Yes, Sacramento International Airport (SMF) has outdoor designated smoking areas outside both terminals. The terminals are smoke-free inside, so step out to the marked zones — at least 25 feet from any doorway — to light up.
Smoking at Sacramento Airport: Quick Answer
SMF is built as two separate landside terminals, Terminal A and Terminal B, each connected to its own airside concourse by an automated people mover (a short shuttle-train ride). Both terminals are entirely smoke-free indoors, and there are no smoking areas on the airside concourses. All smoking happens in the outdoor designated zones in front of the terminals, before security.
Terminal A
Terminal A serves carriers such as Alaska, American, Delta, and United. From the ticketing and baggage areas you reach the gates by riding the automated people mover out to the Concourse A airside building.
Smoking areas: Head to the outdoor designated zone at the south end of Terminal A. A long-standing favorite among travelers is the grassy area on the south side, which has benches and ashtrays and is set well back from the doors. Exit past baggage claim on the lower level and follow the signage to the marked spot.
After security / airside concourse: None. There is no smoking once you take the people mover to the Concourse A gates — you would need to ride back, exit to the outdoor zone, and re-screen through TSA.
Terminal B
Terminal B is the home of Southwest Airlines, the busiest carrier at SMF, and it also handles other domestic flights. Like Terminal A, the gates sit in a separate airside concourse reached by the automated people mover.
Smoking areas: The outdoor designated zones at Terminal B are on the lower level (Arrivals), out along the curbside near ground transportation and the rideshare/taxi pickup. Look for posted signage and standing ashtrays, and keep at least 25 feet from the terminal doors.
After security / airside concourse: None. The Concourse B airside building has no smoking areas. To smoke after clearing TSA, you must return on the people mover, step outside, and re-clear security.
Summary
| Terminal | Smoking area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | Outdoor only | Grassy zone at the south end with benches and ashtrays; near baggage claim |
| Terminal B | Outdoor only | Lower-level (Arrivals) curbside near ground transportation; Southwest’s terminal |
| Airside concourses (A & B) | None | Reached by automated people mover; no smoking — must ride back and re-clear TSA |
| E-cigarettes / vaping | Outdoor only | Same rules as cigarettes; not allowed indoors or on the people mover |
Heading elsewhere in California? See our guide to smoking at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
For USA airport smoking rules, state vape rules, lighter rules at TSA, and other federal/state info, see our USA smoking guide.