RDU - SMF

$148 Find Cheap Flights from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Sacramento departing on 9/29. 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 Raleigh to Sacramento, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from Raleigh to Sacramento, as well as popular online travel agencies
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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$295
Typical prices: $467-$331
Alaska Airlines
Tue 8/25Wed 8/26
RDU - SMF • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$148
Typical prices: $153-$288
Alaska Airlines
Tue 9/29
RDU - SMF • 1 stop
Top airlines
Cheapest • from $295 (round-trip)
Best reviews • 7.9 score
Airline reviews
Airline reviews
+1
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Airline reviews
Airline reviews
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Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between Raleigh and Sacramento. You'll need at least 1 connection.
Insights
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Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $324 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 7h 25m (one-way)
Insights
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 4 weeks in advance save around 54% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 26% price drop
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
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from Raleigh to Sacramento (RDU-SMF)

 
Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Sacramento

Tue, Aug 25 - Wed, Aug 26
Alaska Airlines Logo
5:50 pm - 11:40 pm
RDU
-
SMF
8h 50m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
6:52 am - 6:10 pm
SMF
-
RDU
8h 18m
1 stop
$295Alaska Airlines
Tue, Aug 18 - Tue, Aug 25
United Airlines Logo
6:34 am - 1:07 pm
RDU
-
SMF
9h 33m
1 stop
United Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 5:21 pm
SMF
-
RDU
7h 21m
1 stop
$297United Airlines
Fri, Aug 21 - Mon, Aug 24
Delta Logo
6:15 pm - 10:53 pm
RDU
-
SMF
7h 38m
1 stop
Delta Logo
1:48 pm - 11:54 pm
SMF
-
RDU
7h 06m
1 stop
$302Delta
Tue, Aug 4 - Sat, Aug 8
Frontier Logo
12:26 pm - 10:35 am
RDU
-
SMF
25h 09m
1 stop
Frontier Logo
11:25 am - 11:31 am
SMF
-
RDU
21h 06m
1 stop
$305Frontier
Fri, Aug 21 - Fri, Aug 28
Delta Logo
1:53 pm - 6:42 pm
RDU
-
SMF
7h 49m
1 stop
Delta Logo
6:56 am - 5:10 pm
SMF
-
RDU
7h 14m
1 stop
$307Delta
Tue, Aug 18 - Wed, Aug 26
Southwest Logo
6:45 am - 1:20 pm
RDU
-
SMF
9h 35m
2 stops
Southwest Logo
6:40 am - 7:00 pm
SMF
-
RDU
9h 20m
1 stop
$312Southwest
Wed, Oct 7 - Wed, Oct 14
Delta Logo
3:15 pm - 8:23 pm
RDU
-
SMF
8h 08m
1 stop
Delta Logo
6:00 am - 6:06 pm
SMF
-
RDU
9h 06m
1 stop
$313Delta
Mon, Jul 20 - Wed, Jul 29
Alaska Airlines Logo
7:08 pm - 9:36 am
RDU
-
SMF
17h 28m
1 stop
Alaska Airlines Logo
4:43 pm - 6:01 pm
SMF
-
RDU
22h 18m
1 stop
$315Alaska Airlines
Sun, Aug 16 - Wed, Aug 26
Delta Logo
5:10 am - 10:59 am
RDU
-
SMF
8h 49m
1 stop
Delta Logo
12:52 pm - 11:59 pm
SMF
-
RDU
8h 07m
1 stop
$317Delta
Wed, Oct 7 - Fri, Oct 16
Delta Logo
3:15 pm - 8:23 pm
RDU
-
SMF
8h 08m
1 stop
Delta Logo
11:10 am - 10:41 pm
SMF
-
RDU
8h 31m
1 stop
$318Delta
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for Raleigh to Sacramento flights

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

How much is a round-trip flight from Raleigh to Sacramento?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from Raleigh to Sacramento departing in August.

