DTW - SMF

$84 Find Cheap Flights from Detroit to Sacramento

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from Detroit to Sacramento departing on 3/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Sacramento

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Detroit to Sacramento.
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Detroit to Sacramento.
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$199
Overall average: $441
Frontier
Wed 3/11Mon 3/16
DTW - SMF • 2 stops
Cheapest non-stop
$457
Delta
Wed 3/11Mon 3/16
DTW - SMF • Non-stop
Our travelers' advice
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
Consider airport hotels for early flights from DTW.
SMF provides easy highway access for California trips.
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Expert advice
Top airlines
Frontier
Cheapest • from $199 (round-trip)
Southwest
Best reviews • 8.0 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
+1
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
3 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 24% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
August
Cheapest • 25% price drop
March
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
+1
+1
Good to know
Good to know
+1
Start a new search
KAYAK searches 100s of sites at once to find you the best travel deals.
We hope you love your trip to Sacramento!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Detroit to Sacramento (DTW-SMF)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Detroit to Sacramento that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from Detroit to Sacramento

Wed, Mar 11 - Mon, Mar 16
Frontier Logo
11:54 am - 3:56 pm
DTW
-
SMF
31h 02m
2 stops
Frontier Logo
4:51 pm - 10:59 am
SMF
-
DTW
15h 08m
1 stop
$199Frontier
Wed, Mar 11 - Mon, Mar 16
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:14 pm - 3:56 pm
DTW
-
SMF
24h 42m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:51 pm - 10:59 am
SMF
-
DTW
15h 08m
1 stop
$217Multiple Airlines
Sat, Feb 28 - Sun, Mar 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
6:14 pm - 10:08 am
DTW
-
SMF
18h 54m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:41 pm - 10:59 am
SMF
-
DTW
15h 18m
1 stop
$232Multiple Airlines
Sun, Mar 1 - Sun, Mar 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:35 pm - 11:13 am
DTW
-
SMF
23h 38m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:41 pm - 10:59 am
SMF
-
DTW
15h 18m
1 stop
$237Multiple Airlines
Sun, Mar 1 - Sun, Mar 8
Frontier Logo
6:00 am - 11:13 am
DTW
-
SMF
8h 13m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
4:41 pm - 10:59 am
SMF
-
DTW
15h 18m
1 stop
$247Frontier
Sat, Feb 14 - Mon, Feb 16
Frontier Logo
5:21 pm - 11:13 am
DTW
-
SMF
20h 52m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
10:53 am - 11:55 pm
SMF
-
DTW
10h 02m
1 stop
$256Frontier
Tue, Mar 3 - Tue, Mar 10
Alaska Airlines Logo
5:22 pm - 11:56 pm
DTW
-
SMF
9h 34m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:49 pm - 4:26 pm
SMF
-
DTW
17h 37m
1 stop
$257Alaska Airlines
Sun, Mar 15 - Thu, Mar 26
Multiple Airlines Logo
10:27 pm - 11:06 am
DTW
-
SMF
15h 39m
1 stop
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:51 am - 5:05 am
SMF
-
DTW
14h 14m
1 stop
$260Multiple Airlines
Sat, Feb 28 - Sun, Mar 8
Multiple Airlines Logo
2:35 pm - 11:13 am
DTW
-
SMF
23h 38m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:41 pm - 10:59 am
SMF
-
DTW
15h 18m
1 stop
$261Multiple Airlines
Sat, Mar 14 - Thu, Mar 19
Frontier Logo
11:54 am - 11:06 am
DTW
-
SMF
26h 12m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
4:51 pm - 10:59 am
SMF
-
DTW
15h 08m
1 stop
$269Frontier
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Detroit to Sacramento flights

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from Detroit to Sacramento to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from Detroit to Sacramento?

The average price of all round-trip flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Sacramento on a Tuesday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Sunday is the most expensive day to fly from Detroit to Sacramento. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Thursday and avoiding Sundays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.

The cheapest month for flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento is August, where tickets cost $343 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are January and December, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $819 and $576 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

No, with an average price for the route of $399, prices are generally cheapest when you fly direct.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento?

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 24% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 13 weeks before departure.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight from Detroit to Sacramento

 
AI-powered summary based on content written by travel experts. AI can make mistakes.
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Ramsey Qubein

Ramsey Qubein

Expert on DTW

An avid traveler and aviation expert who has visited 173 countries, all 50 states and seven continents, Ramsey Qubein flies nearly 400,000 miles a year. As a North Carolina-based freelance journalist for publications including Conde Nast Traveler, Forbes, USA Today and Bloomberg among others, he explores the latest trends in aviation, hospitality, cruises and business.

