Wondering how much your Grand Rapids charter bus rental might cost? You’ll need to call our 24/7 team at (616) 439-2856 for an exact quote, but we’ve created a handy pricing guide that breaks down some of the different factors that can affect the price of a charter bus rental and how we calculate the final cost, so there won’t be any surprises when you call.
| Bus Type |
Per Hour |
Per Day |
Per Mile |
| Charter Bus |
$160 – $230 |
$1,620 – $2,100 |
$5.75 – $7.20 |
| Minibus |
$145 – $200 |
$1,500 – $1,920 |
$5.00 – $7.00 |
*The pricing table above are just estimates. The exact price of renting a charter bus in Grand Rapids depends on various factors, as outlined below.
**Daily rentals require a five-hour minimum reservation. Daily rentals may also incur extra charges for mileage overages, which our team can explain in more detail when you call.
Factors That Affect Charter Bus Pricing
There are a number of different factors that can affect the cost of a charter bus rental, but it’s no reason to stress– your reservation specialist will walk through these factors to find you the best deal for group transportation in Grand Rapids. Below are some of the main factors that come into play when calculating your Grand Rapids charter bus rental cost.
Travel dates: Charter buses tend to be more expensive during peak travel periods due to lower availability. These can include the summer months, graduation and prom season, and around major holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Try booking your trip during the off season for better availability and pricing if possible.
Trip duration: Grand Rapids charter bus rentals in our network are booked by mile, day, or hour, depending on the length of your trip. Daily rentals require a five-hour minimum reservation period, which may affect your charter bus quote. If you’re planning a multi-day trip, you will also need to provide hotel accommodations for your driver, which are not included in your quote.
Destinations: If you are traveling long distances, like taking a day trip to Detroit, expect to pay a higher rate than groups traveling in town, like a bus rental for school field trips to Grand Rapids Children’s Museum. We always offer flexible scheduling in case you need to add some stops during your trip, but this can impact the final cost of your trip by adding extra mileage or hours traveled.
Passenger count: The number of people in your group determines which size charter bus rental you are matched with, so be sure to have a finalized passenger count before putting down your deposit. Larger buses typically cost more than smaller vehicles, so if you end up with a smaller group than originally booked for, you could be left paying more for space you don’t need.
Extra travel-related costs: In addition to the vehicle itself, your price quote from Grand Rapids Charter Bus Company includes fuel, full coverage insurance, and the services of a professional charter bus driver. However, there are some factors that are not included in your price quote but should be factored into your overall budget. These factors include parking, tolls, lodging for your driver during multi-day trips (required), and a tip for your driver (not required, but we highly recommend a 5-10% cash tip to thank your driver for a job well done).
Continue reading for some real-world examples of how different factors can affect the cost of a Grand Rapids charter bus rental.
A Field Trip to the John Ball Zoo
A teacher in Forest Hills wants to take her students to the John Ball Zoo and needs a field trip charter bus rental for her class. She has a total of 28 students, one of whom is in a wheelchair, along with herself and four other chaperones, bringing her total passenger count to 33 people. She calls our team and is matched with a 56-passenger Grand Rapids charter bus that has a wheelchair ramp at no extra cost, along with TVs and overhead storage. She has the bus for a total of eight hours and is charged $200 per hour, making her total $1,600. The teacher also budgets for a 10% tip of $160 to thank their driver for a job well done, bringing the final cost to $1,760.
The Baseball Tournament in Indianapolis
A college baseball coach is organizing transportation to a tournament in Indianapolis. There are 30 students and 5 coaches who will need transportation, for a total of 35 passengers. They will leave on Wednesday morning and return the following Sunday, for a total trip duration of 5 days.
At the recommendation of a colleague, the coach calls Grand Rapids Charter Bus Company and is connected with one of our rental agents, who recommends a full-size charter bus with an onboard restroom as an efficient long-distance transportation solution. At a daily rate of $1,700, the coach is quoted $8,500 total for the team’s sporting event transportation. The coach also knows this does not include required lodging for the charter bus driver or parking fees at the hotel and will separately factor these costs into the team transportation budget.
The Joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Party
A couple is planning a joint bachelor/bachelorette party in Grand Rapids bar hopping through popular areas like Bridge Street and Ionia Avenue, and want to arrange private group transportation so they don’t have to worry about splitting up into multiple ride shares or having someone be the DD. They will need transportation for 16 people, including themselves starting at 9pm Saturday evening and continuing into the early morning on Sunday.
They call Grand Rapids Charter Bus Company and are matched with an 18-passenger minibus for the festivities. As their event takes place during peak rental season, they will pay a slightly higher rate for this rental, bringing their wedding shuttle bus rental total to $1,650, or roughly $104 per person.
Construction Crew Transportation to Walker
A local development company needs daily construction crew transportation for workers between Grand Rapids and Walker. They book two 25-passenger minibuses at $1,500 per day for 10 workdays for a total of $15,000. After adding a 6% gratuity ($900), the final cost is $15,900 for a seamless and efficient worksite shuttle service, which the project manager easily subtracts from the budget.
Get a Free Quote on a Grand Rapids Bus Rental Today
We make it easy and stress-free to book a bus rental in Grand Rapids for your group trip. Give us a call any time, 24/7, at (616) 439-2856 when you’re ready to learn more and to get started with a free, no-obligation price quote in just minutes.
