Best Time to Drive from SMF to Sacramento

Right now (10:01 am PDT): about 12 minutes via I-5 South, usually 12 at this time.

On weekdays the 12-mile drive from SMF to Sacramento (via I-5 South) usually takes as little as 12 minutes and up to 20 minutes, when leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays. The fastest times to leave are before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. Midday (11 am to 2 pm) it takes about 13 minutes. On weekends it is slowest around 11 am on Saturdays (13 minutes).

⇄ Reverse trip: Sacramento to SMF

Drive times are measured from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to downtown Sacramento (the Capitol) (9th Street) along the route shown. Starting or ending elsewhere in a big city can add or save several minutes.

Typical drive time by departure time

Minutes from SMF to Sacramento by day and time you leave (local time)
Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	12	12	13	15	14	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	13	12	12	12
Tue	12	12	13	20	18	13	13	13	13	13	14	17	18	15	12	12	12
Wed	12	12	13	19	16	13	13	13	14	13	15	16	19	15	12	12	12
Thu	12	13	13	17	16	13	13	13	13	14	16	17	20	17	12	12	12
Fri	12	13	13	14	14	13	13	13	14	14	16	17	17	15	13	12	12
Sat	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	12
Sun	12	12	12	12	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	12

Simulated from typical freeway speeds at each point of the drive for the time you would reach it, from every 5-minute reading we have recorded. Surface streets at each end are estimated.

Questions

What is the best time to drive from SMF to Sacramento?

On weekdays, leave before 7:30 am or after 7 pm. The drive usually takes about 12 minutes then, versus up to 20 minutes at the worst times.

How long does it take to drive from SMF to Sacramento?

The 12-mile drive usually takes 12 to 20 minutes on weekdays, depending on when you leave, and about 13 minutes midday.

When is traffic worst from SMF to Sacramento?

Leaving around 5 pm on Thursdays is usually slowest, about 20 minutes.

Estimate this drive for any day and departure time →

More drives

Sacramento to SMF (return trip) · SMF to Elk Grove · SMF to Davis

Open the live traffic map →

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	12	12	13	15	14	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	13	12	12	12
Tue	12	12	13	20	18	13	13	13	13	13	14	17	18	15	12	12	12
Wed	12	12	13	19	16	13	13	13	14	13	15	16	19	15	12	12	12
Thu	12	13	13	17	16	13	13	13	13	14	16	17	20	17	12	12	12
Fri	12	13	13	14	14	13	13	13	14	14	16	17	17	15	13	12	12
Sat	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	12
Sun	12	12	12	12	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	12

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	12	12	13	15	14	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	13	12	12	12
Tue	12	12	13	20	18	13	13	13	13	13	14	17	18	15	12	12	12
Wed	12	12	13	19	16	13	13	13	14	13	15	16	19	15	12	12	12
Thu	12	13	13	17	16	13	13	13	13	14	16	17	20	17	12	12	12
Fri	12	13	13	14	14	13	13	13	14	14	16	17	17	15	13	12	12
Sat	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	12
Sun	12	12	12	12	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	12

Leave	5am	6am	7am	8am	9am	10am	11am	12pm	1pm	2pm	3pm	4pm	5pm	6pm	7pm	8pm	9pm
Mon	12	12	13	15	14	13	13	13	13	13	14	14	14	13	12	12	12
Tue	12	12	13	20	18	13	13	13	13	13	14	17	18	15	12	12	12
Wed	12	12	13	19	16	13	13	13	14	13	15	16	19	15	12	12	12
Thu	12	13	13	17	16	13	13	13	13	14	16	17	20	17	12	12	12
Fri	12	13	13	14	14	13	13	13	14	14	16	17	17	15	13	12	12
Sat	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	12
Sun	12	12	12	12	12	12	13	13	13	13	13	12	12	12	12	12	12