Sacramento International Airport parking is about to get a whole lot pricier, with drivers facing a steep new rate hike when the airport’s $390 million parking garage opens next month.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the increases Tuesday, with the biggest hit coming for travelers who want the closest parking spots.
The maximum daily garage rate will jump from $21 to $28 — a $7-a-day increase.
Daily lots within walking distance of the terminals will rise from $14 to $19, while economy parking will go from $12 to $14.
And that’s just the beginning.
Additional $1-per-year increases are proposed from 2028 through 2031, meaning airport parking bills could keep climbing for years.
So why the sudden squeeze?
Airport officials said the extra cash will help pay off the $390 million in debt used to build the new 5,500-space garage.
The higher rates will also help pay for technology upgrades, including a red-and-green light system designed to help drivers find open spaces faster.
The new garage is expected to open Oct. 26, with the initial price increases taking effect when it opens.
Sacramento’s new $28 garage rate may sting, but it still doesn’t come close to the prices at some of California’s biggest airports.
San Francisco International Airport charges up to $39 a day for its domestic garage, while San Diego International Airport charges up to $40 a day in its terminal parking plazas.
Then there’s Los Angeles International Airport, where premium terminal parking can cost a whopping $70 a day.
Economy parking shows the same pattern. Sacramento’s new $14-a-day rate compares with $15 to $20 at San Diego, $27 for San Francisco’s long-term economy garages and $35 at LAX’s official economy lot.
County officials said Sacramento’s rates had failed to keep up with inflation and that the increases would bring prices closer to market rates.
A staff report said SMF would still be cheaper than Bay Area airports and Reno even after the hikes, and would remain less expensive than downtown Sacramento parking garages.
