SMF rental car return: where to go and how to get to the terminal
Where to drop off a rental car at Sacramento International Airport, how you get from there to your flight, and which rental companies are there.
Checked October 14, 2026
Where do you return a rental car at SMF?
The rental car terminal on airport property, where all on-airport rental companies are located.
Returning the car and getting to the terminal
Return the car at the rental car terminal (the airport says you can drop it off as early as 4:00 a.m.), then take the free rental car shuttle: it runs 24 hours, about every 10 minutes, and each shuttle is assigned to one terminal, so check the sign. Allow 25–35 minutes to reach your terminal; waits can be longer 4–10 a.m. and 8 p.m.–midnight.
Rental car companies at SMF
The airport lists 10 companies:
- Alamo
- Avis
- Budget
- Dollar Rent a Car
- Enterprise
- Hertz
- National
- Payless Car Rental
- Thrifty
- Zipcar
Check your rental company's opening hours on your booking.
Driving your own car instead?
The lowest fixed posted rate for a week of parking at SMF is $84 at South Economy Lot. Compare SMF parking for your dates →
Sources
From the airport's own pages. We are not a rental company and do not take bookings. Tell us if something has changed.
- Rental Cars — Sacramento County Department of Airports. Checked October 14, 2026.
- Maps (Parking) — Sacramento County Department of Airports. Checked October 14, 2026.