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Cheap coach tickets from San Jose to Merced

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San Jose to Merced Coach Timetable

Is it better to travel by bus or train from San Jose to Merced?

There are usually 4 daily train trips from San Jose to Merced.

Coach
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
£13.09
Avg. Price
£26.89
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
2
Daily Trips
4
Duration
Duration
3h 0m
Duration
5h 21m

Coach from San Jose to Merced: Journey Information

There are 2 intercity coaches per day from San Jose to Merced. Traveling by coach from San Jose to Merced usually takes around 3 hours, but the fastest Amtrak Thruway coach can make the trip in 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Distance77 mi (124 km)
Shortest duration2h 50m
Cheapest price£13.09
Trips per day2
Most frequent serviceAmtrak Thruway
Coach lines1

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What coach companies travel from San Jose to Merced?

There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from San Jose to Merced. Amtrak Thruway is the one bus line that serves this route. Although it's the sole option, there are a couple of different scheduled times to choose from.

CoachDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Amtrak Thruway23h 1m£13.09
  • Amtrak Thruway, also known as Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach, is a system of intercity passenger buses operated by Amtrak to connect train stations to areas that are not served by the carrier’s railroads. On the bus, passengers can enjoy comfortable reclining seats with leg rests and access to onboard restroom facilities. Amtrak Thruway bus tickets from San Jose to Merced start at £13. On average, there are 2 Amtrak Thruway bus trips on this route every day.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by coach from San Jose to Merced

The coach takes an average of 3 hours to cover the 77 miles from San Jose to Merced. However, the fastest coach only takes 2 hours and 50 minutes. It's the perfect amount of time to take a nap, get some work done, or watch a movie. Keep in mind that your actual coach may arrive earlier or later than scheduled, depending on whether there is more or less traffic than usual.

"Travelers prefer riding the coach on Saturday to enjoy the weekend in Merced. 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, Thursday is typically the least busy day for coach travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go."

The first coach leaves at 06:00 and the last coach leaves at 15:00. To see the times for all coaches from San Jose to Merced, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.

There are usually only 2 coaches per day from San Jose to Merced. Both of these are direct coaches, meaning that you do not have to worry about transferring coaches at any point during your trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from San Jose to Merced; ticket prices start at £21.09.

City Information

San Jose

San Jose, CA - SJC-0

Image credit: Unsplash

San Jose, CA - SJC-1

Image credit: Unsplash

San Jose, CA - SJC-2

Image credit: Unsplash

San Jose is located in the heart of the world-famous Silicon Valley in California’s Bay Area. It is the largest city in Northern California and, as such, it is the area’s cultural, political and financial center.

While you’re in San Jose, make sure to check out the city’s various museums. Since you’re in the world’s foremost technology hub, the Tech Museum of Innovation is a must-visit. And since you’re on the West Coast, you should stop by the San Jose Museum of Art that features the largest permanent collection of works from West Coast artists.

Thanks to its mild California climate, San Jose is one of the best cities in the U.S. for outdoor activities, and due to its largely younger-leaning population, it offers quite the vibrant nightlife. In fact, San Jose is among the biggest party hubs in America.

San Jose is served by various bus carriers and has several Amtrak stops within its vicinity. In addition, the city’s airport is located right near the downtown area, which makes travel to and from San Jose a breeze.

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.

Station Information

Where does the coach leave from in San Jose?

Diridon Caltrain Station - 65 Cahill St - SJCDCS-0

Image credit: SPUR

Link to image attribution

Main departure station: Diridon Caltrain Station - 65 Cahill St

Diridon Station opened in 1935 with architecture inspired by the Italian Renaissance, and today is a vital part of Silicon Valley’s transportation system. Diridon Station connects Amtrak train service to local commuter service like the Caltrain and VTA Light Rail. The station is also a major hub for bus transit on Amtrak Thruway and Greyhound buses. With paid parking onsite, bicycle racks, and accessible entrances, travelers can easily reach the station from nearby downtown San Jose. As a bonus, food trucks frequently set up outside the station to provide delicious cheap eats for passengers.

All coach stations in San Jose:

  • Diridon Caltrain Station - 65 Cahill St

Where does the coach arrive in Merced?

Main arrival station: 324 W 24th St

All coaches from San Jose arrive at one main station in Merced.

Coach stations in Merced:

  • 324 W 24th St

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Need a return trip from Merced to San Jose?

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