Cheap bus tickets from Merced to San Francisco
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Is it better to travel by bus or train from Merced to San Francisco?
There are usually 5 daily train trips available from Merced to San Francisco.
Bus | Train | |
|---|---|---|
Avg. Price | Avg. Price$38.19 | Avg. Price$32.86 |
Daily Trips | Daily Trips2 | Daily Trips5 |
Duration | Duration5h 15m | Duration3h 27m |
Bus from Merced to San Francisco: Journey Information
There are 3 intercity buses per day from Merced to San Francisco. Traveling by bus from Merced to San Francisco usually takes around 5 hours and 15 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 3 hours and 30 minutes.
| Distance | 111 mi (179 km) |
| Shortest duration | 3h 30m |
| Cheapest price | $24.48 |
| Trips per day | 1 |
| Most frequent service | Greyhound |
| Bus lines | 1 |
How much is a bus ticket from Merced to San Francisco?
Bus tickets for a trip from Merced to San Francisco cost $30.87 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 Merced to San Francisco by travel date
Over the next four weeks, the average price of bus tickets from Merced to San Francisco is expected to be between $28 and $40. The cheapest day to travel in the next month is January 28, 2025, when tickets are available for January 28, 2025. The cheapest bus tickets available in the next week start at just $28.
Prices as travel date approaches
Most bus companies charge higher ticket prices closer to the date of travel, so it’s a good idea to buy your bus tickets as early as possible. To find the cheapest bus tickets, book your trip at least 22 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $12.05 on your bus ticket compared to booking last-minute.
What bus companies travel from Merced to San Francisco?
There is one intercity bus company available to search and book on Wanderu that operates from Merced to San Francisco. Greyhound connects the two cities by bus, it offers multiple scheduled buses per day for you to choose from.
| Bus | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greyhound | 3 | 5h 15m | $34.05 |
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 3 bus trips from Merced to San Francisco every day, with the average journey taking around 5 hours and 15 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Francisco usually start from $24.
Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Merced to San Francisco
The bus takes an average of 5 hours and 15 minutes to cover the 111 miles from Merced to San Francisco. However, the fastest bus only takes 3 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.
Saturday is usually the day when buses are busiest, as many travelers take the bus to enjoy the weekend in San Francisco. 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 bus travel on this route. If you’re looking for a little extra space, a Thursday ticket is the way to go.
The first bus leaves at 5:00am and the last bus leaves at 12:00pm. To see the times for all buses from Merced to San Francisco, enter your specific travel dates in the search bar.
There are 3 scheduled buses that travel from Merced to San Francisco every day, so you have a decent number of options to choose from. However, only one of these is a direct bus. With direct service, you do not have to transfer onto a different bus at any point during your trip. Direct buses also tend to be significantly faster, which is worth bearing in mind as you compare the available options.
Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Merced to San Francisco; ticket prices start at $22.00.
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 Francisco
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Located in the heart of Northern California's Bay Area, San Francisco is a geographically small but culturally huge city known for its historic cable cars, active waterfront, and the eclectic mix of hippies and techies who call it home. While it might be one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in, San Fran can actually be very cheap to visit, and there is no shortage of unique sights to see.
If the city's omnipresent fog (nicknamed "Karl the Fog" by locals) takes a break, the best views and Instagram photo ops of the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge are found in Golden Gate Park. Stroll through the oldest Chinatown in North America to find the perfect dim sum, or if you and your boo prefer a little Full House moment, try a romantic picnic at Alamo Square Park in front of the Victorian "Painted Ladies." After all, San Francisco is one of the best vacation destinations for couples.
Since the city is condensed onto a small peninsula, exploring by bike is an efficient and scenic way to get around. When you’re ready to travel beyond city limits, San Francisco is a convenient hub for trips throughout Northern California. It's actually the first stop on Wanderu's West Coast Wine Tour, with the next stop, obviously, in Napa Valley. Whether traveling by bus, train, or through either of the two nearby airports, San Francisco is a can't-miss destination.
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 Francisco?
Main arrival station: Salesforce Transit Center
These are the two stations where buses may stop when they arrive in San Francisco.
All bus stations in San Francisco:
Salesforce Transit Center
Caltrain Station - 5th & Townsend St
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from San Francisco to Merced?
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