Bill Fink

Bill Fink

Expert on SMF

Bill is an award-winning travel writer with extensive credits covering airlines and the aviation industry for publications including AARP, AFAR, The Points Guy and Yahoo. Based in Portland, Oregon, Bill has traveled to more than 75 countries - and been late for his flight in most of them. He once achieved top-level frequent flier status for all of American, Delta and United Airlines during a single year.

Good to know

Low seasonNovember
Cheapest flight$84
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 24% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 4% lower on average.
Flight from Detroit to Sacramento

When to book flights from Detroit to Sacramento

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Detroit to Sacramento based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking Detroit to Sacramento flights

  • What is the checked baggage policy for United Airlines?

    When flying with United Airlines, you can check two bags for free if you hold a Premium Plus, Business, or First Class ticket. If you hold a Basic, Plus, or Full Economy ticket, you will have to pay for every bag you check. Your bag must not exceed 62 linear inches, 50 lbs if traveling in Economy or Premium Plus, and 70 lbs if traveling in First or Business Class.

  • Can I rent a car at Sacramento International Airport?

    You can rent a car with much ease at SMF, given that this remarkable airport features a rental car center connected to the airport terminals via a free shuttle. The agencies with locations at the rental car center include Hertz, National, Enterprise, Payless, Zipcar, Budget, Dollar, Avis, Alamo, and Advantage.

  • What is the best public transit from Sacramento International Airport?

    Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) Route 142 buses are the best public transportation from SMF to downtown Sacramento. Available hourly, these buses take roughly 20 to 30 minutes to travel from the airport to downtown, depending on traffic.

  • What are some of the cities I can easily get to from Sacramento International Airport?

    From SMF, you can easily reach plenty of destinations other than just Sacramento. They include Davis, West Sacramento, Woodland, Winters, Esparto, and Capay. If you’d like to travel to these destinations affordably, take a Yolobus bus that serves your destination. Alternatively, rent a car.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento was $84 for a one-way ticket and $199 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between Detroit and Sacramento?

    A passport is not required to fly from Detroit to Sacramento.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from Detroit to Sacramento?

    Detroit airport is called Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County and the only airport in Sacramento is Sacramento Intl.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from Detroit to Sacramento?

    Only Delta offers inflight Wi-Fi service on the Detroit to Sacramento flight route.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from Detroit to Sacramento?

    The Boeing 737-900 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the Detroit to Sacramento flight route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Detroit to Sacramento?

    Star Alliance, oneworld, and SkyTeam are the airline alliances operating flights between Detroit and Sacramento, with Star Alliance being the most commonly used for this route.

  • On which days can I fly direct from Detroit to Sacramento?

    There are nonstop flights from Detroit to Sacramento on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from Detroit to Sacramento, Southwest or Delta?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Detroit to Sacramento are Southwest and Delta. With an average price for the route of $476 and an overall rating of 8.0, Southwest is the most popular choice. Delta is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $499 and an overall rating of 7.9.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Detroit to Sacramento?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from Detroit to Sacramento.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from Detroit to Sacramento?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Sacramento from Detroit is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from Detroit to Sacramento?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Sacramento with an airline and back to Detroit with another airline. Booking your flights between Detroit and SMF can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from Detroit to Sacramento?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Sacramento from Detroit up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento

  • Suppose you plan on traveling from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW) to Sacramento International Airport (SMF) onboard a one-stop flight. In that case, you will layover at Las Vegas (LAS) if you travel with Spirit Airlines, Salt Lake City (SLC) if you travel with Delta, and Chicago (ORD) if you make the trip with United Airlines.
  • When flying to SMF, you can carry-on liquids on your flight, regardless of the airline you’re traveling with. You must store the liquids in containers that don’t exceed 3.4 oz. These containers must be stored in resealable, see-through plastic bags with a maximum capacity of one liter.
  • Suppose you want to travel to DTW using public transport. In that case, take a Route 125 or Route 280 bus. Route 125 buses are boarded at the Fort Street-Eureka Road Station, while Route 280 buses are boarded at the Middle Belt South station. If you board a Route 125 bus, you may alight at Evans Terminal or McNamara Terminal. On the other hand, if you hop on a Route 280 bus, you’ll alight at the Evans Terminal.
  • When flying with American Airlines, you can bring one cabin bag and a personal accessory. Other than fitting beneath the seat in front of you, your accessory must be at most 8 x 14 x 18 inches. On the other hand, your cabin bag must fit in the overhead luggage compartment and measure no more than 22 x 14 x 9 inches.
  • If you have limited mobility, you can request wheelchair assistance at DTW. To do so, inform the airline you’re traveling with of your needs at least 48 hours before your flight. If you do so on your travel date, you will be accorded the assistance you need from when you arrive to when you get on your flight.

