Lowest Prices
We partner with the top bus & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
Journey Information
There are 18 intercity buses per day from Merced to San Diego. Traveling by bus from Merced to San Diego usually takes around 11 hours and 14 minutes, but the fastest Autobuses Monarca bus can make the trip in 8 hours and 30 minutes.
| Distance | 368 mi (593 km) |
| Shortest duration | 8h 30m |
| Cheapest price | $46.90 |
| Trips per day | 5 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 3 |
What bus companies travel from Merced to San Diego?
There are 3 bus lines from Merced to San Diego available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. With 15 daily trips, Greyhound usually has the most buses running on any given day. Here are some time and price comparisons for all the available options:
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autobuses Monarca | 1 | 8h 31m | $112.08 |
| Greyhound | 15 | 11h 26m | $75.01 |
| Los Limousines | 4 | 10h 2m | $116.75 |
Book Autobuses Monarca from Merced to San Diego from $110. There are 1 Autobuses Monarca schedules from Merced to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay for a Autobuses Monarca ticket to San Diego. In Merced, Autobuses Monarca departs to San Diego from Viajes Express - 710 W 16th St and no other station. In San Diego, Autobuses Monarca arrives at San Ysidro CA and no other station.
An average trip on Autobuses Monarca from Merced to San Diego takes 8 hours and 31 minutes , while the fastest available Autobuses Monarca trip will get you to San Diego in 8 hours and 30 minutes .
On weekends, Autobuses Monarca offers 1 trip per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to San Diego.
Greyhound is the largest nationwide bus carrier in the United States, offering cheap, safe and reliable service across the country. Greyhound has become a household name, serving over 16 million passengers per year with daily trips to over 2,400 destinations. Greyhound performs about 15 bus trips from Merced to San Diego every day, with the average journey taking around 11 hours and 26 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Diego usually start from $47.
Book Los Limousines from Merced to San Diego from $115. There are 4 Los Limousines schedules from Merced to San Diego and you can expect on average to pay for a Los Limousines ticket to San Diego. In Merced, Los Limousines departs to San Diego from Viajes Express - 710 W 16th St and no other station. In San Diego, Los Limousines arrives at Cross Border Xpress CBX and 1 other station.
An average trip on Los Limousines from Merced to San Diego takes 10 hours and 2 minutes , while the fastest available Los Limousines trip will get you to San Diego in 8 hours and 30 minutes .
On weekends, Los Limousines offers 4 trips per day and you could expect to pay for a weekend getaway trip to San Diego.
Frequently Asked Questions
The bus takes an average of 11 hours and 14 minutes to cover the 593 kilometers from Merced to San Diego. However, the fastest bus only takes 8 hours and 30 minutes. It’s definitely on the longer side, so plan to get comfortable for a long road trip. Keep in mind that your actual bus may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.
"Travelers prefer riding the bus on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in San Diego. If you are planning to travel on a Saturday, you should make sure to book tickets well in advance as they may sell out.
On the other hand, Wednesday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you're looking for some extra space on the bus, traveling mid-week is your best bet."
The first bus leaves at 1:00am and the last bus leaves at 6:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Merced to San Diego, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 18 scheduled buses that travel from Merced to San Diego every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. This includes 5 direct buses, where you can stay on the same bus without having to transfer to a connecting bus at any point during your trip.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Merced to San Diego; ticket prices start at $71.78.
City Information
Merced
Merced is a beautiful city in the Central Valley of California. Nicknamed the Gateway to Yosemite, it’s no shock to learn Merced is only about an hour and a half drive from Yosemite National Park. But if you’d prefer to stay in town, Merced has an abundance of gorgeous parks, winding bike routes, golf courses, hiking, boating, fishing, camping – the list goes on.
For indoor fun, check out the Merced Multicultural Art Centre for art viewing and classes. Or, if you’re on the hunt for a bargain or home decor, visit the Merced Antique Mall with 7500 square feet of antiques and curios. Once you’ve worked up an appetite perusing, head to the Hilmar Cheese Company to tour the factory, watch the packaging process, and, the best part, eat all the free samples. To make it a full charcuterie meal, visit the Merced Fruit Barn. As a sort of farmer’s market, the Fruit Barn has arguably the best fresh and dried fruit in the state and a deli on-site for any and all sandwich needs.
The nearest major airport is Merced Regional Airport. Amtrak has routes through the city to Seattle, Yosemite Valley, and San Francisco, and Greyhound connects LA to Merced.
San Diego
San Diego is known as "America's Finest City" for its sunny weather, white-sand beaches, and dazzling attractions from Belmont Park to SeaWorld. San Diego's 70 miles of pristine beaches include such gems as Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Cove, and Coronado Beach. The city's strong surfing culture may even inspire you to rent a surfboard and catch the epic waves, bro.
Visitors can spend days getting lost in Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre cultural hub which features 16 museums, immaculate gardens, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. The historic heart of the city, Old Town, showcases San Diego's heritage and ties to Mexican culture, while other sights like the USS Midway pay tribute to the city's military and maritime history. Leave time for some evening exploring, too! San Diego is rated the #1 best city for craft beer in America, so don't miss out on the bars in the Gaslamp Quarter: 16 walkable blocks packed with nightlife and young crowds.
Two airports, as well as many bus and train options, mean it is easy to get to San Diego from afar or from nearby cities like Tijuana, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
Station Information
Where does the bus leave from in Merced?
Main departure station: Viajes Express - 710 W 16th St
Most buses depart from the main station in Merced.
All bus stations in Merced:
Viajes Express - 710 W 16th St
Where does the bus arrive in San Diego?
Main arrival station: San Ysidro Bus Terminal
Buses arrive in San Diego at 9 stations, depending on which bus line you are traveling with.
Bus stations in San Diego:
San Ysidro Bus Terminal
San Ysidro Transit Center
789 W Harbor Dr - Seaport Village
San Diego Greyhound Bus Stop
La Jolla - UC San Diego
2728 Congress St (Old Town SD)
Cross Border Xpress CBX
San Ysidro CA
SDSU - 5716 Hardy Ave
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Diego to Merced?
Search Bus Tickets
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
Book buses and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more