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 areas — 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 areas in front of the terminals, before security.
Terminal A
Terminal A serves carriers such as 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 area 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: Smoking stays landside at the outdoor area. Once you take the people mover to the Concourse A gates, ride back, step outside to the marked spot, and re-screen through TSA to return.
Terminal B
Terminal B is the home of Southwest Airlines, the busiest carrier at SMF, and it also handles most of the airport’s other domestic and international carriers. Like Terminal A, the gates sit in a separate airside concourse reached by the automated people mover.
Smoking areas: The outdoor designated areas 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: Smoking is at the landside outdoor area. From the Concourse B gates, return on the people mover, step outside to the marked curbside spot, and re-clear security to head back.
Summary
| Terminal | Smoking area | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | Outdoor only | Grassy area 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) | Landside areas only | Reached by automated people mover; ride back, smoke outside, 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.