There are 10 ways to get from Des Moines to Merced by plane, bus, bus (Greyhound), 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 Bus Station to Merced Bus Stopbus
9h 7m$218–941Fly to Merced Municipal Airport
cheapest- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Merced Municipal Airport (MCE)plane DSM - MCE
7h 31m$159–674Bus (Greyhound)
- 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 Merced Bus Stopbus
43h 50m$326–631Bus, train
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas Citybus
- Take the train from Kansas City to Riversidetrain
- Take the bus from Riverside to Bakersfieldbus
- Take the bus from Bakersfield, CA to Mercedbus
47h 37m$624–1,336Drive 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 2m$211–812Fly 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 23m$261–1,144Fly 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 17m$254–1,048Bus, train via Denver
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Omaha, NEbus
- Take the bus from Omaha, NE to Denverbus
- Take the train from Denver to Sacramentotrain
- Take the bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Merced Bus Stopbus
2d 2h$537–1,070Bus, train via Denver #2
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Denver Union Stationbus
- Take the train from Denver to Sacramentotrain
- Take the bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Merced Bus Stopbus
2d 3h$487–1,059
Des Moines to Merced by bus (Greyhound)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Merced is to bus which costs $320 - $650 and takes 43h 50m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Merced is to fly which takes 7h 31m and costs $150 - $700.
No, there is no direct bus from Des Moines to Merced. However, there are services departing from Des Moines and arriving at Merced Bus Stop via Denver Union Station, Sparks Transit Center and Sacramento Bus Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 43h 50m.
The distance between Des Moines and Merced is 1507 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 50m and costs $320 - $650.
It takes approximately 9h 7m 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 50m and costs $320 - $650. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $150 - $700 and takes 7h 31m.
Des Moines to Merced bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Denver Union Station.
Merced is 2h behind Des Moines. It is currently 5:55 PM in Des Moines and 3:55 PM 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 Bus Stop via Denver Union Station, Sparks Transit Center, and Sacramento Bus Station in around 43h 50m. Alternatively, Allegiant Air, Advanced Air, LLC, and five other airlines fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Merced Municipal Airport (MCE) 4 times a day.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–900
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 40m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $190–900
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Saturday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 28m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–1,000
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 57m
- When
- Saturday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
- Website
- advancedaircharters.com
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 39m
- When
- Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Phoenix, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–700
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Denver, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 54m
- When
- Tuesday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Minneapolis, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 35m
- When
- Tuesday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $160–700
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–900
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–1,000
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 9m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $210–950
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
- Website
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 8m
- When
- Thursday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $190–900
Flights from Des Moines to Stockton Metropolitan Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 10m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $170–750
Flights from Des Moines to Stockton Metropolitan Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 33m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $180–800
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
- Website
- contouraviation.com
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $140–650
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Kansas City to Riverside
- Ave. Duration
- 33h 53m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $470–1,100
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Denver to Sacramento
- Ave. Duration
- 31h 19m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $350–800
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Fresno Bus Station to Merced Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $9–18
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Des Moines to Denver Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 25m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $110–220
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Denver Union Station to Sparks Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170–330
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Sparks Transit Center to Sacramento Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Merced Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Modesto Bus Stop to Merced Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $6–12
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Des Moines to Omaha, NE
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–45
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Des Moines to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $50–75
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Adult
- $50–75
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Riverside to Bakersfield
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–80
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- tufesainternacional.com
Bus from Bakersfield, CA to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 17m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Schedules at
- tufesainternacional.com
- Adult One way
- $45–70
Bus from Stockton to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $30–55
- Schedules at
- tufesainternacional.com
- Adult One way
- $30–55
- Phone
- +52 644 410 2444
- atencionaclientes@tufesa.com.mx
- Website
- tufesa.com.mx
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
- Website
- stanrta.org
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
- https://www.stanrta.org/
- One Day Pass
- $2
- Phone
- +1-877-779-2999
- tony@expressarrow.com
- Website
- expressarrow.com
Bus from Omaha, NE to Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $140–180
- Website
- https://expressarrow.com
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More Questions & Answers
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 31+ hotels available in Merced.

















