Flying from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Sacramento: what you need to know
Sacramento is 3 hours behind Durham, where Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located. Sacramento operates on the UTC-7 timezone.
To ensure you catch your flight from RDU to Sacramento, leave plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
If you're travelling during a popular month like July, make your way to the airport even earlier. It's smart to arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures. Check-in and security lines are longer during holiday periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year.
For a domestic flight within United States, you won't need a passport or visa. However, you'll have to show another form of identification, such as a driver's licence or ID card. Once you've booked cheap tickets from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento, make sure your ID is up to date.
The journey from central Durham to RDU takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or grab a cab, you'll cover the 23 kilometres in 18 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Catching an early flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by picking one of these hotels near RDU:
How to find the cheapest flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Sacramento
The best price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento is R 2,308. The cheapest price for a return flight is R 4,469. Bear in mind fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
To get your hands on cheap tickets from RDU to Sacramento, book ahead. Airlines tend to offer the most competitive fares when flights are first made available.
Getting cheap tickets from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento is more likely if you can be flexible with your trip dates. Check out the 'Whole month' function to see the lowest prices throughout the month and snap up a great deal.
Locking in a cheap ticket from RDU to Sacramento is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as the price has dropped.
Take advantage of the filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by airline, arrival and departure times, and journey duration.
Airports in Sacramento
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to central Sacramento takes about 17 minutes by car. It's approximately 19 kilometres away.
It takes roughly 24 minutes to get there by public transport.
After your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento has touched down, relax and unwind at a nearby hotel. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento Airport Natomas is a great option that's a quick drive from SMF.
Stockton Airport (SCK)
The centre of Sacramento is located around 88 kilometres from Stockton Airport (SCK). As soon as your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento has touched down and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should take about 55 minutes.
You can expect the trip to take roughly 3 hours and 18 minutes on public transport.
Settle in and wind down at a hotel shortly after your flight from RDU to Sacramento. Holiday Inn Express Stockton Southeast and Hampton Inn by Hilton Stockton are within easy reach of SCK.
Best time to go to Sacramento
August is the most popular month for flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento. To avoid the crowds, visit Sacramento in May when it's quieter.
Before you book a flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento, think about the kind of weather you enjoy. July is the warmest month in Sacramento, with temperatures ranging from 15ºC to 37ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from RDU to Sacramento in January when temperatures average between 2ºC and 17ºC.
More about Sacramento
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the top stays in Sacramento right here. Browse these options as soon as you've locked in your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento:
Old Sacramento State Historic Park and Crocker Art Museum are a couple of big attractions to add to your Sacramento travel itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Discovery Park.
Complete your Sacramento trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Sacramento to track down amazing deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare your options in one place. Plus you'll find all the info you need to know about car rentals in Sacramento, from the most popular car type to the best time to book.