There are 10 ways to get from Merced to Des Moines by bus, plane, bus (Flixbus, 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.
Bus to Stockton Metropolitan Airport, fly
best- Take the bus from Merced to Stocktonbus
- Fly from Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SCK - DSM
15h 23m$277–1,227Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Merced to Sacramento Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Sparks Transit Centerbus
- Take the bus from Sparks Transit Center to Denver Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Des Moinesbus
42h$164–415Bus, train
- Take the bus from Merced to Bakersfield Train Stationbus
- Take the bus from Bakersfield to Los Angelesbus
- Take the train from Los Angeles to Kansas Citytrain
- Take the bus from Kansas City to Des Moinesbus
47h 57mDrive 1,738.1 mi
- Drive from Merced to Des Moinescar 1,738.1 mi
28h 48m$318–459Bus to Fresno Yosemite International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Merced Bus Stop to Fresno Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) to Des Moines (DSM)plane FAT - DSM
8h 31m$373–1,676Bus to Sacramento International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Merced to Sacramento Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SMF - DSM
10h 8m$302–1,358Bus, bus to Oakland International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Merced Bus Stop to Modesto Bus Stopbus
- Take the bus from Bay C - Modesto Transit Center - 2nd exi to BART Dublin Stationbus
- Fly from Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Des Moines (DSM)plane OAK - DSM
10h 40m$277–1,182Fly from Merced Municipal Airport
- Fly from Merced Municipal Airport (MCE) to Des Moines (DSM)plane MCE - DSM
7h 24m$188–824Bus, train to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Merced to Stocktonbus
- Take the train from Stockton - Robert J Cabral Station to Santa Clara Stationtrain
- Fly from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) to Des Moines (DSM)plane SJC - DSM
11h 43m$328–1,434Bus, train via Denver
- Take the bus from Merced Bus Stop to Sacramento Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Sacramento to Denvertrain
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Des Moinesbus
2d 1h$210–1,287
Merced to Des Moines by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Merced to Des Moines is to bus which costs $160 - $420 and takes 42h.
The fastest way to get from Merced to Des Moines is to fly which takes 7h 24m and costs $180 - $850.
No, there is no direct bus from Merced to Des Moines. However, there are services departing from Merced and arriving at Des Moines via Sacramento Bus Station, Sparks Transit Center and Denver Union Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 42h.
The distance between Merced and Des Moines is 1573 miles. The road distance is 1748.3 miles.
The best way to get from Merced to Des Moines without a car is to bus which takes 42h and costs $160 - $420.
It takes approximately 15h 23m to get from Merced to Des Moines, including transfers.
Merced to Des Moines bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, depart from Merced station.
The best way to get from Merced to Des Moines is to bus which takes 42h and costs $160 - $420. Alternatively, you can fly, which costs $180 - $850 and takes 7h 24m.
Merced to Des Moines bus services, operated by Flixbus USA, arrive at Sacramento Bus Station.
Des Moines is 2h ahead of Merced. It is currently 10:05 AM in Merced and 12:05 PM in Des Moines.
What companies run services between Merced, CA, USA and Des Moines, IA, USA?
You can take a bus from Merced to Des Moines via Sacramento Bus Station, Sparks Transit Center, and Denver Union Station in around 42h. Alternatively, Advanced Air, LLC, Allegiant Air, and two other airlines fly from Merced Municipal Airport (MCE) to Des Moines (DSM) 6 times a week.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Stockton Metropolitan Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 30m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Fresno Yosemite International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 40m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $330–1,600
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 42m
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 20m
- When
- Thursday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,400
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 25m
- When
- Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $320–1,500
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 47m
- When
- Thursday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,200
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–1,100
Flights from Merced Municipal Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas, Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 20m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180–850
Flights from Merced Municipal Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas, St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 25m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- $200–900
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 52m
- When
- Thursday to Sunday
- Estimated price
- $290–1,400
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $310–1,400
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Stockton Metropolitan Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas, Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 42m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Fresno Yosemite International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $330–1,600
Flights from Fresno Yosemite International Airport to Des Moines via Chicago O'Hare
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $430–1,900
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 43m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $260–1,300
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 22m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Merced Municipal Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas, Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 46m
- When
- Monday and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $170–800
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–1,300
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Fresno Yosemite International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $360–1,700
Flights from Fresno Yosemite International Airport to Des Moines via Dallas/Ft.Worth
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $410–1,800
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 47m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $300–1,400
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 50m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,200
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Des Moines via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 51m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $310–1,400
- Website
- allegiantair.com
Flights from Stockton Metropolitan Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 53m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
Flights from Merced Municipal Airport to Des Moines via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Thursday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $170–800
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 37m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,300
Flights from Oakland International Airport to Des Moines via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 17m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $230–1,100
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Sacramento International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 41m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,400
Flights from Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport to Des Moines via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 21m
- When
- Monday to Friday
- Estimated price
- $320–1,500
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Los Angeles to Kansas City
- Ave. Duration
- 35h 7m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $150–1,300
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Sacramento to Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 31h 4m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $120–1,100
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1 800-411-7245
- Website
- acerail.com
Train from Stockton - Robert J Cabral Station to Santa Clara Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $16–21
- Website
- https://acerail.com
- Phone
- +1 (855) 626-8585
- Website
- flixbus.com
Bus from Merced to Stockton
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $10–85
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Adult
- $10–85
Bus from Merced to Sacramento Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $20–30
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
Bus from Merced to Bakersfield Train Station
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21–90
- Schedules at
- flixbus.com
- Adult
- $21–90
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- ifsr@greyhound.com
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Sacramento Bus Station to Sparks Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $19–75
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Sparks Transit Center to Denver Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 55m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $60–160
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Denver Union Station to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–150
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Merced Bus Stop to Fresno Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $25–55
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Merced Bus Stop to Modesto Bus Stop
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Merced Bus Stop to Sacramento Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–35
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Bus from Bakersfield to Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 3 hours
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-858-800-8898
- Website
- jeffersonlines.com
Bus from Kansas City to Des Moines
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $18–90
- Book at
- https://www.jeffersonlines.com
- Website
- stanrta.org
Bus from Bay C - Modesto Transit Center - 2nd exi to BART Dublin Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2
- Website
- https://www.stanrta.org/
- One Day Pass
- $2
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More Questions & Answers
Yes, the driving distance between Merced to Des Moines is 1748 miles. It takes approximately 28h 48m to drive from Merced to Des Moines.
Book your Merced to Des Moines bus tickets online with Omio and FlixBus.
There are 248+ hotels available in Des Moines.












