There are 10 ways to get from Des Moines to Merced by plane, bus, bus (Greyhound, Flixbus), train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Fresno Yosemite International Airport, bus
best- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)plane DSM - FAT
- Take the bus from Fresno, CA to Mercedbus
8h 15m$126–534Bus
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Denver Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Sparks Transit Centerbus
- Take the bus from Sparks Transit Center to Sacramento Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Mercedbus
43h 5m$342–521Bus, train via Van Nuys
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas City Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Kansas City to Los Angelestrain
- Take the bus from Los Angeles - Pacoima to Mercedbus
47h 8m$1,025–1,714Drive 1,737.5 mi
- Drive from Des Moines to Mercedcar 1,737.5 mi
28h 48m$318–458Fly to Stockton Metropolitan Airport, bus
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)plane DSM - SCK
- Take the bus from Stockton to Mercedbus
9h 41m$162–614Fly to Merced Municipal Airport
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Merced Municipal Airport (MCE)plane DSM - MCE
7h 19m$130–516Fly to Oakland International Airport, bus
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Oakland International Airport (OAK)plane DSM - OAK
- Take the bus from BART Dublin Station to Bay C - Modesto Transit Center - 2nd exibus
- Take the bus from Modesto Bus Stop to Merced Bus Stopbus
10h 19m$153–595Fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, bus
- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane DSM - SJC
- Take the bus from BART Dublin Station to Bay C - Modesto Transit Center - 2nd exibus
- Take the bus from Modesto Bus Stop to Merced Bus Stopbus
11h 23m$156–599Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas Citybus
- Take the train from Kansas City to Los Angelestrain
- Take the bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Mercedbus
2d$1,043–1,742Bus, train #2
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Galesburgbus
- Take the train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Sacramentotrain
- Take the bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Merced Bus Stopbus
2d 10h$1,163–1,996
Des Moines to Merced by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Merced is to fly which costs $130 - $550 and takes 7h 19m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Merced is to fly which takes 7h 19m and costs $130 - $550.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Merced. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Merced via Denver Union Station, Sparks Transit Center and Sacramento Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 43h 5m.
The distance between Des Moines and Merced is 1509 miles. The road distance is 1747.7 miles.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Merced without a car is to bus which takes 43h 5m and costs $340 - $550.
It takes approximately 8h 15m to get from Des Moines to Merced, including transfers.
Des Moines to Merced bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Des Moines station.
The best way to get from Des Moines to Merced is to bus which takes 43h 5m and costs $340 - $550. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $130 - $550 and takes 7h 19m.
Des Moines to Merced bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Denver Union Station.
Merced is 2h behind Des Moines. It is currently 11:38 AM in Des Moines and 9:38 AM in Merced.
What companies run services between Des Moines, IA, USA and Merced, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Des Moines to Merced via Denver Union Station, Sparks Transit Center, and Sacramento Bus Station in around 43h 5m. Alternatively, Allegiant Air, Corporate Flight Management Inc, and three other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Merced Municipal Airport (MCE) twice daily.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 35m
- When
- Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $100–490
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 23m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $110–490
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 32m
- When
- Sunday, Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 37m
- When
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $150–650
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 18m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $120–600
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 5m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 42m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 14m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–650
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $100–490
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 13m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 58m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–550
- Website
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 9m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–490
Flights from Des Moines to Stockton Metropolitan Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 56m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Thursday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
- Website
- contouraviation.com
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 13m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–490
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 22m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Denver, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 55m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $110–490
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Minneapolis, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–550
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Kansas City to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 35h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $950–1,600
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Kansas City to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 35h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $950–1,600
- Website
- Amtrak
Train from Galesburg Amtrak Station to Sacramento
- Ave. Duration
- 2d
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $1,100–1,900
- Website
- Amtrak
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- Tufesa
Bus from Fresno, CA to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Schedules at
- Tufesa
- Adult One way
- $30–55
Bus from Los Angeles - Pacoima to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 37m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $55–85
- Schedules at
- Tufesa
- Adult One way
- $55–85
Bus from Stockton to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Schedules at
- Tufesa
- Adult One way
- $30–55
- Phone
- +52 644 410 2444
- atencionaclientes@tufesa.com.mx
- Website
- tufesa.com.mx
Bus from Fresno, CA to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $6–20
- Schedules at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Book at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Plus
- $6–20
- Titanium
- $7–19
Bus from Los Angeles - Pacoima to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 20m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Schedules at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Book at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Plus
- $30–45
- Titanium
- $30–45
Bus from Stockton to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $7–21
- Schedules at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Book at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Plus
- $7–21
- Titanium
- $8–21
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Denver Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–180
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Denver Union Station to Sparks Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $180–280
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Sparks Transit Center to Sacramento Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $23–35
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Modesto Bus Stop to Merced Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $6–11
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Modesto Bus Stop to Merced Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $6–11
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Des Moines to Galesburg
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- Greyhound
Bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Merced Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $24–40
- Website
- Greyhound
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $18–28
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
Bus from Los Angeles Union Station to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–70
- Schedules at
- Flixbus USA
- Website
- StanRTA
Bus from BART Dublin Station to Bay C - Modesto Transit Center - 2nd exi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2
- Website
- StanRTA
- One Day Pass
- $2
Bus from BART Dublin Station to Bay C - Modesto Transit Center - 2nd exi
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2
- Website
- StanRTA
- One Day Pass
- $2
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Book at
- Jefferson Lines
- Adult
- $50–75
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between Des Moines to Merced is 1748 miles. It takes approximately 28h 48m to drive from Des Moines to Merced.
Book your Des Moines to Merced bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 34+ hotels available in Merced.



