What is the cheapest month to fly from Raleigh to Sacramento?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Sacramento is October, where tickets cost $312 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are December and May, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $537 and $517 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Sacramento, you should book around 4 weeks before departure, which saves you about 54% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 9 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonJanuary
Cheapest flight$148
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 26% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 2% lower on average.
Flight from Raleigh to Sacramento

When to book flights from Raleigh to Sacramento

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from Raleigh 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 flights from Raleigh to Sacramento

  • Which airline allows passengers to come on board with carry-on baggage for the flight from Raleigh (RDU) to Sacramento (SMF)?

    When you are traveling from Raleigh (RDU) to Sacramento (SMF) and don't want to have to check a bag, American Airline allows you on board with one carry-on bag and one personal item.

  • Which is the suitable airline to book for the reduced mobility traveler going between Raleigh and Sacramento?

    For the reduced mobility passengers flying from Raleigh (RDU) to Sacramento (SMF), Frontier Airline is an appropriate airline to book. This airline offers the wheelchair services that will make it easier to navigate the airport from check-in to boarding. Its on-board staff is always ready and willing to offer assistance whenever it’s needed.

  • How can I easily connect to the city center from Sacramento Airport?

    Bus is the common transportation that will get you out of Sacramento Airport to the city center. SacRT's Route 142 bus line is the easiest means of getting you downtown. You can also consider airport express shuttle bus. It can also get you to the city center after your arrival at the airport. In both cases, though, you are limited to the bus or shuttle schedule. For more flexibility, consider a ride-share service or rental car.

  • Which is the mosteco-friendly airline I can book when flying to Sacramento (SMF) from Raleigh (RDU)?

    Spirits Airline is one of the most eco-friendly airlines you can book when you are flying from Raleigh to Sacramento. This airline has an increased fuel efficiency that is measured by available seat mile per gallon.

  • What is the cheapest flight from Raleigh to Sacramento?

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from Raleigh to Sacramento was $148 for a one-way ticket and $295 for a round-trip.

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

    No

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

    On your way to Sacramento, you’ll fly out from Raleigh-Durham. You’ll be landing at Sacramento Intl.

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

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from Raleigh to Sacramento?

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

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

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from Raleigh to Sacramento are Southwest and Delta. With an average price for the route of $459 and an overall rating of 7.9, Southwest is the most popular choice. Delta is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $386 and an overall rating of 7.9.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Sacramento.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Sacramento from Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh with another airline. Booking your flights between Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh to Sacramento

  • Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU) and Sacramento International Airport (SMF) are the main as departure and arrival airports respectively for most of the flights flying from Raleigh to Sacramento. Choosing of this route for your journey will enable you book your flight with any of the five top airlines serving it. These airlines include JetBlue, American, United, Frontier, and Spirit Airlines.
  • If you are among those pet-loving travelers who like flying in the company of their furry friend, you can choose a pet-friendly airline when flying from Raleigh to Sacramento. United Airline allows its passengers to come on board with their pets so long as the carrier fits underneath the seat in front of you.
  • When traveling from Raleigh (RDU) to Sacramento (SMF) on Frontier Airlines, you will have one stop along your way before reaching your destination airport. Denver International Airport (DEN) is the main layover airport you will have along your way. There is also the option of having two stops or flying direct depending on the airline you book.
  • When you are planning to travel with your family from Raleigh (RDU) to Sacramento (SMF) with your kids, JetBlue Airline is a kid-friendly choice. It has amenities like in-flight entertainment appropriate for kids, such as kids` games and kids` movies to enhance your family's journey.
  • When you are in Raleigh downtown and you need to reach Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU) for your flight to Sacramento, you can take a bus. Buses are the most reliable and convenient means of transport operating between Raleigh downtown and the airport.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines serving from Raleigh to Sacramento

 
See real verified KAYAK customer reviews for airlines flying from Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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.
7.9
SouthwestOverall score based on 4235 reviews
8.6Crew
7.5Entertainment
7.0Food
8.0Comfort
8.1Boarding
Airline reviews

The first time I flew in the extra legroom section. It was difficult to notice a difference. I had bad luck with my neighbors. The crew was okay. Southwest has reduced the live TV options.

