Downtown Phoenix skyline with the desert mountains behind. Flights from Sacramento to Phoenix

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Sacramento to Phoenix

Flights from Sacramento International to Phoenix Sky Harbor, with the Arizona time rule explained, which terminal each airline uses at both ends, and what the lowest fares allow.

SMF to PHX · 646 mi · 2h 1m est.

SMF to PHX
646 miles
2h 1m nonstop (estimated)
3 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Amine Abassir, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sacramento to Phoenix flight insights

Average flight time

~2h 1m (estimated)

SMF → PHX

Cheapest cached price

$234

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Sep 5, 2026.

Planning a trip from Sacramento to Phoenix? The average flight time on this route is ~2h 1m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $234 (last checked Sep 5, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Sacramento (SMF) and Phoenix (PHX) are about 646 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Sacramento to Phoenix at a glance

SMF to PHX is about 646 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Sacramento to Phoenix on Eazair
Origin	Sacramento (SMF)
Destination	Phoenix (PHX)
Average Flight Time	~2h 1m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$234
Fares Last Checked	Sep 5, 2026
Distance	646 miles (SMF to PHX)
Time in Phoenix	Same time as Sacramento
Airlines in our fare results	3

Local time in Phoenix is the same as in Sacramento. Sacramento is on Pacific Time, Phoenix on Mountain Standard Time.

Flight deals from Sacramento to Phoenix

NIST says most of Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, while the Navajo Indian territories in Arizona observe daylight saving time. The page searches Sacramento International (SMF) to Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), not Mesa Gateway (AZA). Southwest's Sacramento to Phoenix route page, checked 22 Oct 2026, lists nonstops 5 times a day Monday through Friday, 4 on Saturdays and 6 on Sundays; schedules change. American, United and Alaska have appeared in EazAir's partner search results for this route.

At SMF, American and United fly from Terminal A, while Alaska and Southwest use Terminal B, a separate building. American lists its Sacramento ticket counter as open daily from 3:30 a.m. to midnight and says curbside check-in is not offered there. SMF says checkpoints open at 4 a.m. and close at 12:30 a.m., depending on flight schedules. SMF's rule of thumb is two and a half hours before a domestic flight, and arriving under 45 minutes before departure may mean being denied check-in.

Sky Harbor lists American and Southwest at Terminal 4, with United and Alaska at Terminal 3. The free PHX Sky Train runs at all hours between both terminals and the Rental Car Center, though PHX says waits between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. can reach 15 minutes or more. Valley Metro Rail toward Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa connects at 44th Street/Washington by a moving walkway. Terminal 4 rideshares meet riders on Level 1, outside door 1, 2, 6 or 8.

EazAir had no stored fare checks for Sacramento to Phoenix when this page was checked on 22 Oct 2026, so it cannot describe price movement. American Basic Economy and Alaska Saver include a carry-on; United Basic Economy does not on domestic flights, bar some MileagePlus exceptions. Under NIST's rule, daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November, which is 1 Nov 2026; NIST says most of Arizona does not change its clocks. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Sacramento to Phoenix flights

Departure · Sacramento

Sacramento International (SMF)

Pacific Time

Arrival · Phoenix

Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)

Mountain Standard Time

About Phoenix

Areas to know in Phoenix

Downtown Phoenix
Arcadia
Old Town Scottsdale

Weather in Phoenix

A desert climate with extremely hot summers; winter is mild and generally considered the most comfortable season to visit.

Sacramento to Phoenix: airport and fare guide

Airport details were checked on 17 Oct 2026 and route details on 22 Oct 2026, against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International's nonstop list (no date shown) shows nonstop flights from Phoenix to Sacramento (SMF) on American and Southwest. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Mesa is a separate airport that also serves the Phoenix area, so check the airport code on every result.

The SMF website also lists Sacramento Executive Airport (SAC) and Mather Airport (MHR). The flights in this guide use Sacramento International (SMF).

