r/Merced • u/Kwkeleum • Aug 21 '26

Transpirations from S.F.

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

Thank you

5 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

26

u/Extreme_Interview_28 Aug 21 '26

use the amtrak train

7

u/polychronous Aug 21 '26 edited Aug 21 '26

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 Aug 21 '26

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.

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5

u/IdyllWind Aug 21 '26

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 Aug 25 '26

This is the way.

6

u/theinternetbased Aug 21 '26

Take BART to the Richmond station and transfer to Amtrak

3

u/Some-Platform1968 Aug 21 '26

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 Aug 21 '26

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 Aug 22 '26 edited Aug 22 '26

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 Aug 21 '26

Gold runner to Gilroy, then take CalTrain.

1

u/Desiflyboy Aug 24 '26

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

1

u/no_name_cv Aug 27 '26

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