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Cheap bus tickets from Merced to San Francisco

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Merced to San Francisco Bus Schedule

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

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

Bus
Train
Avg. Price
Avg. Price
$43.89
Avg. Price
$38.01
Daily Trips
Daily Trips
1
Daily Trips
4
Duration
Duration
6h 31m
Duration
3h 22m

Bus from Merced to San Francisco: Journey Information

There is one daily bus from Merced to San Francisco. Traveling by bus from Merced to San Francisco usually takes around 6 hours and 33 minutes, but the fastest Greyhound bus can make the trip in 6 hours and 15 minutes.

Distance111 mi (179 km)
Shortest duration6h 15m
Cheapest price$32.97
Most frequent serviceGreyhound
Bus lines1

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How much is a bus ticket from Merced to San Francisco?

Bus tickets for a trip from Merced to San Francisco cost $34.47 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 month

$50$40$30$20$10MJJASONDJFMA
Taking the bus from Merced to San Francisco is usually cheapest in August, when the average ticket price is only $31. If you're planning to take the bus from Merced to San Francisco during November, keep in mind that bus ticket prices may be higher than usual, with an average price of $46. However, booking your trip in advance can help you score a ticket at a better price.

Prices as travel date approaches

$75$60$45$30$153020100

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 27 days in advance. This way, you can save up to $39.35 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 is the only company that has bus schedules available to search and book at the moment. It only makes the trip once a day on most days.

BusDaily TripsAvg. TimeAvg. Price
Greyhound16h 34m$57.78
  • 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 1 bus trips from Merced to San Francisco every day, with the average journey taking around 6 hours and 34 minutes to complete. Bus tickets for Greyhound trips to San Francisco usually start from $32.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by bus from Merced to San Francisco

The bus takes an average of 6 hours and 33 minutes to cover the 111 miles from Merced to San Francisco. However, the fastest bus only takes 6 hours and 15 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.

Thursday is usually the day of the week when buses are busiest. If you are planning to travel on a Thursday, 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.

There is usually only one bus per day from Merced to San Francisco. It leaves the station in Merced at 6:00am each day. The time might vary for specific dates, so be sure to search on Wanderu for the most up-to-date information.

There is usually only one bus per day from Merced to San Francisco. However, it is not a direct bus, so you will have to get off your original vehicle to change buses during the trip.

Need more travel options? Consider taking the train from Merced to San Francisco; ticket prices start at $37.00.

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

San Francisco, CA - SFO-0

Image credit: Unsplash

San Francisco, CA - SFO-1

Image credit: Unsplash

San Francisco, CA - SFO-2

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

All buses from Merced arrive at one main station in San Francisco.

All bus stations in San Francisco:

  • Salesforce Transit Center

Get around town with Moovit

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