Game Weekend
Street-level view of Golden 1 Center’s angular glass and metal exterior in downtown Sacramento, with pedestrians near the entrance plaza

Sacramento Kings

Golden 1 Center

Sacramento, California

A Kings night at Golden 1 Center, in downtown Sacramento.

Plan my tripJust find a hotel

The local take

An arena built into Downtown Commons, with a hotel pool-deck bar overlooking the plaza, the State Capitol a few blocks east and the Old Sacramento waterfront to the west.

About half of the Kings’ home games fall on Monday to Thursday nights, most starting at 7 p.m. Pacific; Sunday games start at 3, 6 or 7:30 p.m., so check your game’s tip-off time. Doors open 90 minutes before tip-off. On a weeknight, plan for dinner and the game; on a weekend trip, the Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento and the Crocker Art Museum are open Saturday and Sunday, while the Capitol building is open on weekdays only.

Golden 1 Center

Your Sacramento weekend

Pick your game, then your hotel, food and things to do, or let a quick start choose them with you.

Which game are you going to?

Sacramento Kings

Exploring the weekend before choosing a game. Dates stay open.

Find your places.

Find your stay, your local pub, and everything around the game.

Each one picks a hotel and food that work together. Change anything below.

My weekend

6 hotels

Sacramento places

HotelSuggested

Downtown Commons (DOCO) · 0.09 mi from the arena

The hotel calls itself the closest to Golden 1 Center, less than a minute’s walk away, with Echo & Rig and the Revival pool-deck bar overlooking the arena plaza.

The hotel calls itself the closest to the arena, less than a minute’s walk away, so there’s no car, train or garage to plan on a game night. Echo & Rig serves dinner until 11 p.m., and the Revival bar on the pool deck overlooks the arena plaza.

  • Fees not published here
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Details

Keep in mind: The hotel’s site doesn’t publish a parking price or any nightly fee, and hourly self-parking isn’t available the day before and on the day of Kings home games.

On game day: DOCO stay: the Kimpton Sawyer says hourly self-parking isn’t available at the hotel the day before and on the day of Kings home games.

500 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

0.09 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Kimpton Sawyer HotelOfficial details for Kimpton Sawyer Hotel
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Hotel

Downtown and the Capitol · 0.30 mi from the arena

A hotel in a 1925 building on J Street with views of the Capitol, Grange Restaurant & Bar on site and 24/7 valet with in-and-out privileges.

  • Valet $50 overnight
  • No resort fee; $10 nightly facility fee
  • Under 15 minutes from SMF
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Details

Keep in mind: The hotel lists valet parking only, and a nightly facility fee applies. It’s a few blocks’ walk to the arena rather than a few steps.

On game day: Downtown stay: walk west toward the arena’s walkways at 7th & K or 5th & J, or ride SacRT light rail to a station a block from the arena.

926 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

0.30 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for The Citizen Hotel, Autograph CollectionOfficial details for The Citizen Hotel, Autograph Collection
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Hotel

Downtown and the Capitol · 0.52 mi from the arena

A large hotel in the historic Public Market building, a short walk from the Capitol and the Convention Center.

  • Valet $52 per day
  • No shuttle
  • About 12 miles from SMF
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Details

Keep in mind: Valet is the only parking listed, and there’s no shuttle. It’s farther east than The Citizen, so the walk to the arena is longer.

On game day: Downtown stay: walk west toward the arena’s walkways at 7th & K or 5th & J, or ride SacRT light rail to a station a block from the arena.

1230 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

0.52 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Sheraton Grand Sacramento HotelOfficial details for Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel
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Hotel

Downtown and the Capitol · 0.71 mi from the arena

An extended-stay hotel near the Convention Center and Capitol Park, with free hot breakfast and on-site self-parking.

  • Free hot breakfast
  • Self-parking $25 per day
  • About 12 miles from SMF; no shuttle
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Details

Keep in mind: It’s the farthest of the downtown hotels from the arena, and there’s no shuttle.

On game day: Downtown stay: walk west toward the arena’s walkways at 7th & K or 5th & J, or ride SacRT light rail to a station a block from the arena.

1121 15th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

0.71 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Residence Inn Sacramento Downtown at Capitol ParkOfficial details for Residence Inn Sacramento Downtown at Capitol Park
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Hotel

Natomas, near the airport · 5.1 mi from the arena

An I-5 hotel with a free 24-hour airport shuttle and $10-a-day self-parking; the hotel lists Golden 1 Center 6 miles away.

