Cheap bus tickets from Fresno to Merced
Find and compare the best ground travel options in one place.
Millions of travelers trust Wanderu every year to get:
Lowest Prices
We find the cheapest bus & train tickets, so you can wander for less.
Best Travel Options
We partner with 500+ carriers to bring you the most bus & train options.
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.
See what travelers are saying about Wanderu:
Is it better to travel by bus or train from Fresno to Merced?
There are usually 6 daily train trips available from Fresno to Merced.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$29.63 | Avg. Price$11.13 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips3 | Daily Trips6 |
Duration | Duration1h 5m | Duration0h 58m |
Bus from Fresno to Merced: Journey Information
There are 3 intercity buses per day from Fresno to Merced. Traveling by bus from Fresno to Merced usually takes around one hour and 7 minutes, but the fastest Tufesa Plus bus can make the trip in 30 minutes.
| Distance | 55 mi (88 km) |
| Shortest duration | 0h 30m |
| Cheapest price | $23.48 |
| Trips per day | 3 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 3 |
How much is a bus ticket from Fresno to Merced?
Bus tickets for a trip from Fresno to Merced cost $24.55 on average. Opting to take a bus is a wallet-friendly way to make this trip. If you book your trip ahead of time using Wanderu, you can easily find bus tickets at or below this price.
Average bus ticket prices from Fresno to Merced by travel date
If you're planning to travel by bus from Fresno to Merced in the next month, the average ticket price is expected to range from $23 to $30. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next few weeks are for trips departing on February 4, 2025.
If you’re looking to travel to Merced this week, bus tickets are available starting at $25.
Prices as travel date approaches
To save money on bus tickets, buy them as early as possible. Bus carriers usually charge higher ticket prices the closer you book to the date of travel. Book your ticket at least 16 days in advance to save up to $5.44.
What bus companies travel from Fresno to Merced?
There are 3 bus lines from Fresno to Merced available for you to search and compare on Wanderu. Greyhound offers the most choice in regards to departure times, with a couple of different times on its daily bus schedule.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greyhound | 2 | 1h 11m | $25.39 |
| Los Limousines | 2 | 0h 58m | $39.82 |
| Tufesa Plus | 1 | 0h 30m | $36.00 |
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 2 bus trips from Fresno to Merced every day, with the average journey taking around 1 hours and 11 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to Merced usually start from $23.
Book Los Limousines from Fresno to Merced from $38. There are 2 trips per day offered by Los Limousines from Fresno to Merced and you can expect on average to pay for a Los Limousines ticket to Merced. In Fresno, Los Limousines departs to Merced from 1157 F St . In Merced, Los Limousines arrives at Viajes Express - 710 W 16th St .
An average trip on Los Limousines from Fresno to Merced takes 0 hours and 58 minutes , while the fastest available Los Limousines trip will get you to Merced in 0 hours and 30 minutes .
On weekends, Los Limousines offers 2 trips per day. A one way ticket costs for a weekend trip to Merced.
Tufesa Plus is an economy bus service run by Tufesa. Its service area covers the southwestern states in the United States and parts of northwest Mexico. Onboard, travelers can enjoy AC, power outlets, reclining chairs, separate male and female restrooms, and WiFi while in Mexico.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Fresno to Merced
The bus takes an average of one hour and 7 minutes to cover the 55 miles from Fresno to Merced. However, the fastest bus only takes 30 minutes. You'll have just enough time for a small nap on this relatively short bus 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 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, Friday is typically the least busy day for bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Friday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 4:00am and the last bus leaves at 9:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Fresno to Merced, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 3 scheduled buses that travel from Fresno to Merced every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. Furthermore, all of these are direct buses which you can take the entire route from Fresno to Merced without transferring.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Fresno to Merced; ticket prices start at $9.00.
City Information
Fresno
Situated close to the center of California, Fresno’s location makes it the perfect hub for travelers who wish to explore the state, but it also has enough attractions on its own to keep visitors interested. One of the city’s most unique destinations is the Forestiere Underground Gardens. Built by a Sicilian immigrant, the gardens stay below the ground level so that citrus trees could grow, making it a unique sight that will capture the heart of nature lovers. Fresno has recently gone through a lot of changes in the field of agriculture, and the city’s love for homegrown produce is now one of its attractions. As you explore the city, don’t hesitate to make a slight detour to Riverdance Farm, a local organic farm where you can pick ripened blueberries and cherries to your heart’s content. For fans of cultural activities, the Fresno Art Museum offers unique artworks created mostly by local artists.
Fresno restaurants are famous for their fresh homegrown produce, and Sam’s Italian Deli & Market is where you can try local staples. If you want to cook yourself, Fresno Farmers’ Market will be a great choice.
Fresno’s main bus and train station is the Santa Fe Passenger Depot located at 2650 Tulare St. From there, you can take buses from various carriers or hop on a train on Amtrak’s San Joaquins line. The Fresno Yosemite International Airport is the city’s main airport and it is located not too far from the city center.
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 bus leave from in Fresno?
Image credit: Ron Reiring
Link to image attribution
Image credit: Mattias Thorslund
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Santa Fe Station - 2650 Tulare St
The Santa Fe Station is a historic train station and transportation hub in Fresno. The station opened in 1899 and was originally owned by the Santa Fe Railway, hence the misleading “Santa Fe” name for a station in Fresno. Passengers can board the Amtrak San Joaquins train to Oakland, Sacramento, or Bakersfield from this station, and bus service from Amtrak Thruway and Jefferson Lines also stops at this location. The Santa Fe station is just steps away from Fresno’s City Hall, the Meux Home Museum, and the Fresno Convention Center, making this station a convenient entry point to Fresno.
All bus stations in Fresno:
Santa Fe Station - 2650 Tulare St
1157 F St
919 E St
Where does the bus arrive in Merced?
Main arrival station: Viajes Express - 710 W 16th St
All buses from Fresno arrive at one main station in Merced.
All bus stations in Merced:
Viajes Express - 710 W 16th St
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Merced to Fresno?
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. 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.