4.0 OkayAnonymous, May 2026
MDW - LAX
Read more Southwest reviews

The first time I flew in the extra legroom section. It was difficult to notice a difference. I had bad luck with my neighbors. The crew was okay. Southwest has reduced the live TV options.

No gluten free snacks. Seats felt worn or bare bones even though it was a new 737 MAX 8.

Plane was clean and comfortable. Flight attendants and gate staff were professional, friendly and efficient. Boarding and deplaning were orderly and efficient. All in all, the typical excellent Southwest experience.

Not having a five hour delay with little notice! The crew was very kind, though, and just as tired as we passengers were. The flight didn't depart until nearly 1 am...and no reason was ever given.

This leg was much better, but we did have to have a 3 hour lay o er after coming from a very exhausting hiccup with our flight from BNA to Den

The Air hostess were very rude on my flight from Houston to Austin . Their regular communication itself felt a they are shouting at people.

Boarding was easy. The seats are small and fairly uncomfortable

The problem with the seat assignments is that there were a lot of rows in the front that were empty but my row at the back was full. Just not so pleasant.

No food or entertainment, just a quick 40 minute flight. A little bumpy due to Santa Ana winds but pilot has no control over that. Good flight and landing!

Good but I prefer choose your own seat. With the new assigned seats they should board from the back I see no advantage to this new boarding. Just like every other airline

Flight delayed four separate times. I’m now one hour hours late to landing.

worst flight ever from Delta, it got delayed and kept on delaying..

Two delays on two separate planes with parts they could not easily find and replace.

The agent at check in and at the gate were less than thrilled to be at work. I'm not a fan of Kayak's placement on the plane. I got put in the middle seat and none of my preferences were used.

Everything went smoothly, although the usual gripes about airline travel were still present: the boarding process is inefficient, the snack selection is limited, and so on. Since there was extra space on the flight, the gate agent rearranged many people's seats to put people on the aisles and windows, leaving the middle seats empty, as much as possible, which was pretty great.

While they turned off most cabin lights to allow people to sleep, I was bothered by how bright the side lights still were. It was still quite bright for me in a window seat, when I wish I could have slept!

One of the flight attendants was a little cranky. I appreciated the free wifi and plug to charge my laptop

WiFi didn’t work most of the time. The usb chargers would work only occasionally for 5 mins and wouldn’t charge after that. Had to keep trying repeatedly at each of the seats in the row.

The crew bent over backwards to thank us for flying and make us comfortable. The food service was quick and efficient. The Captain communicated and said goodbye and thank you as we departed. They really stood out!

Generally on time departures and arrivals, clean planes, sky miles membership provides great benefits (complimentary upgrades, etc).

This was an overnight flight, and in the morning they did know coffee service. How you can throw passengers in a San Francisco airport at 5:40 a.m. in the morning and not giving them Coffee is a crime.

Our flight was delayed several Times due to mechanical issues. Although I understand this may happen at times, it was very inconvenient and we had to book a hotel for an overnight stay. We were traveling with my 3-yo grandson and waiting at the airport from noon until 6:30pm with no reassurance that our next rescheduled flight would depart, we had to decide what’s best for him. A day later, I found out that I may be able to demand compensation if my flight is delayed more than 4 hours. I will hav to read the fine print next time.

Service was professional and quick. Premium economy seat was comfortable given the class

Like: departed and arrived on time. Unlike: Food options for purchase allways bad, 1 of 2 of the crew members not very friendly at all. Seats and leg room aweful. At this point I am thinking on switching to AA.

The staff was extremely helpful and friendly at all times! They went above and beyond to get us into an earlier flight in San Diego to make our connection in SFO possible, because our original flight did actually not make it! I did so much appreciate the UA team and how they made this possible. We also didn’t have seats together on the long flight to Singapore, but they found us seats together last moment with no additional cost! Nobody sat next to us, so that we were able to sleep! Thanks to UA for improving their service and Underpricer for booking this trip! Please be careful: 1,5 hrs for transfer in San Francisco might not be enough time in the future

Packed flight, which makes it tough on crew and boarding staff (and the customers of course). But this was great boarding, clear instructions, etc. Traveling on the weekends are always fraught with danger as you have families and less frequent flyers thus more confusion. But this flight went as planned.