  • Self-parking $10 per day
  • Free 24-hour airport shuttle
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Details

Keep in mind: The shuttle serves the airport, not the arena, so plan your own way downtown and a garage for the game.

On game day: Natomas stay: drive downtown and park in a SacPark garage; the arena recommends buying a prepaid pass on SacPark before you go.

20 Advantage Court, Sacramento, CA 95834

5.1 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento Airport NatomasOfficial details for Hilton Garden Inn Sacramento Airport Natomas
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Hotel

Natomas, near the airport · 5.4 mi from the arena

An all-suite hotel with free hot breakfast, free self-parking and a free airport shuttle; the hotel says it’s 6 miles from downtown.

  • Free self-parking
  • Free hot breakfast
  • Free airport shuttle
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Details

Keep in mind: Like the Hilton Garden Inn nearby, its shuttle serves the airport only, so plan your own way to the arena.

On game day: Natomas stay: drive downtown and park in a SacPark garage; the arena recommends buying a prepaid pass on SacPark before you go.

3001 Advantage Way, Sacramento, CA 95834

5.4 mi straight-line from the arena. This is not a walking or driving route.

Live rates are not quoted here. Confirm the full stay total, fees, and cancellation terms with the provider. Arena directions use a general arena location; follow your assigned lot and gate instructions.

Expedia opens a named-hotel search, not a verified property page. Enter dates there; adults and rooms are prefilled.

Directions: Directions to arena for Homewood Suites by Hilton Sacramento Airport-NatomasOfficial details for Homewood Suites by Hilton Sacramento Airport-Natomas
We may earn a commission. Your final total is confirmed with the provider.

Your weekend

2 adults, 1 room
Stay
Not chosen
Food
None chosen
Do

Choose a hotel first

Travel & full itinerary

The full plan, stop by stop

2 adults · 1 room

Choose a hotel to plan travel.

Your home base

No hotel chosen yet

Your hotel sets the area, both arena journeys and the travel between your stops.

Nothing is in your plan until you choose it. A quick start above the list can choose one for you.

Make time for a good meal

Food for the weekend

Compare and choose food

No food picks yet. Add places in the comparison above when you’re ready.

Check opening hours for your dates and reserve directly where needed.

The reason for the trip

Golden 1 Center

Pick your game when you’re ready.

Nights open · 2 adults, 1 room

A different hotel?

Your arena travel updates to match. Any food you picked yourself stays.

Get to know the areas

Downtown Commons (DOCO)Walking to the game with nothing to plan

Stay inside Downtown Commons, next to Golden 1 Center, with a steakhouse and a pool-deck bar in the hotel itself.

The DOCO plaza, shops and the Kimpton Sawyer’s pool-deck bar, right outside the arena

To the arena
Walk across the Downtown Commons plaza to the arena entrance; the arena lists pedestrian walkways at 5th & J, 7th & K and 5th & L.
After the game
Walk back across the plaza with the crowd.
The tradeoff
This guide lists one hotel in DOCO itself, and its site doesn’t publish a parking price or any nightly fee. The plaza is crowded before and after games.

Hotels in this area

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Downtown and the CapitolA walkable base with more choice than DOCO

Stay a few blocks east of the arena, on J Street or by Capitol Park and the Convention Center, with more hotels and restaurants to choose from.

The State Capitol and Capitol Park, the Convention Center, and J Street hotel bars and restaurants

To the arena
Walk west along J or K Street to the arena, or take light rail to 8th & K, 9th & K or 10th & K.
After the game
Walk back east, or board light rail at the return stop SacRT names for your line; it’s a different stop from where you got off.
The tradeoff
The walk to the arena is several blocks rather than across a plaza, and none of these hotels lists a shuttle to the arena. Two of the three list valet parking only.

Hotels in this area

We may earn a commission. Rates and availability are confirmed with the provider.
Natomas, near the airportEarly or late flights and arriving with a car

Stay off I-5 in Natomas, between the airport and downtown, with free airport shuttles and on-site parking, and drive to the game.

A hotel and business corridor off I-5, away from downtown’s game-night crowds

To the arena
Drive downtown and park in a SacPark garage. Garages are scheduled to open two hours before tip-off; walk to the arena’s walkways at 5th & J, 7th & K or 5th & L.
After the game
Walk back to your garage. A prepaid pass is good until two hours after the game.
The tradeoff
The hotels’ shuttles serve the airport only, so the trip to the arena is on you. The Hilton Garden Inn lists Golden 1 Center 6 miles away.

Hotels in this area

We may earn a commission. Rates and availability are confirmed with the provider.

Upcoming games at Golden 1 Center

Visiting with the away team? Each game has its own page.

