Charter Bus Prices: How Much Does a San Marcos Bus Rental Cost?

Planning a group trip in or around San Marcos? Budgeting for your transportation is easy with Charter Bus San Marcos! Our team can set you up with a free, personalized quote that’s tailored to your group’s unique travel needs. Whether it’s a wedding, corporate eventsporting eventschool trip, or a night on the town, our network has the perfect bus for you. With a variety of sizes and amenities available, we’ll find the right vehicle at the right price. Call us today at 442-515-6680 to get started!

San Marcos Charter Bus Prices

Bus Type Per Hour Per Day Per Mile
50 to 56 Passenger Charter Bus $180 – $500+ $1,800 – $3,800 $6.00 – $9.95
40 to 50 Passenger Charter Bus $170 – $480+ $1,700 – $3,565 $6.00 – $9.95
25 to 35 Passenger Minibus $150 – $450+ $1,610 – $3,465 $4.00 – $9.95
20 to 24 Passenger Minibus $150 – $440+ $1,610 – $3,365 $4.00 – $8.95
15 to 18 Passenger Minibus $150 – $430+ $1,520 – $3,255 $4.00 – $7.95
Entertainer Coach $315 – $550+ $3,000 – $5,000+ $6.00 – $9.95
Yellow School Bus $145 – $450+ $1,520 – $3,655 $6.00 – $9.95
Shuttle Bus $155 – $450+ $1,520 – $3,655 $6.00 – $9.95

San Marcos Party Bus Prices

Type of Party Bus Cost Per Hour Weekdays Cost Per Hour Weekends Cost Per Day
Small Party Bus (10 to 20 Passengers) $180 - $450+ $200 - $470+ $1,000 - $2,900+
Medium Party Bus (20 to 40 Passengers) $200 - $500+ $220 - $500+ $1,200 - $3,500+
Large Party Bus Rental (40 to 50 Passengers) $250 - $500+ $240 - $520+ $1,500 - $3,900+
Mercedes Sprinter Party Bus $160 - $400+ $180 - $450+ $1,000 - $3,900+

* 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 1-442-515-6680 or use our online quote tool.


How Much Does a San Marcos Charter Bus Rental Cost?

At Charter Bus San Marcos, we believe that transparent pricing is key to planning a successful group trip! The cost of renting a charter bus in San Marcos depends on a variety of factors specific to your trip. Hourly rates typically range from $150 to $500+, and daily rates usually range from $1,500 to $3,800+. A 50- 56 passenger charter bus will cost anywhere between $180 – $500+ per hour, while a 40- 50 passenger charter bus typically falls between $170 and $480+. Minibuses for 15 to 35 passengers start around $150 – $450+ an hour. Mileage charges generally range from $4 to $9.95 per mile depending on your trip.

How Much Does a San Marcos Party Bus Rental Cost?

Party bus rentals in San Marcos also have a variety of pricing options. Smaller party buses for 10- 20 passengers cost between $200 – $470+ while 20-40 passenger party buses usually range between $220 – $500+ and larger 40-50 passenger rentals can range from $240 to $520+. Sprinter party buses in San Marcos are available for $180 to $450+. For the most accurate, real-time pricing for your San Marcos trip or event, use our easy online quote tool!

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What Are the Factors Influencing San Marcos Bus Rental Costs?

At Charter Bus San Marcos, every rental quote is tailored to your group’s unique travel needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all plan here—your trip distance, travel dates, bus type, and amenities can all play a role in your final price. In other words, while some trips to Legoland or a Padres game might only cost a few hundred, a multi-day California road trip will be a bigger investment. Here are the different components that influence how much your trip will cost.

Mileage and Trip Duration

For local San Marcos trips, such as an employee shuttle service, you’ll probably pay by the hour. Typically, hourly rates come with a 5-hour minimum, but if your trip is shorter than 5 hours, we’ll work with you to create a custom package. For longer trips or those requiring multiple pick-up and drop-offs in different locations (like those attending a wedding or going to an event), your driver will likely recommend a charter bus rental that accommodates a mileage rate.

Trips that span multiple days—such as a company getaway to Las Vegas or a school trip to Yosemite—are most often quoted by the day. And if you have multiple stops on your multi-day trip, those miles will be added to your total cost.

28 passenger minibus

Seasonality and Timing

Travel times vary by industry, and if your business, school, or organization is tied to an academic year calendar, it’s likely that the busy seasons for travel are in late spring and early summer (after the school year is over and before fall semesters begin), late summer and early fall, and around major winter holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.

