Los Angeles to Sacramento (LAX–SMF) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
LAX–SMF is served by 6 airlines with nonstop service. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines lead the route. The flight covers 373 miles in approximately 1h 8m. Beyond nonstop, 71 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL Delta Air Lines Also: AF, AM, CI, KL, VS | 47 | E75L, E7W | 1h18-1h33 | SkyTeam | AF, AM, CI, KL, VS | |
| UA United Airlines Also: AC, AV, CM, LX, SQ, VA | 38 | 320, 739, E75L, E7W | 1h30-1h37 | Star Alliance | AC, AV, CM, LX, SQ, VA | |
| WN Southwest Airlines | 34 | 737, 73H, 7M8, 7S7, B38M | 1h08-1h30 | – | – | |
| AA American Airlines Also: AS, EI, QR | 28 | CR7, E75 | 1h33-1h37 | Oneworld | AS, EI, QR | |
| F9 Frontier Also: Y4 | 7 | 32N | 1h34 | – | Y4 | |
| QF Qantas | 7 | CR7 | 1h37 | Oneworld | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Sacramento from Los Angeles
| Metric | LAX→SMF | LGB→SMF | BUR→SMF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance from LAX | – | 17 mi | 18 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Weekly flights | 347 | 34 | 53 |
| Flight time | 1h 8m | 1h 25m | 1h 20m |
| Departure OTP | 80% | – | – |
Travel Essentials
LAX: PDT · SMF: PDT
When it's 6:00 PM in Los Angeles, it's 6:00 PM in Sacramento.
FlyAway bus runs from Van Nuys and Union Station ($9.75, 30–50 min depending on traffic). LA Metro C Line connects to Aviation/LAX station; a free shuttle covers the last mile to terminals. Ride-shares cost $20–50 from downtown. Long-term parking lots A/B are walkable; remote Lot E requires a shuttle.
LAX–SMF Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles to Sacramento: California's Capital Corridor by Air
LAX-SMF is a high-frequency intra-California route with six competing carriers. Southwest leads with 5 to 7 daily nonstops. Delta, American, United, JetBlue, and Spirit all offer daily service. The 373-mile sector runs 1 hour 10 to 20 minutes. The route competes with a 5.5-hour drive on I-5. Government travel between Los Angeles and the state capital produces steady weekday demand. Legislative sessions from January through September create a built-in business travel cycle. The carrier diversity keeps fares low, with Spirit and Southwest setting the floor and legacy carriers competing on schedule and connectivity.
Multi-Carrier Competition
Six airlines on a 373-mile route is unusual and reflects the size of the LA-Sacramento market. The combined metro populations exceed 17 million, with Los Angeles County alone at over 10 million. Sacramento handles about 13 million annual passengers and is a mid-size airport with room to grow. Terminal A and B split operations by carrier. LAX's congestion and terminal sprawl make it the harder end of the trip for passengers. SMF is compact with short security lines and easy parking at $18 per day in the garage. The California High-Speed Rail project, if completed, would connect the two cities in about 2 hours 40 minutes, but current timelines remain uncertain. Until rail arrives, the air shuttle will remain the fastest option.