To the game and back

Choose a route from the area you’re staying in.

From Downtown Commons on footDowntown Commons (DOCO)walk
Getting there
Walk out of the hotel onto the DOCO plaza and into the arena. Doors open 90 minutes before tip-off for Kings games.
Getting back
Walk back across the plaza with the crowd.

There’s no re-entry once you’re inside, and bags larger than 8 × 6 × 1 inches aren’t allowed, so leave them behind.

Route information
From downtown and the Capitol on footDowntown and the Capitolwalk
Getting there
Walk west along J or K Street to one of the arena’s pedestrian walkways at 7th & K, 5th & J or 5th & L.
Getting back
Walk back east with the crowd; security officers, downtown guides and city police are part of the arena’s plan for fans leaving.

No hotel here publishes a walking time to the arena. Several downtown bus stops close during arena events.

Route information
By SacRT light railDowntown and the Capitoltransit
Getting there
SacRT has light rail stops a block from the arena. Coming from Folsom, Rancho Cordova or Rosemont, get off at 8th & K; from Citrus Heights or Roseville, at 10th & K; from South Sacramento or Elk Grove, at 9th & K.
Getting back
Trains run on one-way streets downtown, so you board somewhere else after the game: 7th & Capitol for Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Rosemont, South Sacramento and Elk Grove; 9th & K for Citrus Heights and Roseville.

SacRT publishes no last-train time on its arena page, so check your line’s schedule for your game date. SacRT has scheduled weekend construction along the Gold Line; check the schedule at sacrt.com/stationclosure before you go.

Route information
From Natomas by car to a SacPark garageNatomas, near the airportdrive
Getting there
Buy a prepaid pass on SacPark, the city’s parking site the arena recommends, and drive downtown. Garages are scheduled to open two hours before tip-off; spaces are first come, first served.
Getting back
Walk back to your garage. A prepaid pass is good until two hours after the game.

The arena doesn’t publish garage names or prices. There’s no shuttle from the downtown garages, and tailgating isn’t allowed in city garages.

Route information

At Golden 1 Center

Bags

Bags larger than 8 × 6 × 1 inches aren’t allowed, and neither are backpacks or food coolers. Baby bags up to 16 × 16 × 8 inches, plastic bottles and formula are allowed. Signs can be no larger than 11 × 17 inches and can’t be attached to a pole or stick.

Arena information
Doors and the box office

For Kings games, doors open 90 minutes before tip-off. On event days, the box office opens at noon or one hour before doors, whichever is earlier. Will call needs the card you paid with and photo ID.

Arena information
Card-only, with no re-entry

The arena takes chip cards, tap-to-pay and mobile wallets. It has a no-re-entry policy during events; for a personal emergency, contact a security supervisor or manager through Guest Services before you leave. Smoking and vaping are banned within 250 feet of the arena.

Arena information
Parking through SacPark

The arena recommends buying a prepaid pass through the City of Sacramento’s SacPark site. Garages are scheduled to open two hours before tip-off, spaces aren’t assigned, and a pass is good until two hours after the event. There’s no shuttle from the garages.

Arena information
Light rail and bike valet

SacRT light rail stations sit a block from the arena, and your return trip starts at a different stop from where you got off. Free bike valet at 7th & K Street opens two hours before major events.

Arena information
Accessibility

Free assistive listening devices are at Guest Services, and Kings games have captioning screens. A sensory room and free sensory bags are offered at every event. Request an ASL interpreter at least two weeks ahead.

Arena information

Find your game & tickets

Use the team schedule for home dates and tip-off times.

Sacramento Kings schedule

Useful things to know

What size bag can I bring into Golden 1 Center?

Nothing larger than 8 × 6 × 1 inches. Backpacks and food coolers aren’t allowed. Baby bags up to 16 × 16 × 8 inches, plastic bottles and formula are allowed.

Can I leave the arena and come back in?

No. Golden 1 Center has a no-re-entry policy during events, including for guests who step out to smoke. For a personal emergency, contact a security supervisor or manager through Guest Services first.

How do I get back after a night game?

Walk if you’re staying downtown. On light rail, board at the return stop SacRT names for your line, since downtown trains run on one-way streets; SacRT’s arena page gives no last-train time, so check your line’s schedule. Prepaid garage passes are good until two hours after the game.

Can I bring a cowbell to a Kings game?

Yes. The arena bans noisemakers but makes an exception for cowbells at Kings games.

Do young children need a ticket?

Children 24 months and older need a ticket. Younger children get in free on an adult’s lap for most events.