It’s important to keep in mind that not only will the busy season affect your travel prices, but it can also make securing your preferred bus rental more challenging as inventory is limited.

56 passenger charter bus

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Locations

Since there are charter bus companies throughout the State, your group may not always be able to book a bus rental in your exact pick-up or drop-off location. In those cases, your charter bus driver will need to drive from their location to your pickup spot—increasing the mileage of the trip overall and increasing your rental price.

To minimize this extra mileage, which is known as deadhead, try to pick up and drop off at the same location. You can also request a bus rental that’s already in or near your pick-up and drop-off spot.

Bus Type, Size, and Model

Each bus model can include different amenities, and sizes determine the number of seats and storage your group can have. For example, a full-sized charter bus can accommodate up to 56 passengers while mini bus rentals come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 18– to 35-passenger vehicles. Depending on your group size, you can choose from a variety of bus types.

If you have a small group of around 25 to 30 people, your reservation specialist may recommend a minibus rental. If your group has around 50 people, you would want a full-size charter bus to comfortably fit your entire group. Minibuses and charter buses can also include amenities like overhead luggage storage, restrooms, and WiFi to increase your group’s travel comfort.

Day of the Week

Just like on flights, the day of the week has an effect on the cost of your bus rental. Weekday rentals can generally be less expensive if the buses in your city aren’t in high demand on a Tuesday or Wednesday. On the other hand, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays may incur increased prices.

When there’s a lot of competition for charter buses, like during peak tourist season in the summer or a major event, companies raise the price to capture the increased demand. This means the minimum rental hour limit is usually higher for weekend bookings. Keep in mind that major holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day will also cause prices to surge.

Time of Day

The time of day is another factor to consider when booking a charter bus. As with weekends, evenings are typically when bus rental companies raise their minimum rental hour requirements and charge more because there’s more demand for private transportation. This is especially true during prom season when high schools have dances, events, and other gatherings that need transportation services for students.

So, if you’re flexible with your travel schedule, you might be able to save money by starting your day trip earlier in the day or traveling mid-week, if possible.

Amenities

In addition to the main costs of your charter bus, you can expect to pay for additional amenities. Modern charter buses and mini buses often include comfort and entertainment features like a fast WiFi connection, TVs with a DVD player, reclining seats with footrests, personal climate controls and an onboard restroom (available on full-size motorcoaches.) Your price quote will include the cost of these additional amenities.

Charter Bus San Marcos is also committed to inclusive group travel with ADA-accessible charter buses available to rent. These bus rentals include features like wheelchair lifts, wider aisle space, and extra handrails to keep passengers comfortable and all at no extra cost. If your group has special mobility needs, just let your reservation agent know and they will make sure your charter bus rental is suited to your requirements.

Additional Costs

Along with the costs that are included in your rental, there are some other costs you’ll have to factor in when planning your budget. These include travel fees like toll roads and parking permits, overnight accommodations for your driver, and tips for everyone involved like bus drivers, event staff, etc.

Keep this in mind when determining your price. You don’t want to be surprised by unexpected travel costs during the middle of your trip.

Cost-Saving Tips

Looking to save a few bucks on your next charter bus rental? Great! Here are a few tips on how to make your bus travel affordable.

Book ahead of time. It gives your rental the chance to find the right bus and avoid a limited selection of vehicles during a popular time of year.

Pick the right bus size. We have access to minibuses, which are cheaper than full-size charter buses, so you’ll want a compact bus if your group can fit on one.

Minimize the number of stops and consider staying in a hotel near your destination city. That way, you’ll spend less on miles traveled and hotel rooms for your driver.

Look into group deals and tickets to popular attractions.

Travel when there’s no traffic and avoid peak traffic times to minimize time spent on the road, reduce gas costs, and ensure your driver doesn’t feel rushed.

Pick a venue or hotel with oversized vehicle parking so your driver doesn’t have to park off-site.

Get Pricing in 30-Seconds With Charter Bus San Marcos!

We know that a big part of planning a trip is knowing what your overall budget will be—so we’ll get you the numbers as quickly as we can. With our 30-second instant quote tool, you’ll get a free quote in no time. All you have to do is enter your trip information (such as number of passengers, date of travel and locations) and we’ll provide you with a complete breakdown of the costs along with pricing estimates. Our reservation specialists will provide detailed consultations and make sure your reservations are confirmed. Call our 24/7 team today at 442-515-6680 to book your next charter bus rental in San Marcos!