Charter Bus Prices And How to Calculate Your Costs

Charter Bus Pricing Breakdown

To help you get started, check out this estimated price range table to give you a basic idea of what your trip could cost. Please note these are just estimates and not exact pricing. For real-time charter bus prices, please call 866-265-5479.

* Prices may vary greatly in your city and state. Due to the impact of COVID-19 and inflation, all rental prices shown are past estimates. Actual pricing may be significantly higher depending on availability and location. To get real-time pricing, call us 866-265-5479 or use our online quote tool.

Now let’s learn what affects the rates!

What are the Factors Influencing Charter Bus Pricing?

Price4Limo works with an extensive network of over 5,000 partners nationwide, and each bus provider has slightly different rental rates. But generally, pricing is determined by whether your group is quoted by the day, hour, or mile based on what kind of travel plan your group has in mind. The price per hour is usually only used for local trips that last several hours. Multi-day trips are more often quoted by the day. Again, this all varies depending on many different factors — now let’s take a look at some them!

Trip Distance and Duration

Bus rentals are priced by the hour, day, or mileage, depending on your specific travel plan. One-off trips that are short and sweet and don’t leave the city the bus is stationed in (aka local trips) will be likely calculated by the hour. On average, most charter bus companies require a minimum amount of hours, but if your journey requires less time on the road, your Price4Limo representative will work with you to figure something out that meets your schedule and budget.

Group trips and occasions that span multiple days—such as a week-long convention in Las Vegas or a sports tournament that takes several days of driving between states—are typically charged by the day. If you’re not traveling over a long distance but your group trip needs transportation locally for multiple days in a row (think shuttling guests between hotels and a music festival), your rate will also likely be based on daily charges.

Long-distance road trips where you won’t be staying in one spot for too long will be charged by mileage. To ensure the bus rental pricing quote you receive reflects your itinerary, make sure you have every drop-off and pick-up location planned out, with addresses.

Insider Tip: Don’t forget to factor in additional costs for tolls, overnight lodging for your driver, meals for everyone onboard, and event tickets. It’s always easier to calculate a budget if you’ve written all your projected costs down.

Time of Year (Seasonality)

Another thing that impacts the cost of your bus rental is when you are traveling. Some times of year, such as April, May, June, September, and October tend to be more expensive for charter buses due to limited bus availability. The increased demand in bus rentals for these months is due to several events and happenings, such as proms, school field trips, wedding ceremonies, bachelor parties, and more. Major events like Formula in Houston and March Madness can also cause a spike in price and lower availability, particularly if your destination city is popular with tourists.

If your trip happens to be around a major event in your destination, such as a music festival, Mardi Gras, or a popular sporting event, demand may increase, making securing a charter bus rental more difficult and pricier. Always check your city’s event calendar before finalizing your travel dates, especially if you’re going to an event like South by Southwest in Austin or Dragon Con in Atlanta. It also helps to have your itinerary completely finalized when you call so you won’t be subjected to additional charges for unexpected mileage.

Location and Availability

Did you know that the area with the most charter bus providers in the U.S. is Orlando, Florida, the heart of the “Theme Park Capital of the World”? It makes sense: millions of tourists visit the Disney parks every year, which means plenty of families, school groups, and businesses are looking for charter buses to rent!

If your travel itinerary includes a start point in an area with low availability (usually the case for groups traveling in less-populated areas), charter bus pricing can increase. Additionally, if you are trying to book in these areas with short notice, your rate may increase due to less availability.

And speaking of less availability, you may encounter additional fees if your driver has to drive a long distance from their base in order to meet you at your start point. This mileage that accumulates with no passengers onboard is known as “deadhead.” To reduce this cost, try to reserve a bus from a charter bus company that operates near your group’s pickup or dropoff location.

Insider Tip: Need to get your passengers from Myrtle Beach to Jersey City? Price4Limo has a nationwide network of more than 5,000 charter buses across the entire country, so we can handle your group’s transport regardless of what state they’re starting and ending in.

Bus Type and Size

The bigger the bus, the more it will cost to rent. So a 56-passenger coach bus will typically have a higher rate than an 18-passenger minibus. That’s why, at Price4Limo, we try our best to connect you to the bus that best fits your passenger count and trip duration.

Planning a long-distance road trip or moving a large number of people across state lines? A full-sized motorcoach may be your best choice, though if you are sticking to short-distance local travels, such as a church outing, a sporting event, or a team-building excursion, consider renting a minibus instead. Minibuses usually have lower hourly and daily rates, and their compact frames make it easy to navigate smaller streets in a city like New York, or crowded streets around a stadium for game day.

Insider Tip: Need to make sure everyone stays comfortable throughout your trip? Request a charter bus with extra legroom! Most buses include about 30-39 inches between the seats, but you can even request additional space for passengers who may need to use a wheelchair or a walker.

Special Amenities

Nearly every coach or minibus will have air-conditioning, overhead luggage racks, and reclining seats as standard features. But in a truly personalized bus rental plan, you get to pick and choose the specific accommodations and features your passengers will need. Just let us know what you’d like, and our team can reserve a charter bus for you with:

• TV screens and a DVD player for watching movies while on the road
• A PA system for making announcements and playing music
• WiFi and power outlets for on-the-road connectivity and charging devices
• Leather seats, wood-style flooring, and other features for a more stylish travel experience
• ADA-compliant features like a wheelchair lift, widened aisles, and more for comfortable and accessible travel

Additional features will sometimes increase your bus rental rate, though this depends on the charter bus company and its pricing structure.

Insider Tip: Some providers offer discounts if you prepay or book your charter bus at least six months in advance! Just ask your Price4Limo representative if you qualify!

Additional Costs to Consider

Your quote may not include road tolls, tip and parking fees. Be prepared to pay these out of pocket while traveling, or ask your representative if those can be included when you book. You’re may also be required to pay for lodging and other accommodations for your driver if your trip will last longer than a day. Please call us to confirm exact pricing.

Cost-Saving Tips

Want to save a little on your next bus rental? It’s much easier than you might think! Here are a few tips to get the best possible price on your bus rental!

• Have a finalized headcount before you book. Adding people may require a larger bus and increase your cost, and removing people could mean you overpaid for a vehicle that’s too big for your group.
• Reduce deadhead mileage by booking a bus that’s already located in the city you are leaving from. (Remember, deadhead refers to mileage that accumulates without passengers.)
• Book early, especially during the busy months of April, May, and June.
• Reduce the number of hotel rooms you need to book for your driver. Choose a destination city near your start city and reduce the amount of days you need your charter bus rental to avoid additional costs for lodging.
• Find venues with easy parking access for oversize vehicles and inquire with your hotel about complimentary parking options for your bus.

Get Charter Bus Pricing in 30-Seconds With Price4Limo!

We know traveling in a group doesn’t always mean being on a budget, but there’s never a bad reason to be savvy when it comes to pricing out group transportation. With Price4Limo, you can find out the cost of your bus rental in minutes—just call our team at 866-265-5479. Our agents can also help you secure an instant quote for your trip by providing a breakdown of costs associated with your itinerary and any amenities you’d like within seconds!

Or if you have an itinerary and headcount ready to go, get a quote in under 30 seconds with our easy online pricing tool! Just fill in the details of your trip and we’ll text or email you a quote instantly.

No matter where your travels take you across the United States, the Price4Limo team can help you plan an efficient and comfy transportation service tailored to you.