daily, 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sacramento International Airport recommends arriving 2 to 3 hours before your scheduled airline departure. Remember to arrive early and, if necessary, allow yourself enough time to park your car at the airport.
TSA Wait Times
Sacramento airport wait times can vary greatly during busy days, holidays, and travel days as well. You can now check current wait times at Sacramento Airport, but keep in mind that the SMF wait times you see right now may not be valid when you reach the airport!
CLEAR Lanes
SMF features CLEAR expedited security screening which, if you participate, can help to reduce the time you spend in Sacramento Airport TSA lines. See CLEAR locations and hours of operation above.
TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck lanes are available at both security checkpoints at SMF airport. Frequent travelers and others who do not want to wait for long can sign up for TSA's PreCheck program at Sacramento International Airport. Once signed in and approved, you will get a Known Traveler Number that helps you with access to an easy screening lane.
Now with PreCheck, passengers don't need to remove shoes, belts, remove laptops from cases, and more. It is assumed that with PreCheck, you will need to wait for less than 5 minutes in a line for a security check.
The office hours for PreCheck at the Sacramento Airport location are from 3:00 AM to 6:00 daily at concourse A. And, the timings are from 4:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily at concourse B.
Sacramento Airport Wait Times
Security wait times at Sacramento SMF Airport are approximate and can vary based on several factors including severe weather, TSA staffing, airport construction, etc.
SMF TSA security wait time forecasts are made leveraging flight volume data and TSA staffing models. Using advanced data science, wait times for Sacramento Airport are projected, that barring extreme outliers, are within five minutes in accuracy, as validated by large US airlines. The TSA urges all travelers to arrive at the airport well in advance of scheduled flight departures and has provided security checkpoint wait time information as a guide to assist in travel planning.
Please be sure to check with your airline for ticket counter wait times as well as possible changes to flight schedules, as these and other factors influence your decision regarding how early to arrive at SMF. Please be aware that each airline has a recommended arrival time and even stricter required arrival times.
All airlines require that you arrive at the check-in counter, the flight's departure gate, and even onboard and in your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time before the flight's scheduled departure time. The amount of the advance arrival time required varies depending on the airline you are using.
Most airlines' conditions of carriage state that with many of their tickets, failure to arrive at the check-in counter, the flight's departure gate, and your assigned seat a prescribed amount of time before the flight's scheduled departure time may cause you to be denied boarding.