Destroyed my suitcase. Tired of talking about it. Cancelling my unite mileage plus account.

New plane was lovely. Crew customer service is always lax but expected. Kraft on time and arrived safely.

Seat pitch is horrible especially on the 15 hour flight. Gate crew at SFO was Outstanding. The flight crew was also great.

6 1/2 hours from Tampa to SFO on a Boeing 737. Cramped. No Service. No real food. One pass for coffee at the beginning and a second pass THREE hours later. And check-in in Tampa was nasty even by United standards. And I am at almost TWO million miles on United. It's a non-stop. But terrible service.

It was so much better than expected, Ohare is not such a pleasant experience but American Airlines with the new, clean aeroplane and free Wi-Fi was outstanding and the crew so pleasant and helpful.

Was put into a seat right behind the toilet that had no entertainment possible but did have plenty of leg room over noisy part of plane.

American delayed the flight for a crew rest period. The delay occurred late in the evening - the earliest i can find is 10:20 pm. With a 6 am flight anyone on the flight would have already have been asleep (unless you are insane, a vampire or on drugs) and at least for me i was already on the way to the airport at 445 am the next morning when i discovered they delayed the flight until 9 am. Given the incoming flight was in the air at 6 pm the evening before this should have been figured out a lot more timely that was there only crew to use. Just frustrating given there is no consideration for customer experience anymore in flying.

Flight: Started on time. Comfortable flight. Arrived on time. Crew: Very cordial and helpful. Drinks and snack was served with a smile. Overall enjoyed the trip. Regards, Hari Doss Chanchala Doss

To have arrived on time and not 3 hours late after having already spent $100 to change to an earlier flight, only to arrive back home close to the original flight time.

American Airlines is a miserable experience. It is predictably miserable, in the sense that every time I fly American, I brace myself for the certainty that it will be unpleasant and uncomfortable. But it is unpredictable in the sense that I never know if the flight will be on time or delayed nine hours (both happened to me this week). I never know if I will be able to sit in the seat that I selected when I purchased the ticket or if I will be told by Customer Service (!!!) that I must relocate from first class to a seat in the back of the aircraft with no explanation (both happened to me this week). Will the food be frozen and half defrosted, or scalding hot? Will the drinks be warm? Will the flight attendants be surly and mean? Will the toilets be cramped and foul? Will the seats be narrow and uncomfortable? Will there be a real electric outlet at the seat, or just an unreliable USB-2 port? Will there be enough seats in the boarding lounge or just a few? Will the boarding process be smooth and efficient, or will the gate agents mess it up and delay it needlessly for 30 or 40 minutes? Will the catering and cleaning crew be prompt or will they take an extra 30 minutes? Will the brakes on the aircraft work properly, or will the pilot delay takeoff for four hours while the ground crew attends to what can only be described as routine maintenance that should have been done the night before? I've eexperienced every one of these unpleasant things this year, 2026. The only thing I can reliably count on is that American will find a new way to make the experience of flying as miserable as they possibly can.

Wifi was spotty. Tray table was very dirty when I sat down.

The WiFi would not connect enough for me to do my actual work. It permaspooled, disconnected, said it was connected, then wouldn't open an email... it was frustrating. I am not a tall person, 5'4" - and I felt cramped with little room to reach into my bag under the seat in front of me. I feel sorry for anyone taller than me having to fly. the one positive thing I will add, is the overhead bins are roomy enough to manage more bags than other carriers.

Going non stop to lax like I paid for. Not stopping in MCI for gas. Too long of delays

Delayed for mechanical and no updates on what was happening and how long the delay might be.

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

Information on your arrival and departure airports