How much is the bus ticket from San Jose to Merced?

The cheapest bus tickets from San Jose to Merced start from $20. The average price for this route is around $20. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.

How long is the bus ride from San Jose to Merced?

The average bus trip duration from San Jose to Merced is 2h 50m, covering a distance of 79 miles (127 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 2h 50m and is operated by Amtrak .

Which bus companies service the San Jose to Merced route?

Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak , Greyhound , FlixBus .

What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Jose to Merced?

The earliest bus departs from San Jose to Merced at 6:20am. And the latest bus departs at 3:50pm.

What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Jose to Merced?

A bus trip from San Jose to Merced generates an estimated 3 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.

What is the best bus company from San Jose to Merced?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak , with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5696 reviews.

Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Jose to Merced?

Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.

Which bus company has the most timely service from San Jose to Merced?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus , with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.

Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Jose to Merced?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak , with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Bus San Jose to Merced from $18 | Refundable Tickets

Next departures

Next departures for San Jose to Merced on January 5
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
6:20am	Diridon Station	2h 50m	9:10am	Merced Amtrak	CheapestFastest
3:50pm	Diridon Station	3h 10m	7:00pm	Merced Amtrak	No tags
6:25am	Diridon Station	4h 48m	11:13am	Merced Amtrak	No tags
12:25pm	Diridon Station	4h 48m	5:13pm	Merced Amtrak	No tags

Next departures for San Jose to Merced on January 8
Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
6:20am	Diridon Station	2h 50m	9:10am	Merced Amtrak	CheapestFastest
3:50pm	Diridon Station	3h 10m	7:00pm	Merced Amtrak	No tags
6:25am	Diridon Station	4h 48m	11:13am	Merced Amtrak	No tags
12:25pm	Diridon Station	4h 48m	5:13pm	Merced Amtrak	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Yesterday at 4:22 PM PST.

Compare 2 ways to go from San Jose to Merced

We recommend taking the bus

Among the sustainable travel choices, the bus stands out as the good way to reach Merced. The journey takes about 2 hours 50 minutes and with fares starting at just $20, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

2bus per day

2h 50mAverage Duration

79 milesDistance

3kgCO₂ emissions

	Average Price	Average Duration	CO₂ emissions	Actions
Bus	Average Price$20 - $20	Average Duration2h 50m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Train	Average Price$49 - $57	Average Duration5h 47m	CO₂ emissions 11kg CO₂e

Where are the popular stops in San Jose and Merced?

Stops in San Jose

A
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St., San Jose, CA 95110
Visit page
B
Santiago Express San Jose
440 S King rd , an Jose CA 95116
Visit page
C
1118 E William St
1118 E William St, San Jose, CA 95116, USA
D
San Jose Bus Stop
100 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95113, USA
E
Tamien Station
Guadalupe Fwy, San Jose, CA 95110, USA
F
Diridon Station
65 Cahill St, San Jose, CA 95110, USA

Stops in Merced

A
Merced Bus Station
710 W 16th St, Merced, CA 95340, USA
Visit page
B
55 E 16th St
55 E. 16th St , CA 95340 , USA

Compare bus companies

Amtrak

4/55,701 reviews

Staff4.7

Timeliness3.8

Cleanliness4.6

Wifi3.6

Greyhound

3.5/587,477 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness3.3

Wifi2.4

Greyhound Lines offers the most comprehensive intercity bus services in the United States. They operate a modern, environmentally friendly fleet that serves more than 2400 destinations and carries nearly 16 million passengers annually. When traveling with them, you can expect free WiFi, onboard entertainment, bathrooms, power outlets and decent legroom. One of the great perks of Greyhound is that they connect big cities and smaller towns in the US, where you usually can't get to by train or plane. If you're looking for safe and affordable transportation, Greyhound is a great choice.

FlixBus

3.5/511,893 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness3.9

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi2.7

Flixbus is a European bus operator that offers intercity and bus travel in over 38 countries. Known for their easy-to-spot lime green buses and for offering affordable transportation between cities in Europe and the Americas, Flixbus is a good option for those looking for an affordable, reliable bus company. In their buses, you'll find free WiFi, bathrooms, and power outlets. You can also pay extra to choose your seat and get extra legroom, or even buy a snack or drink onboard directly from the driver. You can reschedule your ticket for a small fee, which varies from $1 to $5, depending on how close you are to the departure date.

US bus companies:FlixBus, BlaBlaCar Bus, Greyhound, ALSA, Intercape, Trenitalia, Big Sky

Frequently asked questions about traveling from San Jose, US to Merced by bus

Please note that schedules, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your trip.

How much is the bus ticket from San Jose to Merced?
The cheapest bus tickets from San Jose to Merced start from $20. The average price for this route is around $20. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus ride from San Jose to Merced?
The average bus trip duration from San Jose to Merced is 2h 50m, covering a distance of 79 miles (127 km). The quickest bus can get you there in 2h 50m and is operated by Amtrak.
Which bus companies service the San Jose to Merced route?
Several major bus companies operate on this route with 2 buses available per day, including services from Amtrak, Greyhound, FlixBus.
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from San Jose to Merced?
The earliest bus departs from San Jose to Merced at 6:20am. And the latest bus departs at 3:50pm.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from San Jose to Merced?
A bus trip from San Jose to Merced generates an estimated 3 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly travel option and recommended mode of travel by Busbud.
What is the best bus company from San Jose to Merced?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Amtrak, with an average rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars based on 5696 reviews.
Which bus company has the best Wi-Fi from San Jose to Merced?
Based on reviews on Busbud, the bus company Amtrak has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 3.6.
Which bus company has the most timely service from San Jose to Merced?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most timely bus company on this route is FlixBus, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from San Jose to Merced?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Amtrak, with a cleanliness rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

01/02

$31

01/03

$32

Today

$29

01/05

$18

01/06

$18

01/07

$18

01/08

$18

01/09

$18

The cheapest trip from San Jose, US to Merced was searched and found on Jan 5, 2026 with a price of $18

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from San Jose, US to Merced, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $18 to $32 for a bus ticket from San Jose, US to Merced based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $18 which is on 2026-01-05.