Party & Charter Bus Prices: How to Calculate Your Madison Bus Rental Costs

The cost of your Madison party or charter bus rental depends entirely on your group’s unique trip details. Factors like passenger count, number of stops, mileage, and route will determine your total price. But don’t worry! Our huge network of quality buses ensures we have the perfect rental option for your event or trip. Whether you need a party bus for a bachelorette party or a charter bus for a corporate event, we make it easy to compare real-time pricing and availability for vehicles that fit your group size and route. Our professional team can provide an instant quote tailored to your specific needs in just 30 seconds over the phone or using our 24/7 online booking tool. Call 608-669-9100 or visit our website to get a custom price estimate and start planning your next group transportation. With our vast vehicle selection and commitment to transparent, competitive pricing, it’s easier than ever to find the right Madison bus rental at a price that works for your budget!

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Here are some estimated price ranges to get you started planning your budget:

Hourly Rates
Vehicles	Hourly Minium Prices
Limousines
6 Passenger Limousine	$ 155-265 per hour
8 Passenger Limousine	$ 155-265 per hour
10 Passenger Limousine	$ 155-265 per hour
14 Passenger Limousine	$ 155-285 per hour
16 Passenger Limousine	$ 155-335 per hour
18 Passenger Limousine	$ 155-335 per hour
20 Passenger Limousine	$ 200-335 per hour
Coach Buses
18 Passenger Mini Bus	$155-300 per hour
20 Passenger Minibus	$155-300 per hour
25 Passenger Mini Bus	$155-320 per hour
50 Passenger Coach Bus	$195-400 per hour
56 Passenger Charter Bus	$195-400 per hour
School Bus Rental	$185-350 per hour
Party Limo Buses
14 Passenger Sprinter Party Bus	$185-355 per hour
15 Passenger Party Bus	$185-355 per hour
20 Passenger Party Bus	$235-355 per hour
30 Passenger Party Bus	$295-400 per hour
35 Passenger Party Bus	$295-400 per hour
40 Passenger Party Bus	$295-440 per hour
50 Passenger Party Bus	$300-500 per hour

The pricing listed above are just estimated rates and can vary significantly based due to COVID, inflation, and availability. To get more accurate pricing based on your trip, please give us a call and we’ll get you a quote right over the phone.

How to Calculate Bus Rental Costs

The cost of renting a bus depends on several key factors. These include the vehicle size, features, and mileage, as well as the number of passengers, route details, duration of the rental, and more. Prices also vary by region and season. While it may seem complicated, our team makes it easy to compare real-time pricing and availability for vehicles that fit your group and budget. Whether you need a party bus, coach bus, or shuttle bus, we provide custom price estimates tailored to your trip details. Read on to learn more about how each of these factors impacts overall bus rental pricing.

Distance and Length of Trip

When preparing your quote, we first consider the pickup and drop off times and locations to determine the duration and mileage for your trip. Buses are rented hourly for short trips around Madison, daily for multi-day trips with significant mileage like tours across Wisconsin, or by the mile for long one-day trips. For example, an hourly rental would suit a bachelor party bar hopping across downtown, while a trip to House on the Rock in Spring Green would be priced by mileage. Multi-day trips like traveling to Lambeau Field in Green Bay for a Packers game and touring Door County would be charged as a daily rental. We can accommodate changes, but unplanned detours and additional stops may incur extra fees. Our goal is making your trip easy and enjoyable from the first quote to the last stop.

Time of Year

Bus rental rates in Madison fluctuate based on seasonal demand. April to June tend to be the most expensive months because of all the graduations, school trips, proms, family reunions and other spring events that require transportation rentals. January, February and July are typically the least expensive months because of winter weather and the end of summer. To get the best price, book your rental at least 3-6 months early. Rates can also vary week-to-week depending on local happenings. For example, Badgers football home games on Saturdays in fall will have limited bus inventory and higher prices. Planning your trip to avoid major Madison events like Art Fair on the Square in mid-July or the Wisconsin Farm Technology Days in late July will help you find available buses at lower rates.

Trip Start and End Points

The cost of your party bus depends partly on where your trip starts and ends. Buses are widely available in major Wisconsin cities like Milwaukee and Madison, so last-minute rentals may cost less. But supply can be limited in smaller towns, so prices may be higher. We strategically locate buses across the state to serve both large metro areas and rural counties. The mileage between our fleet parking areas and your start/end points, known as “deadhead distance,” also affects pricing. For example, a 200-mile roundtrip between Madison and Wausau would include extra “deadhead” fees before passenger pickup and after dropoff. By providing exact pickup and dropoff addresses when booking, we can give the most accurate quote possible based on location demand and deadhead distance.

Group Size and Bus Type

We offer a range of buses to fit groups of all sizes. For less than 35 people, consider our affordable minibuses, with prices $100-200 lower than full-sized buses. Minibuses work well for short trips, but lack amenities like restrooms. For a group of 56, a standard coach is likely your best value – filling more seats reduces the cost per person. Coaches accommodate luggage and feature amenities like A/C, outlets, WiFi, and restrooms. Upgrading to a decked-out entertainer coach with bunks, kitchen, lounge, and more costs quite a bit more. While school buses are very budget-friendly, they cannot travel far and lack key amenities that coaches provide. If you’re looking to party, our specialty party buses feature vibrant lighting, premium sound, flat screens, and perimeter seating. Though sized like minibuses, party bus rates are similar to standard coaches. Compare all bus types and consider group size, trip length, and amenities to find the best fit.