About this route

Southwest's route pages, checked 22 Oct 2026, list nonstop flights from Sacramento to Phoenix and from Phoenix to Sacramento, and Phoenix Sky Harbor's nonstop list also shows American flying nonstop from Phoenix to Sacramento.

NIST says most of Arizona does not observe daylight saving time and is on Mountain Standard Time all year, while the Navajo Indian territories in Arizona do observe it.
NIST says daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November at 2 a.m. local time; most of Arizona does not change its clocks then.
Southwest's route pages confirm nonstop flights both ways, and Phoenix Sky Harbor's nonstop list shows American and Southwest flying nonstop from Phoenix to Sacramento (SMF).
At Sacramento, Southwest lists Terminal B, gates B12 and B14 to B23.
At Sacramento, American's ticket counter is in Terminal A, and American lists its animal relief area on the grass at the south end of Terminal A.
Phoenix Sky Harbor lists Southwest and American at Terminal 4.
Southwest lists its Phoenix gates in Terminal 4, on the C and D gate areas.
Southwest says all bags at Phoenix must be checked 45 minutes before scheduled departure.
Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) is a separate airport that also serves the Phoenix area; the nonstops confirmed here use Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX).
American lists its Sacramento ticket counter as open daily from 3:30 a.m. to midnight and says curbside check-in is not available there.
American lists curbside check-in and self-service check-in at its Phoenix Terminal 4 counters.
NIST says daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November at 2 a.m. local time, which is 1 Nov 2026; most of Arizona does not change its clocks.
SMF's SMForward page, which shows no date, lists a new walkway between Terminal B and Concourse B under construction, with opening expected in the first quarter of 2027.

Leaving from Sacramento International (SMF)

Airline	SMF terminal
American	Terminal A
United	Terminal A
Alaska	Terminal B
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

From downtown Sacramento, SacRT Route 142 serves Terminals A and B. SacRT lists it daily from 5:15 a.m. to 10:33 p.m.
From Davis, Woodland or West Sacramento, Yolobus 42A and 42B stop at both terminals.
SMF says the curb is only for active loading and unloading. Drivers can wait at the Free Waiting Area near the Interstate 5 entrance and exit, with a three-hour limit.
SMF says TSA checkpoints open at 4 a.m. daily and close at 12:30 a.m., depending on flight schedules.
SMF's rule of thumb is to arrive two and a half hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights. Check your airline's own advice too.
SMF says you may be denied check-in if you arrive less than 45 minutes before your flight.

Arriving at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)

Airline	PHX terminal
American	Terminal 4
United	Terminal 3
Alaska	Terminal 3
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

PHX passenger flights use Terminal 3 and Terminal 4.
The free PHX Sky Train runs 24 hours between both terminals, 24th Street, the Rental Car Center, 44th Street and East Economy parking.
In Terminal 4, any of checkpoints A to D reaches any Terminal 4 gate.

Getting from PHX	Where to board	Where it goes
PHX Sky Train	Free and runs 24 hours. Waits average about 3.5 to 7 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. waits can be 15 minutes or more.	Terminal 3, Terminal 4, 24th Street, the Rental Car Center, 44th Street and East Economy parking.
Valley Metro Rail	Ride the Sky Train to 44th Street, take the moving walkway, then go down to the 44th Street/Washington platform.	Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.
Valley Metro buses	Route 13 at the 24th Street Sky Train station, northwest curb near Passenger Pick-Up 9. Route 44 at the 44th Street Sky Train station.	Across the Valley Metro bus network.
Rideshare	Terminal 3: the south outer curb (except its far east end) and the far east end of the north outer curb. Terminal 4: Level 1, north outer curb outside door 1, or south outer curb outside doors 2, 6 or 8.	Wherever you booked.