Prefer to fly direct from Detroit to Sacramento?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to Sacramento Intl.
Find which airlines fly direct from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport to Sacramento Intl Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County to Sacramento Intl

Monday

Delta

Delta

Tuesday

Delta

Delta

Wednesday

Delta

Delta

Thursday

Delta

Delta

Friday

Delta

Delta

Saturday

Delta

Delta

Sunday

Delta

Delta

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Sacramento Intl to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

Monday

Delta

Delta

Tuesday

Delta

Delta

Wednesday

Delta

Delta

Thursday

Delta

Delta

Friday

Delta

Delta

Saturday

Delta

Delta

Sunday

Delta

Delta

See more direct flights

Reviews of the top 5 airlines serving from Detroit to Sacramento

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Detroit to Sacramento. Airline scores are aggregated from all reviews left by passengers on KAYAK after flying with an airline. KAYAK doesn’t show reviews that are older than 5 years. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.
Need help choosing which airline to fly with from Detroit to Sacramento? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
8.0
SouthwestOverall score based on 4273 reviews
8.0Comfort
8.6Crew
7.5Entertainment
7.0Food
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

3 hour delay. Had to change plans and was still delayed.

2.0 MediocreAnonymous, Jan 2026
SFO - SAN
Read more Southwest reviews

3 hour delay. Had to change plans and was still delayed.

The flight crew was extremely rude and especially not helpful when our flight was delayed.

The boarding and seat assignment system no longer works for me, but I know it is being replaced. Otherwise, I am good with the overall experience.

The lead steward kept singing about "San Francisco" and hotel California---more annoying than humorous....needs work. Flight was smooth and on time.

Still a fan of open seating. Flight was on schedule and arrived on time. The 737 MAX is very comfortable.

San Diego airport is brand new, spacious, airy and very smooth checkin at SW baggage drop.

Ever since Southwest starting charging for bags, passengers don't want to pay to check their bags, so the gate agents have to beg people to check their roller bags now because there's "not enough space". This was a terrible business move by Southwest.

Delays delays delays. Late taking off, late landing, wait for a gate, etc.

Connecting flight is on time and boarding was a breeze!

Southwest's seats are the least comfortable I have ever sat in.

I usually get upgraded so my experience is usually amazing. I did not get upgraded this time - which was fine - but the wifi had issues, the monitors were going in & out, & (though not Delta's fault) one of the gentlemen next to me desperately needed a shower.

I really liked the legroom. I am 6’4”.a at For some reason our seats were not together and using the app to fix it didn’t work. Passengers were nice enough to move for us but you should absolutely ensure a parent sits with their child.

DTW line is too long. The flights from DTW to BWI are always delayed for unknown reasons.

Flight was delayed several times. At one point, they "pulled back" 15 minutes from the delayed boarding and sent a text saying we would board sooner than previously advised. The flight then was delayed again. And when we boarded, there was an unspecified technical issue which had us waiting in the plane for about an hour.

Delta is a good airline. I've never had an issue with Delta. I'll continue to fly with them until they show me that I shouldn't.

Very good flight crew and very nice people staff were incredible especially the gate agent

Flight delays both to Detroits and return flight . The flight to Detroit was associated with mechanical difficulty

Great. I had to modify a flight. That was easy and free. Thank You

Left on time, a bit delayed due to headwinds most of the trip.

Staff were friendly and happy. Delta could make sure passengers that don't have the app know of changes. Without Kayak I would not have known about the change of gate or the delay. Kayak was faster to notify me.

It was a good trip. Flight Attendants were friendly and responsive.

Amazing I love American. I’ll never fly anyone else if I can help it.

Everything about the flight was lovely. My only suggestion would be to offer a few more options of tv series from Apple TV or HBO.

After the door had been closed, the cockpit makes an announcement that catering is running late and it is not the airline's fault. It is their fault in the sense that we had to sit for 2 hours or more when we could have stayed in the terminal. Poor communications between catering and airline. This caused a young man to lose his temper and he went storming out hitting objects. He had complained to the gate agent that he had already waited at the gate 7 hours and when can the airplane leave? Airilnes do a poor job of explaining delays, maintenance issues, etc. whereas being truthful may gain more sympathy or understanding.

We were told the flight was delayed 5 times, then it was moved to the next day.

The experience with American Airlines was good, although the Philippines Airlines flight was much better (better seats, better food, better entertainment options, overall better). Again, the MIA to LAX flight was fine, but nothing in comparison to the comfort and accommodations of the Philippines Airlines flight from LAX to MNL.

