Charter Bus Prices: How to Calculate Your Seattle Bus Rental Costs

Traveling to Seattle is easy with a private charter bus, but before you book, you’ll want to know how much you can plan to spend. Many factors will affect the cost of your rental, including time of year, number of passengers, and distance.

To give you an idea of what your trip may cost, we’ve compiled a list of our average prices and a few examples of trips we’ve booked in the past.

* A 5-hour rental minimum is required for all trips. Multi-day, long-distance trips may include additional costs for excess mileage. Prices in the above chart are only estimations and may not reflect the actual cost of your Seattle charter bus. The below pricing factors will determine how much your rental will cost.

How Your Cost is Calculated

Prices will vary depending on the following factors:

• Departure Date: Our busiest season is usually between the months of April and June because of graduations, school trips, and proms that increase bus demand. Popular events such as Bite of Seattle may also temporarily increase prices.
• Passengers: The number of passengers in your group will determine which bus size you need. Unless you require extra storage space for luggage or equipment, try to book the smallest bus possible for your group’s size to help keep costs down.
• Distance: Trips that span multiple days will most likely be priced per day or per mile, while in-town trips will be priced per hour. Your reservation specialist will go over exactly how your distance traveled will affect your trip’s final cost.

After you’ve secured your bus, you’ll also want to plan for unexpected costs such as tolls or parking permits.

If you’re taking a multi-day trip, you’ll also need to book a hotel room for your driver. We recommend booking a hotel with at least a 3-star rating to ensure that your driver is rested and able to operate your bus safely. When your trip is finished, you’ll also want to tip your driver 10-15% of the total rental cost.

For a better idea of what your trip may cost, check out these examples of trips that Seattle Charter Bus Company has booked in the past:

Field Trip to Mount Rainier

A school group from Seattle is planning a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park. With students, teachers, and chaperones, their group includes a total of 80 passengers. They plan to leave the city at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 4th and return home at 5 p.m. the same day. Their reservation specialist recommends two 56-passenger charter buses to comfortably accommodate everyone during the ride. For an 8 ½-hour rental, they’re quoted at $2,240, bringing the cost to $28 per person.

Sightseeing in the City

A group of 20 friends from Portland are planning a weekend trip to Seattle, during which they’d like to stop by the Space Needle, shop at Pike Place Market, and visit the Seattle Symphony. Since they plan to leave at 4 p.m. on Friday, July 20 and return at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 22, they’re quoted for three days with their 20-passenger minibus. They’ll also need to secure a hotel for their driver, which adds about $200 for two nights. All in all, the cost of their trip comes to $4,250, or $212.50/person.

A Weekend Trade Show

A company from Boise, Idaho is planning to attend a Seattle trade show at Bell Harbor International Conference Center over Labor Day Weekend. Their group of 15 will leave the office at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 31 and will return at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 3. An 18-passenger minibus leaves them plenty of room to store luggage and extra show equipment, plus they’ll be able to enjoy WiFi and reclining seats during the trip. Their quote for four days comes to $5200, plus three hotel nights for their driver at $300, bringing the grand total to $5500 for their trip.

Remember-- your quote will vary based on the factors discussed above. If you’re ever in doubt, don’t be afraid to give our reservation agents a call at 206-257-3880! We’re always happy to help you plan your itinerary and select the perfect bus for you. Call us now to get started.