TSA wait times
SMF

Sacramento International Airport

Sacramento, California 2 terminals Updated Oct. 15, 2026

SMF Airport Security: TSA Hours, PreCheck and Terminal B

The TSA checkpoints at Sacramento International (SMF) open at 4 a.m. every day. Terminal A's checkpoint is on level 2 of Terminal A. Terminal B's checkpoint is in Concourse B: you check in in the main building, ride the Automated People Mover from level 3, then go through security. The airport's rule of thumb is to arrive 2.5 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international one. It posts no live wait times, so plan with its timing guidance.

Your options at a glance

  • Terminal A TSA checkpoint

    Terminal A

    Level 2 of Terminal A. Serves American, Delta, United and Air Canada. Opens at 4 a.m. daily. Lane count not published.

    Hours
    4 a.m. to about 12:30 a.m. daily, depending on flight schedules

  • Terminal B TSA checkpoint

    Terminal B

    In Concourse B. Ride the Automated People Mover from level 3 of the main building first. Serves Aeromexico, Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and Volaris. Opens at 4 a.m. daily. Lane count not published.

    Hours
    4 a.m. to about 12:30 a.m. daily, depending on flight schedules

  • TSA PreCheck enrollment center

    Terminal B

    Southeast corner of Level 1 in Terminal B, per a 2024 airport notice. Confirm before you go.

    Hours
    Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • CLEAR at SMF

    Before security

    CLEAR members get faster ID verification in the security line. Enroll on the CLEAR website.

  • Airline priority security lane

    Before security

    Both terminals have a priority lane for preferred airline customers. Each airline sets its own rules.

SMF TSA checkpoint hours

SMF has one TSA checkpoint in each terminal. The airport says the checkpoints open at 4 a.m. every day and close at about 12:30 a.m., depending on the flight schedule. It publishes one set of hours for both terminals.

Around holidays the airport has opened earlier: 3:45 a.m. in December 2023, and in 2024 it said Terminal B would open at 3:30 a.m. and Terminal A at 3:45 a.m. from November 17 to January 11. The security page does not post hours for the current season, so check flysmf.gov if you fly around a holiday.

The public areas of both terminals are open 24 hours a day.

How early to get to SMF

The airport's FAQ gives a rule of thumb of 2.5 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. Its holiday notices in December 2023, November 2024 and March 2025 asked for the same 2.5 hours, and an August 2025 release said at least 2 hours for domestic flights. Your airline may set its own advice, and you may be denied check-in if you arrive less than 45 minutes before your flight.

That time covers parking, check-in and the TSA line. If you park in an Economy lot, add the shuttle: the airport says the trip from an Economy lot to the terminal can take up to an hour. In Terminal B, add a few minutes for the Automated People Mover between check-in and security.

Terminal A checkpoint

Terminal A is for American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines and Air Canada. Check-in is on the ground level, and the TSA checkpoint is on level 2. The airport's directions say you reach level 2 by escalator or elevator from the ground level. If you park in Garage 1, the sky bridge on the third floor of the garage leads straight to Terminal A level 2, where the TSA checkpoint is.

The airport does not publish the lane count. Follow the TSA signs after you check in.

Terminal B checkpoint (in Concourse B)

Terminal B is for Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest and Volaris, according to the airport's airline directory. Here is the order: 1. Check in at the airline ticket counters on the second level, above baggage claim. 2. Go to level 3 of the main building and ride the Automated People Mover to Concourse B. The airport's directions put the people mover on level 3, and the airport describes it as a pre-security area. 3. Go through the TSA checkpoint in Concourse B. 4. The gates, restaurants and the Escape Lounge are after the checkpoint. The lounge is on your immediate left.

You do not screen in the main building, so do not wait for a security line there. The airport does not publish the number of lanes. Follow the TSA signs after the people mover.

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at SMF

TSA PreCheck is available at SMF. The airport has said it has a PreCheck enrollment center in the southeast corner of Level 1 in Terminal B, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. That is a 2024 notice, so confirm with TSA before you make a trip just to enroll.

CLEAR members get faster identity checks in the security line, according to the airport. You sign up on the CLEAR website.

The airport does not list which lanes PreCheck or CLEAR use at each checkpoint. Ask the TSA officer at the front of the line.

