There are 9 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 to Mercedbus
8h 25m$245–1,041Fly to Merced Municipal Airport
cheapest- Fly from Des Moines (DSM) to Merced Municipal Airport (MCE)plane DSM - MCE
6h 48m$114–454Bus (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$327–647Bus, 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 Merced Bus Stopbus
47h 44m$598–1,263Drive 1,737.5 mi
- Drive from Des Moines to Mercedcar 1,737.5 mi
28h 48m$318–458Fly 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 18m$271–1,145Fly 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$284–1,249Bus via Ciudad Juárez
- Take the bus from Des Moines to Kansas Citybus
- Take the bus from 2745 Southwest Blvd - Kansas City to El Pasobus
- Take the bus from El Paso to 612 Wall St - Los Angelesbus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles - Limousine Express Bus Terminal to Mercedbus 1
45h 17m$358–493Bus, train via Denver
- 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$498–1,065
Des Moines to Merced by bus (Greyhound)
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Des Moines to Merced is to fly which costs $110 - $460 and takes 6h 48m.
The fastest way to get from Des Moines to Merced is to fly which takes 6h 48m and costs $110 - $460.
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 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 50m and costs $320 - $650.
It takes approximately 8h 25m 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 $110 - $460 and takes 6h 48m.
Des Moines to Merced bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Denver Union Station.
Merced is 2h behind Des Moines. It is currently 8:40 PM in Des Moines and 6:40 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) 3 times a day.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 32m
- When
- Saturday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $220–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 57m
- When
- Saturday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $220–1,000
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 51m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 26m
- When
- Sunday, Saturday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,200
Flights from Des Moines to Oakland International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,200
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 44m
- When
- Saturday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,200
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- When
- Monday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,200
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 55m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
- Website
- advancedaircharters.com
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 51m
- When
- Wednesday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $95–430
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Denver, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- When
- Tuesday to Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $95–430
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Phoenix, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 7m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $100–460
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Minneapolis, Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 40m
- When
- Wednesday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $110–480
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,100
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 49m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–1,000
Flights from Des Moines to Fresno Yosemite International Airport via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,300
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–1,200
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Des Moines to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 44m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,300
- Website
- contouraviation.com
Flights from Des Moines to Merced Municipal Airport via Phoenix, Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $110–470
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Kansas City to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 35h 40m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $500–1,100
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Denver to Sacramento
- Ave. Duration
- 31h 19m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $360–800
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 866 691 9732
- eplasales@eplalimo.com
- Website
- eplalimo.com
Bus from Fresno to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $26–40
- Website
- https://eplalimo.com/
- One Way
- $26–40
Bus from Los Angeles - Limousine Express Bus Terminal to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $45–70
- Website
- https://eplalimo.com/
- One Way
- $45–70
- Phone
- +1 833 766 3553
- Website
- tufesainternacional.com
Bus from Fresno to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- 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 Fresno to Merced
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- $6–19
- Schedules at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Book at
- tufesa.com.mx
- Plus
- $6–19
- Titanium
- $7–19
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- 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
- $170–340
- 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 Los Angeles Union Station to Merced Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45–90
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Modesto Bus Stop to Merced Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $6–13
- 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
- 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
- +1 800-923-1799
- contactus@omexusa.net
- Website
- omnibusexpress.com
Bus from 2745 Southwest Blvd - Kansas City to El Paso
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $140–190
- Schedules at
- omnibusexpress.com
Bus from El Paso to 612 Wall St - Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–160
- Schedules at
- omnibusexpress.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 34+ hotels available in Merced.





















