$49 Cheap Flights from San Diego (SAN) to Sacramento (SMF)

View $49 flight on Tue, Sep 30, 2025Opens in a new window

Popular airlines from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF)

  • Plan, book, fly with confidence

  • trending down icon
    Be in the know
    Get alerts if flight prices drop or rise*
  • bex rewards loyalty icon
    Book smarter
    Save up to 30% on select hotels after you book a flight*
  • one key icon
    Earn twice
    Earn your airline miles on top of our OneKeyCash
    Learn about One Key

Cheap Flights from San Diego to Sacramento (SAN-SMF)

Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $49 for one-way flights and $97 for round trip, for the period specified. Prices and availability are subject to change. Additional terms apply.

Alaska Airlines
Tue, Sep 30 - Thu, Oct 2
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$97 Roundtrip, just found
$97
Roundtrip
just found
Select Alaska Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 30 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Thu, Oct 2, priced at $97 just found
Southwest Airlines
Tue, Sep 30 - Thu, Oct 2
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$97 Roundtrip, just found
$97
Roundtrip
just found
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 30 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Thu, Oct 2, priced at $97 just found
Southwest Airlines
Sat, Sep 27 - Mon, Sep 29
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$107 Roundtrip, just found
$107
Roundtrip
just found
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Sat, Sep 27 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Mon, Sep 29, priced at $107 just found
Southwest Airlines
Mon, Aug 11 - Wed, Aug 13
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$112 Roundtrip, just found
$112
Roundtrip
just found
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Mon, Aug 11 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Wed, Aug 13, priced at $112 just found
Southwest Airlines
Tue, Sep 30 - Thu, Oct 2
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$114 Roundtrip, just found
$114
Roundtrip
just found
Select Southwest Airlines flight, departing Tue, Sep 30 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Thu, Oct 2, priced at $114 just found
Spirit Airlines
Wed, Jul 16 - Fri, Jul 18
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$114 Roundtrip, just found
$114
Roundtrip
just found
Select Spirit Airlines flight, departing Wed, Jul 16 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Fri, Jul 18, priced at $114 just found
Spirit Airlines
Wed, Jul 23 - Mon, Aug 11
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$116 Roundtrip, found 11 hours ago
$116
Roundtrip
found 11 hours ago
Select Spirit Airlines flight, departing Wed, Jul 23 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Mon, Aug 11, priced at $116 found 11 hours ago
Spirit Airlines
Tue, Jul 15 - Tue, Aug 5
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$116 Roundtrip, found 14 hours ago
$116
Roundtrip
found 14 hours ago
Select Spirit Airlines flight, departing Tue, Jul 15 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Tue, Aug 5, priced at $116 found 14 hours ago
Hawaiian Airlines
Sat, Jul 19 - Tue, Aug 5
SAN
San Diego
SMF
Sacramento
$142 Roundtrip, found 3 days ago
$142
Roundtrip
found 3 days ago
Select Hawaiian Airlines flight, departing Sat, Jul 19 from San Diego to Sacramento, returning Tue, Aug 5, priced at $142 found 3 days ago
American Airlines
Thu, Sep 18 - Sat, Sep 20
CLD
Carlsbad
SMF
Sacramento
$159 Roundtrip, just found
$159
Roundtrip
just found
Select American Airlines flight, departing Thu, Sep 18 from Carlsbad to Sacramento, returning Sat, Sep 20, priced at $159 just found

Find the cheapest month to fly from San Diego (SAN) to Sacramento (SMF)

August is typically the cheapest month to fly

From $40 - $130 per traveler.

Graph displaying average flight prices per month

Flights from San Diego (SAN) to Sacramento (SMF)
Origin airport
San Diego Intl.
Destination airport
Sacramento Intl.
Airlines serving
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United
Roundtrip price
$91
Distance
479 mi
Average flight time
1 hour 35 mins

San Diego to Sacramento Flights

The cheapest times to fly from San Diego to Sacramento

On average, Thursday can be the cheapest time to fly, according to data from the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), one of the world's biggest databases for global airline sales. The data reveals that you could save up to 16% by flying on a Thursday—the cheapest day to travel on average—instead of a Sunday—the most expensive. Some of the most affordable flights from San Diego to Sacramento are during the month of September. You can find some of the cheapest flights from San Diego to Sacramento with Expedia's search tool and vast selection of airlines.

 

The best time to book a flight from San Diego to Sacramento

Sunday is one of the best days to book for cheap flights from San Diego to Sacramento: Tickets reserved on a Sunday cost between 6% and 13% less than those reserved on a Friday, according to ARC data. The data also suggests booking early can also lead to cheaper airfares. You could save 24% by buying your tickets for domestic flights at least a month in advance and 10% by booking international flights 2 months in advance.

