Cheap train tickets from Merced to Santa Cruz

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Trip Summary

There are usually 3 daily train trips available from Merced to Santa Cruz. Traveling by train from Merced to Santa Cruz usually takes 10 hours and 7 minutes, but the fastest Amtrak train can make the trip in 5 hours and 1 minute.

Distance: 88 mi (142 km)
Fastest train: 5h 1m
Lowest price: CZK 801.54
Trains per day: 0
Most frequent service: Amtrak
Train lines: 1

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Merced to Santa Cruz Train Schedule

Is it better to travel by bus or train from Merced to Santa Cruz?

There are usually 2 daily bus trips available from Merced to Santa Cruz.

	Train	Bus
Avg. Price	Avg. PriceCZK 801.54	Avg. PriceCZK 563.25Cheaper
Daily Trips	Daily Trips3	Daily Trips2
Duration	Duration10h 7m	Duration4h 44mFaster

There are several train options that can take you from Merced to Santa Cruz:

Amtrak tickets: CZK 802 one-way

See more details

Price trends for trains from Merced to Santa Cruz

Average train ticket prices from Merced to Santa Cruz by travel date

Average train ticket prices from Merced to Santa Cruz by month

Prices as travel date approaches

Which train should you take from Merced to Santa Cruz?

Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Merced to Santa Cruz. However, there are 3 trains per day to choose from.

Train	Daily Trips	Avg. Time	Avg. Price
Amtrak	3	10h 7m	CZK 801.54

Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 3 Amtrak trains from Merced to Santa Cruz every day, as well as 4 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from CZK 801.54.

Frequently asked questions about traveling by train from Merced to Santa Cruz

While the train is the main method of transportation from Merced to Santa Cruz, it will only take you part of the way there. Please note that part of your trip will be on a different vehicle, most commonly a bus or express shuttle.

There are 3 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage. You can also take a train for your return trip from Santa Cruz to Merced. If you're not set on traveling by train, you could always take the bus from Merced to Santa Cruz for CZK 563.

Trains per day

Direct trains

The distance between Merced and Santa Cruz is approximately 88 miles. The average train journey between these two cities takes 10 hours and 7 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 5 hours and 1 minute. Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.

Distance (mi)

Distance (km)

142

The earliest train departs Merced at 8:05 AM while the last train of the day leaves at 2:05 PM. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.

First train

8:05am

Last train

2:05pm

Trains from Merced to Santa Cruz are the most crowded on Sunday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Friday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.

Busiest

Sunday

Least crowded

Friday

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.

Station Information

Where is the train station in Merced?

Main departure station: 324 W 24th St

There is one train station in Merced.

All train stations in Merced:

324 W 24th St

Where is the train station in Santa Cruz?

Main arrival station: Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz has one train station.

All train stations in Santa Cruz:

Santa Cruz, California

Need a return trip from Santa Cruz to Merced?

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