What the lowest fares include

Fare	Carry-on	Checked bag	Seat	Changes
American Basic Economy	Included, plus a personal item.	Not included, except for some AAdvantage status members and eligible cardmembers.	A free seat is assigned at check-in, or you can pay to choose one.	Generally not allowed. American describes a 24-hour window and some credit options on its Basic Economy page.
United Basic Economy	Not included on domestic flights. One personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.	Not included; check United's bag fee calculator.	Assigned by United before boarding.	Changes may not be allowed. Refund if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, under United's 24-hour policy; after that, partial travel credit.
Alaska Saver	Included, plus a personal item.	Same allowance as Alaska's Main fare.	Assigned at check-in or at the gate. Parties are not guaranteed to sit together.	No changes except eligible same-day changes for a fee. Cancelling within 24 hours of booking follows Alaska's 24-hour policy; cancelling at least 14 days before departure gives a 50 percent credit.

Based on the airlines' own pages, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Fees are left out because they change often. Check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

When this guide was checked on 22 Oct 2026, EazAir had not stored any fare checks from Sacramento to Phoenix, so it cannot describe how prices have moved. The cheapest cached price near the top of this page comes from a separate partner fare lookup and shows its own last-checked date. For the return direction, Phoenix to Sacramento, EazAir's first 2 checks ran from 15 Oct to 20 Oct 2026. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

Southwest: Flights from Sacramento to Phoenix (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Flights from Phoenix to Sacramento (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Where We Fly (nonstop flights from Phoenix) (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Airport information, Sacramento (SMF) (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Sacramento (SMF) airport information (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
NIST: Local time FAQs (Created 16 Sep 2024, updated 11 Oct 2024, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Passenger airlines (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Airport information, Phoenix (PHX) (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Phoenix (PHX) airport information (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
Mesa Gateway Airport (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
SMF: SMForward (no date shown, accessed 22 Oct 2026)
SMF: Airlines (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SMF: Security information (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SMF: FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SMF: Free Waiting Area (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SacRT: Airport Express (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Yolobus: Travel to SMF on the 42 (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: PHX Sky Train (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Security screening (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Light rail connection (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Ride share (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Public transportation (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Basic Economy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
United: Basic Economy FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Alaska Airlines: Saver fare (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for SMF to PHX: none stored as of 22 Oct 2026; PHX to SMF, 15 Oct 2026 to 20 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Does Phoenix change its clocks, and will my arrival time look odd?

Most of Arizona does not, according to NIST, and stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, though NIST says the Navajo Indian territories in Arizona do observe it. Under NIST's rule, daylight saving time ends on the first Sunday in November, which is 1 Nov 2026, so read the local arrival time on each result carefully around then.

Which Sacramento terminal do I fly from, A or B?

It depends on the airline. SMF lists American and United in Terminal A, where American keeps its ticket counter, and Alaska and Southwest in Terminal B. Southwest lists gates B12 and B14 to B23.

Which Phoenix terminal will I arrive at, and can I switch terminals?

Phoenix Sky Harbor lists Southwest and American at Terminal 4, and Southwest lists its gates in the C and D gate areas. United and Alaska use Terminal 3. The free PHX Sky Train links the two terminals 24 hours a day.

Who flies nonstop from Sacramento to Phoenix?

Southwest's route page, checked 22 Oct 2026, answers yes for Sacramento to Phoenix. Phoenix Sky Harbor's list of nonstop flights from Phoenix also shows American, but for the opposite direction, Phoenix to Sacramento. Check the stops shown on each result before you choose.

Is Mesa Gateway an option for Phoenix?

Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Mesa is a separate airport that also serves the Phoenix area. The nonstops described on this page use Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), so check the airport code on every result.

Do the lowest Sacramento to Phoenix fares include a carry-on?

American Basic Economy and Alaska Saver include a carry-on plus a personal item. United Basic Economy on domestic flights includes a personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Ease jet lag on longer routes

On longer cross-country flights, adjusting your sleep schedule a day or two before departure and staying hydrated in flight can reduce jet lag on arrival.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.