 

How to find cheap round-trip tickets from San Diego to Sacramento

Being flexible with your dates and using Expedia's Price Drop Protection and Price Tracking features are some of the best ways of finding a cheap ticket from San Diego to Sacramento in 2025. You can also book with separate airlines for your outbound and return journeys, from $49 one-way. Expedia also offers Price Drop Protection, so if the cost of your airfare goes down after booking, you'll receive a credit for the difference*. This is available for a small fee, and is free to One Key Gold and Platinum tier members.

 

Expedia's Price Tracking feature means you can stay on top of airfares without manually checking every day. It sends you automated price alerts for cheap San Diego to Sacramento flights and uses historical data to indicate when the best time to book is. Download Expedia's free app to activate this handy tool in a few easy taps.

 

You could also save big by booking one of Expedia's vacation packages. Bundling together your San Diego to Sacramento airfare with your accommodations and car rental is often cheaper than booking everything separately. There’s also One Key, Expedia's generous rewards program. Join for free and you could earn One Key cash on most bookings to save on future adventures.

 

*Terms apply.

 

Disclaimer: ARC The statistics are based on average round-trip ticket prices between January and August 2023. The percentages you see are averages.

 

Frequently asked questions

How much does a flight from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF) cost?
You can find cheap return tickets from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF) starting at $92. Snag a seat and get ready to go. This information is based on the cheapest price found on Expedia for this return journey departing within the next three months. This airfare is for a Alaska Airlines flight leaving SAN on July 17 2025 and touching down at SMF. The price was last updated on July 1 2025 and has not changed since.
What is the cheapest month to fly from SAN to SMF?
The cheapest flights from SAN to SMF are usually during off-peak season, when demand is lower. To save money, avoid flying during public holidays, school breaks and major local events.
Which airlines fly direct from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF)?
You can choose from 3 airlines that fly nonstop from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF). These include:

  • Southwest Airlines
  • Alaska Airlines
  • Frontier Airlines

What is the cheapest airline that flies from SAN to SMF?
Jet off from SAN to SMF with Alaska Airlines. This airline currently has the cheapest one-way ticket for this route, starting at $49. This fare is based on the lowest price found on Expedia departing within the next three months. The flight takes off from SAN on September 24 2025. Prices were last updated on July 1 2025 and have not changed since.
How many flights per day from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF)?
When jetting out of San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN), you can pick from an average of 12 daily direct flights to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF).
What are the most popular departure times for flights from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF)?
The 8 PM departures from SAN to SMF are the top choice for many travelers. They can also be more expensive. If you want to save on your trip, choose a less crowded time to fly.
What day of the week has the most flights from SAN to SMF?
If you travel on a Thursday, you'll get the greatest range of choices for flights from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF).
What is the earliest flight from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF)?
San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN)'s earliest flight to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF) is at approximately 6:45AM UTC-8. With a flight time of 1h 40m, you'll touch down at around 8:25AM UTC-8.
How long does it take to fly from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF)?
It takes about 1 hour and 42 minutes to travel the 480 mi from SAN to SMF.
What airline has the least delays from SAN to SMF?
Alaska Airlines has the best performance for on-time direct flights from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF), with an on-time score of 80%. Use the Expedia App to check your flight status before you go and get immediate updates about any trip changes.
What is the best time to fly from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF)?
Select a flight from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF) that takes off before 3 PM to reduce the likelihood of delays. Later departures have a 22% higher chance of being canceled, on average.**Most reliable time of the day and month to travel recommendation is based on January through August 2024 flight status data sourced from OAG's global flight data platform.
What airports do you fly into for Sacramento from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN)?
If you're on a direct flight from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento, Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF) is the only airport you can land at.
Is it cheaper to buy a plane ticket from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF) last-minute?
Last-minute fares from SAN to SMF are typically more expensive. To lock in the best prices, start looking for flights early. That being said, if your travel plans are flexible, you may score a cheap fare right before you leave.
Is it cheaper to book a SAN to SMF flight and hotel package?
You can save money by securing a SAN to SMF flight and hotel package compared to booking separately. In fact, travelers could save hundreds of dollars by bundling with Expedia. And it's simple to manage it all in one convenient place. Once you've selected your ideal flights and accommodations, consider adding extras like car rentals, activities and tours.
Can I cancel or change the date of my flight from San Diego Intl. Airport (SAN) to Sacramento Intl. Airport (SMF)?
If you reserved your SAN to SMF flight within the last 24 hours, you may be able to cancel or modify it without fees. Depending on the airline and the fare type you purchased, additional charges may apply for changes after that time. Airline policies and contact information can be found in your itinerary or confirmation email. Or, visit our Customer Service portal for more information.

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

*Available to One Key members.