Loved the crew . Absolutely no complaints. Except for luggage lost

Wish some foods provided rather than just biscuit/cookie for flight more than 2 hours

We are too tired and frustrated to comment politely at this point

The flight crew was rude. We were in first class and no one even offered water until an hour after we were in the air. Horrible experience

Everything was OK, the deicing took a long time, our connections were almost missed.

The flight was delayed by 2 hours and we had no food or water or chargers

Horribly late because they had no crew!!! And then jet bridge didn’t work!! Then we arrived at a gate at lax miles away that we had to take a shuttle to a terminal!! I was over 3 hours late to getting the LA! Should have been here at 8:30 and at an appointment at 10:30 and arrived and left lax at 11 am!! Horrible experience!!!

Cheap, only one short delay. No issues despite bad weather. Able to take a big backpack for free.

Your flight crew and boarding area crew need to have microphone use training. They all hold the microphone right up to their mouths, way to close making understanding them almost impossible. The microphone should be held about 3 to 4 inches away from their mouths. This would provide for much better clarity through the PA system. ‘Eating the mic’ DOES NOT work.

Once again, the staff seem to think they are above the customers and treat everyone with disdain, belittling people.

Flight was canceled 8 hours before departure for lack of operational control and prepositioning of a plane. Then had the audacity to say it was because of weather, however there was no weather here in California or New Orleans or in between. It was the weather in Florida, Florida it had nothing to do with our flight path just the plane was supposed to fly us. 8 hours is more than enough time to move a plane anywhere in the US. That left me with a bill of 1200 dollars to re book a flight oh and kayaks insurance what a joke. Probably will never use kayak or spirit ever again terrible companies terrible customer service. I’ll also let everyone and anyone know this was an abomination and only for the customer. Also will be making a report to the DOT on bad business practices on behalf of kayak and spirit as well as the BBB. Do better, take care of your customers and don’t suck

Cancel the ticket on my day that I’m travelling that it was

The airplane had a strange noise that was constant throughout the flight. Thankfully I had noise-cancelling over-ear headphones that muted much of it.

it was terrible. flight was cancelled hours before the flight without a given reason and no other booking available .

Very well recently! Frontier is improving and less harrassing customer on luggages! Positive!

Good for a budget airline! It was easy to get on, staff was really nice. Can’t say anything about the food or entertainment because it wasn’t available, which is fine.

I am writing to express my disappointment with my recent Frontier Airlines flight. I was charged $99 at the gate because my bag was said to be too large, yet once onboard there was no available overhead bin space, and I was required to place the bag under the seat in front of me anyway. This made the charge feel unnecessary and unfair. Additionally, before the flight even took off, I was asked to move from the seat I paid for into a middle seat so another passenger and her cat could have my seat to themselves. I was not offered compensation or an explanation for being moved from a paid seat. Between the unexpected bag fee and being forced to give up my seat, this experience fell well below acceptable customer service standards. I would appreciate a review of this situation and appropriate compensation.

It was costly and difficult to check in. $85 to take a small suitcase with me, carry on or checked and $75 on the return trip, Plus $25 if I didn't check my self in check in $25, because I couldn't do it on the kiosk. Small very uncomfortable seats, waited on the runway for near an hour each way. It was my worst flight to date.

It was ok. It was expensive to check 2 bags ($75.00 per bag), and then it took a long time to wait for shuttle to take us from one terminal to the terminal where the plane was taking off at LAX. And all of this for a flight where we had to pay for any food or drink that was not water.

It didn’t happen. I booked it and then was told it wasn’t available and then forced to pay far higher prices for a worse option

A 630departure flight Delayed 6hours! They changed my gate, I moved to the new gate. Had our flight on the screen for 12noon departure. I go get above to eat, check screen again and the flight was gone, no notice no announcement, nothing!! They sent my bag on the flight I wasn’t on, got it back to me 3days later. Thank goodness they did refund my money but I will NEVER fly them again.

Due to weather, my flight was delayed, further delayed, then canceled. I eventually got through to a support person who helped me find a different route out of MSP, but to get to DIA, they didn't want to, but eventually did help with the connection ticket purchase. But even this replacement flight was delayed time and time again, and I would have missed my connecting flights and I didn't want to get stuck in a layover city, so after 12 hours at the airport with two young boys who were very tired, we just cancelled our plans and spent the week at home, instead of Nana's.

Plane and crew on board were fine. Everything else was terrible.

The third party booking with cheapflightsfares was awful. Kayak should NOT partner with them. They sold me a bundle including seat selection and carry-on, but did not book the carry-ons with Frontier, so I’m out of pocket for $414 more while I await resolution.

Everything you need to know for your flight from Detroit to Sacramento

Information on your arrival and departure airports