Airline priority security lanes

Both terminals have a priority lane for preferred airline customers, and the airport says all airlines take part. Each airline sets its own rules for who can use the lane. Ask your airline before you count on it.

Security wait times at SMF

The airport's website shows no live TSA wait time, and the airport has no reservation program for the security line.

Best move: arrive by the airport's suggested time, check in online and watch your airline's app for gate and delay updates.

Changing terminals and screening again

Terminal A and Terminal B are separate buildings. Walking between them takes about 10 minutes through the parking garage, and the airport calls it the fastest option. A free Daily Lot shuttle also runs between them: the airport FAQ says every 10 minutes, but its parking page says 15 to 20 minutes, so allow for a wait.

If your connecting flight is in the other terminal, you must go through the TSA checkpoint again to reach your gate. Allow extra time.

International arrivals and customs

The airport's International Arrivals area is in Terminal B, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processes passengers arriving from foreign countries. The local CBP office is at 916-649-3671. Visit it only with a pre-arranged appointment or if a CBP officer sends you, because officers may not be on site at all times.

Help, lost items and private screening

If you are chosen for secondary screening, you have the right to ask for a private screening. The TSA lost and found line at SMF is (916) 830-0227, open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on holidays. For other questions during business hours, the local TSA office is at (916) 830-0220.

Anything left at an airport shop or restaurant goes to the airport's lost and found at (916) 874-0701. Anything left on a plane goes to your airline.

Questions travelers ask

Where is the TSA checkpoint in Terminal B at SMF?

In Concourse B. Check in in the main building, ride the Automated People Mover from level 3 to Concourse B, then go through the checkpoint there.

What time does TSA open at SMF?

The TSA checkpoints at SMF open at 4 a.m. daily and close at about 12:30 a.m., depending on flight schedules. In past holiday seasons the airport opened checkpoints at 3:30 a.m. or 3:45 a.m., so check flysmf.gov if you fly near a holiday.

How early should I get to SMF for a domestic flight?

The airport's rule of thumb is 2.5 hours before a domestic flight and 3 hours before an international flight. That time includes parking, check-in and security. If you park in an Economy lot, allow extra time for the shuttle, and check with your airline for its own advice.

Does SMF have TSA PreCheck?

Yes, the airport says TSA PreCheck is available at SMF. It has also listed an enrollment center in the southeast corner of Level 1 in Terminal B, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. That notice is from 2024, so confirm the hours with TSA first.

Does SMF have CLEAR?

Yes. The airport says CLEAR members get expedited identity verification in the security line. You enroll on the CLEAR website. The airport does not list which lanes CLEAR uses.

Where can I see TSA wait times at SMF?

The SMF website shows no live wait times. Arrive by the airport's suggested time and watch your airline's app for updates. Ask a TSA officer or the information desk in each terminal if you are unsure.

Which terminal has the TSA checkpoint for my airline?

Each terminal has its own checkpoint. Terminal A (American, Delta, United, Air Canada) has it on level 2. Terminal B (Aeromexico, Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Volaris) has it in Concourse B, after the Automated People Mover. Check your boarding pass, because airlines can move.

Does SMF have priority security lanes?

Yes. Both terminals have a priority lane for preferred airline customers. Each airline decides who qualifies, so ask your airline.

Can I walk between Terminal A and Terminal B?

Yes. The walk takes about 10 minutes through the parking garage, and the airport calls it the fastest way. You must go through TSA again if you cross terminals after screening.

What if I leave something at the TSA checkpoint at SMF?

Call the TSA at (916) 830-0227. The line is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, and closed on holidays.

Where do I clear customs at SMF?

The airport's International Arrivals area is in Terminal B, where CBP processes passengers arriving from foreign countries.

More at SMF

ParkingOfficial lots, cheaper off-site options and where to wait for pickups. HotelsHotels at and near the airport, shuttles and sleeping in the terminal. To the cityTrains, buses, taxis, rideshare and private transfers. LoungesWhich lounge is in your terminal and how to get in without status. FoodBest bites terminal by terminal, before or after security. Lost and foundWho to contact: your airline, the terminal or the airport. Car rentalWhere the rental counters are and how to reach them. WifiHow to connect, charging spots and an eSIM if you land abroad.

Sources and last check

Checked by our team on Oct. 15, 2026 against these official sources: