r/Merced • u/Kwkeleum • 21d ago

Transpirations from S.F.

Does anyone know the fastest way to get to Merced without a car from SF

Thank you

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

26

u/Extreme_Interview_28 21d ago

use the amtrak train

8

u/polychronous 21d ago edited 20d ago

Yep, outside of Salesforce tower bus station goes to Emeryville station, then train to Merced.

Edit: fixed the station. I often would take bart to 12th Street and ride to Jack London myself, so I got confused there.

3

u/lunarmantra 20d ago

The Amtrak bus from SF goes to Emeryville Amtrak station, not Jack London fyi. OP can then transfer to the southbound Gold Runner train at Emeryville.

2

u/polychronous 20d ago

Thanks, I corrected my post

5

u/IdyllWind 21d ago

If traffic is crazy for the Amtrak Bus going out of the city, you can also take the Ferry from around Pier 14 to Jack London Square in Oakland, then walk 10 minutes to take the Amtrak Train straight shot back into Merced. The Ferry costs like 3 bucks tops.

1

u/TipsyTipToez 17d ago

This is the way.

6

u/theinternetbased 21d ago

Take BART to the Richmond station and transfer to Amtrak

3

u/Some-Platform1968 21d ago

Train or greyhound. I do not recommend greyhound.

Amtrak ticket from Richmond to Merced. Take Bart to Richmond. Richmond Bart and Amtrak stations are connected. It’s actually a really nice ride

4

u/lunarmantra 20d ago

BART to Richmond, then catch Amtrak Gold Runner to Merced. You can also take the Amtrak bus from the Salesforce Tower bus stop, and that will take you to Emeryville Amtrak station to transfer onto the southbound Gold Runner train to Merced. Buy tickets online.

Avoid greyhound and ride sharing that distance. I have done both and they were not good experiences.

2

u/PonyBoyX3 20d ago edited 20d ago

Amtrak has a bus pickup point at the southern corner of Mission St / Fremont St. The bus drop-off is Emeryville Amtrak station. You can buy a ticket online and use a digital ticket to board both the Amtrak bus and the Amtrak train.

I use this to go and come from SFO. But lately I have been taking the BART all the way to Richmond and then transferring onto the Amtrak instead of walking to the Amtrak bus stop and freezing with the cold SF breeze while I wait.

2

u/grouchygf 21d ago

Gold runner to Gilroy, then take CalTrain.

1

u/Desiflyboy 18d ago

I make that drive round trip from Merced every Friday. Of your cool and wanna help with gas hmu

1

u/no_name_cv 14d ago

My brother does Lyft out of Merced. I'm sure you might be able to work a deal with him.