Seattle skyline with the Space Needle and Mount Rainier, seen from Queen Anne Hill. Flights from Sacramento to Seattle

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Sacramento to Seattle

Compare partner fares from Sacramento to Seattle, plan your Terminal A departure at SMF, and find your gate and ride at Seattle-Tacoma International.

SMF to SEA · 606 mi · 1h 56m est.

SMF to SEA
606 miles
1h 56m nonstop (estimated)
3 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sacramento to Seattle flight insights

Average flight time

~1h 56m (estimated)

SMF → SEA

Cheapest cached price

$184

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Oct 27, 2026.

Planning a trip from Sacramento to Seattle? The average flight time on this route is ~1h 56m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $184 (last checked Oct 27, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Sacramento to Seattle covers a straight-line distance of about 606 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~1h 56m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Sacramento to Seattle at a glance

SMF to SEA is about 606 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 Seattle on Eazair
Origin	Sacramento (SMF)
Destination	Seattle (SEA)
Average Flight Time	~1h 56m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$184
Fares Last Checked	Oct 27, 2026
Distance	606 miles (SMF to SEA)
Time in Seattle	Same time as Sacramento
Airlines in our fare results	3

Local time in Seattle is the same as in Sacramento. Sacramento is on Pacific Time, Seattle on Pacific Time.

Flight deals from Sacramento to Seattle

For Sacramento to Seattle, this page compares fares from Sacramento International (SMF) to Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA). United and American have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. SMF lists both in Terminal A, along with Delta, while Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue and Southwest use Terminal B. The SMF website also lists Sacramento Executive (SAC) and Mather (MHR), but neither is the airport searched here. At the Seattle end, SEA's guide puts United at the S and A gates.

Terminal A and Terminal B at SMF are separate buildings, so head for A. SMF says TSA checkpoints open at 4 a.m. daily and close at 12:30 a.m., depending on flight schedules. Its rule of thumb is to arrive two and a half hours before a domestic flight, and you may be denied check-in less than 45 minutes before departure. SacRT Route 142, the Airport Express, serves both terminals from 5:15 a.m. to 10:33 p.m., and Yolobus 42A and 42B also stop there.

United's S and A gates sit at the south end of Sea-Tac's single terminal. The SEA Underground Blue Line links the S, B and A concourses, and S gates connect to the rest of the airport only by that train. For Lyft or UberX, cross the skybridge one level below ticketing and one level above baggage claim, then go down one level to the 3rd floor of the parking garage. Uber Black and other premium rides meet you at the baggage claim door you pick in the app.

Two fare checks are all EazAir has for SMF to SEA so far, on 28 Sep and 14 Oct 2026, each for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days later. The highest result was less than one and a half times the lowest. American Basic Economy includes a carry-on, while United Basic Economy allows only a personal item on domestic flights. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Sacramento to Seattle flights

Departure · Sacramento

Sacramento International (SMF)

Pacific Time

Arrival · Seattle

Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Pacific Time

About Seattle

Areas to know in Seattle

Capitol Hill
Ballard
Fremont

Weather in Seattle

Mild, wet winters and dry, mild summers. The Pacific Northwest's rainy reputation is strongest from October through April.

Sacramento to Seattle: airport and fare guide

Checked on 17 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.

Paine Field (PAE) in Everett, north of Seattle, is a separate airport with its own passenger terminal. Check that your ticket says SEA if you plan to use Sea-Tac.

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

Leaving from Sacramento International (SMF)

Airline	SMF terminal
American	Terminal A
United	Terminal A
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 Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Airline	SEA gates
United	S and A gates
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

From SEA's SEA Underground guide dated 2 Sep 2025, which says Delta, United and almost all international airlines use the S and A gates. Gates can change, so check your boarding pass.

SEA has one terminal with six concourses: A, B and S at the south end, and C, D and N at the north end.
The N and S concourses are not connected to the other gates, so you reach them on the SEA Underground train. SEA says a train arrives every three minutes.
The Blue Line links the S, B and A concourses, the Green Line links N, C and D, and the Yellow Line shuttles between the A and D stations only.
SEA says every security checkpoint gives access to all gates.

Getting from SEA	Where to board	Where it goes
Link light rail 1 Line	From baggage claim, go up to the fourth floor, cross the skybridge to the parking garage and follow the signs to SeaTac/Airport station. A free Train-to-Plane shuttle runs from 5 a.m. to midnight. A fare applies on the train.	Downtown Seattle, with the line running from Federal Way to Lynnwood. SEA says the ride from downtown Seattle takes 38 minutes.
Rideshare (Lyft, UberX)	3rd floor of the parking garage. Cross a skybridge, one level below ticketing and one level above baggage claim, then go down one level.	Wherever you booked.
Uber Black and other premium rides	The baggage claim level door you choose in the app.	Wherever you booked.
Taxis	3rd floor of the parking garage, at the north and south curbs.	Metered taxis have three-digit numbers and one color. Flat-rate taxis charge by zip code and have four-digit numbers and two colors.

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.

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

EazAir's first 2 fare checks from Sacramento to Seattle ran from 28 Sep to 14 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Seattle to Sacramento, EazAir's first check was on 14 Oct 2026. Each check asked partner travel sites for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days after the check. Results can include connecting flights. The highest result was less than one and a half times the lowest. With only 2 checks, this cannot show a pattern. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

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)
SEA: Security screening and checkpoints (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: All aboard the SEA Underground (September 2, 2025, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Terminal overview (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Public transit, Link light rail (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: App-based rideshare (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
SEA: Metered and flat rate taxis (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Sound Transit: 1 Line, Lynnwood to Federal Way (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)
EazAir fare checks for SMF to SEA, 28 Sep 2026 to 14 Oct 2026; SEA to SMF, 14 Oct 2026 to 14 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which terminal do United and American use at Sacramento International?

SMF lists American, Delta and United in Terminal A. Terminal B is a separate building, and SMF says walking between the two takes 10 minutes and is the fastest option.

How early should I get to SMF?

SMF's rule of thumb is two and a half hours before a domestic flight. It says you may be denied check-in if you arrive less than 45 minutes before your flight, so check your airline's advice as well.

Where do United flights arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International?

SEA's SEA Underground guide says United uses the S and A gates. The S concourse is reached only on the SEA Underground train. Gates can change, so check your boarding pass.

How do I get a taxi at Sea-Tac?

Taxis wait on the 3rd floor of the parking garage, at the north and south curbs. SEA says metered taxis have three-digit numbers and one color, while flat-rate taxis charge by zip code.

Do the lowest United and American fares from Sacramento include a carry-on?

American Basic Economy includes a carry-on plus a personal item. United Basic Economy does not include one on domestic flights unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.

How far is Sacramento from Seattle?

SMF and SEA are about 606 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

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
Southwest Airlines	Included	$45	$55	southwest.com, Oct 27, 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.

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.