Merced Travel Information
Centrally located in the state, Merced offers a diverse blend of rural
environments. The community provides both a convenient geographic
location, less than two hours by car from Yosemite National Park, and
a host of entertainment options. You will find the people in Merced
friendly and the surrounding environment quite enjoyable. Billed as
the "Gateway to Yosemite," Merced serves as a convenient home base for
a variety of
outdoor activities, allowing you to be on the sandy beaches of
Monterey one day and climbing the peaks of the Sierra Nevada the next.
Fishing and water sports enthusiasts will find many opportunities
close at hand, with several streams and lakes located within easy
driving distance. The area surrounding Merced is rich wine
and cheese country with many vineyards offering tasting rooms. Also
in abundance are a variety of interesting museums focusing on
everything from WWII-era military aircraft to Merced's agricultural
roots. And, of course, there is Yosemite National Park, which harbors
a grand collection of waterfalls, meadows, and
forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world's largest
living things. Merced is located along old US Highway 99 130 miles
east of San Francisco and about 60 miles northwest of Fresno. Merced
is less than two hours by car from Yosemite National Park to the east
and Monterey Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and miles of beaches to the
west.
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