Tips for Keeping Costs Down

Book your bus rental during the off-season winter months like December, January, or February for lower rates. Avoid booking during popular spring and summer events like graduation season or the numerous music festivals. Routes that require tolls or parking fees can increase costs. For example, getting stadium parking for Camp Randall or the Kohl Center can carry extra charges. Finalize your passenger count early to get the right bus size and maximize savings – don’t pay for unused seats! Calling us 3-6 months in advance allows time to find you the best bus for your needs at the lowest price. Consider the per-person cost when factoring the total rental rate. Even though the upfront charter bus pricing may seem high, when split amongst all passengers the individual cost is often comparable or even less than other transportation options.

Get You Quote in Just Seconds

Getting a fast quote for a bus rental is easy with Madison Party Bus Company—simply call 608-669-9100 or use our online booking tool to receive an instant price estimate tailored to your group’s needs. Specify the date, start and end locations, passenger count, and any special amenities you require. Within seconds our system will provide a custom quote for your review. Prefer to speak to a live booking expert? No problem—our highly-trained agents are available 7 days a week to discuss options and provide quotes over the phone. We know organizing transportation for large groups can get overwhelming. Let our streamlined quoting process eliminate the stress. With real-time pricing and vehicle details at your fingertips, you can easily compare buses, weigh costs and extras, and book your rental hassle-free. Whether you need a party bus for a night out or charter transportation for a major event, we’ve got you covered—get your free quote in just seconds online or give us a call.

Sample Trip Quotes

To give you a ballpark idea, here are some sample quotes for requests we’ve gotten from our customers:

Example #1:

The social studies teacher at Madison West High School is planning a field trip for her 30 students to tour the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. She contacts Badger Bus Company to inquire about a charter bus rental for the day. Badger Bus quotes her $250 per hour for a 30-passenger bus, with a 5 hour minimum. This covers pickup from the high school, driving to campus, touring various buildings and landmarks for 4 hours, and return to the school. With taxes and fees, the total comes to $1,400. The teacher decides to go ahead and book the charter bus. On the day of, the students have a great educational tour of UW-Madison. The teacher tips the friendly bus team $70.

Example #2:

A large tech company based in Madison wants to host an annual sales conference for 120 employees from around the country. They decide to book a 36-passenger party bus for a brewery tour to kick off the multi-day event. The party bus picks up attendees from their downtown conference hotel and takes them to three local craft breweries over 4 hours, with dinner included onboard. This allows networking opportunities in a casual setting. The quote for the Madison party bus is $250 per hour, with a 4-hour minimum. This totals $1,000 for the rental. With dinner, gratuity and other incidentals, the total cost comes out to $1,350, or about $11 per attendee. The company feels this is reasonable for a special outing that sets the tone for their national conference. With luxury vehicles, professional team and a unique way to see Madison’s attractions, the party bus helps facilitate team building and camaraderie. This makes the expense worthwhile for their corporate event.

Example #3:

The local youth basketball team in Madison is heading to a major tournament 3 hours away. The coach wants to provide a fun, bonding experience for the 12 players and rent a party bus for the trip. He finds a top-rated company called Madison Party Bus that has luxury buses equipped with leather seats, neon lights, a premium sound system, and more. For the 300-mile round trip plus 8 hours to allow for stops, sightseeing, and the tournament, the total rental time is 14 hours. At a rate of $210 per hour, the cost comes out to $2,940. The coach decides to have each player’s family contribute $200 to cover most of the cost. With a $500 deposit and final payment due at the end, the total for the decked-out party bus ends up at $3,440. The team has a blast on the drive, amps up with music videos and snacks, and comes home with a tournament trophy after a successful and memorable bonding weekend.

Example #4:

A group of 10 friends from Madison decide to rent a party bus for a bachelorette party day trip. They find a 20-passenger party bus that fits their group perfectly. The bus rental company offers custom interior lighting, leather seats, satellite TVs, a premium sound system, and limo-style partitions for privacy. The group requests the party bus at 10 AM on a Saturday. Their planned itinerary includes brunch at a cafe, a wine tasting at a nearby vineyard, and dinner at a fancy restaurant before heading home. They decide to book the party bus for 8 hours to allow plenty of flexibility. The hourly rental rate is $250. With 8 hours booked, the base rental fee is $2,000. The bus rental company requires a 20% deposit to book. The group also decides to pre-pay the team’s gratuity of $200 upfront. So their total upfront cost is $560 (20% of $2,000 + $200 tip). Their remaining balance of $1,600 will be due on the day of the rental.

Example #5:

A bride and groom are getting married in Madison, Wisconsin and have several events planned leading up to their big day. For their bachelor and bachelorette parties, they decide to rent party buses to shuttle their wedding parties around for a fun night out on the town. They rent two 20-passenger party buses for 5 hours each at a rate of $250 per hour, totaling $2,500 per bus or $5,000 total. On their wedding day, the couple rents a 30-passenger party bus to transport guests between the ceremony and reception venues. They rent the bus for 8 hours at $300 per hour, totaling $2,400. After tipping 15%, the total for all party bus rentals comes to $7,560. With several stops planned along the way, the party buses allow the wedding parties to relax and have fun without worrying about transportation or driving. The higher per hour pricing reflects the premium features and service offered by Madison Party Bus Company to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience.