Sacramento Mather Airport

Mather opened as Sacramento Mather Air Force Base in 1918 and converted to civilian use after the Air Force closed it in 1993. The primary runway stretches 11,301 feet, which means heavy and ultra-long-range jets land here without restriction. There is no commercial airline traffic, so the ramp is quiet and ground handling is fast.

Private charter passengers typically use the FBO facilities on the south side of the field. The absence of airline congestion is the main practical advantage over Sacramento International (SMF), which sits 25 miles northwest. Mather is the better option when flexibility on arrival time matters more than downtown proximity.

Downtown Sacramento is about 15 miles west via US-50, a 20-minute drive in normal traffic. The drive to Midtown Sacramento runs similar. South Lake Tahoe is roughly 100 miles east on US-50, about 90 minutes in clear conditions. Napa Valley is about 80 miles west, typically 1 hour 15 minutes. San Francisco is 90 miles via I-80, running 1.5 to 2 hours depending on Bay Area traffic. Car service and rideshare both operate from the airport.