Santa Monica Charter Bus Pricing & Rates
Santamonicacharterbuscompany.com makes finding the right price for group transportation in Santa Monica fast and simple — but charter bus rental costs are not one-size-fits-all. Your group size, the day of the week, the type of bus you need, and where you're headed all push the number up or down. The fastest way to know what your specific trip costs is to fill out the quote form on this page and see pricing from a network of transportation companies serving Santa Monica in under a minute.
Or call 310-504-9250 any time. Keep reading to learn every factor that shapes your quote and how to put yourself in the best position to save!
Instantly Receive Santa Monica Bus Rental Pricing In Seconds
The form takes only a few seconds to complete! After you submit your trip details, you can review pricing and available vehicles through a national booking company that works with bus companies serving Santa Monica.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Charter Bus in Santa Monica, California?
With so many bus types available, pricing covers a wide range depending on what your group actually needs. Charter buses (40–56 passengers) cost $205–$385+ per hour on weekdays, $225–$410+ per hour on weekends, and $1,650–$2,950+ per day. Minibuses (15–35 passengers) cost $180–$370+ per hour on weekdays, $180–$385+ per hour on weekends, and $1,150–$2,415+ per day.
Party buses (15–50 passengers) cost $248–$426+ per hour on weekdays, $265–$460+ per hour on weekends, and $1,827–$2,954+ per day. Sprinter vans with a driver cost $190–$373+ per hour on weekdays and $218–$466+ per hour on weekends. These are ranges — your actual quote depends on the specific details of your trip.
Fill out the form or call 310-504-9250 to see numbers for your date!
| Type of Vehicle | Cost Per Hour Weekdays | Cost Per Hour Weekends | Cost Per Day | Cost Per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 Passenger Charter Bus | $205 – $385+ | $225 – $410+ | $1,650 – $2,950+ | $6.20 – $8.95+ |
| 35 Passenger Minibus | $225 – $370+ | $255 – $385+ | $1,815 – $2,415+ | $6.20 – $8.95+ |
| 30 Passenger Minibus | $205 – $365+ | $240 – $380+ | $1,670 – $2,335+ | $5.90 – $8.60+ |
| 28 Passenger Minibus | $190 – $355+ | $220 – $370+ | $1,540 – $2,255+ | $5.65 – $8.25+ |
| 25 Passenger Minibus | $190 – $350+ | $195 – $365+ | $1,420 – $2,180+ | $5.40 – $7.90+ |
| 20 Passenger Minibus | $190 – $340+ | $190 – $355+ | $1,300 – $2,080+ | $5.15 – $7.50+ |
| 18 Passenger Minibus | $190 – $330+ | $190 – $350+ | $1,210 – $1,990+ | $5.00 – $7.25+ |
| 15 Passenger Minibus | $180 – $310+ | $180 – $330+ | $1,150 – $1,880+ | $4.75 – $6.95+ |
| 15-50 Passenger Party Bus | $248 – $426+ | $265 – $460+ | $1,827 – $2,954+ | $6.75 – $9.95+ |
| Sprinter Van with Driver | $190 – $373+ | $218 – $466+ | $1,395 – $2,848+ | $5.00 – $6.95+ |
| Sprinter Limo | $190 – $340+ | $190 – $355+ | $1,300 – $2,080+ | $5.15 – $7.50+ |
| School Bus | $205 – $365+ | $240 – $380+ | $1,670 – $2,335+ | $5.00 – $7.60+ |
| ABOVE PRICES ARE JUST EXAMPLES. Your final price and vehicle options depend entirely on your specific trip details. To get an instant price quote for your trip, request an online quote or call 310-504-9250. | ||||
What Factors Affect Charter Bus Rental Prices in Santa Monica, California?
Six main factors shape every charter bus quote in Santa Monica: the type and size of bus, how far and how long you need it, the day of the week, the time of year, where the bus is coming from, and any extra stops along the route. Understanding each one before you fill out the quote form means you'll know exactly what you're looking at when pricing comes back — and you'll know which details to adjust if you want to bring the number down. Each of these factors is covered in its own section below, so keep reading to learn what will influence your quote and how to prepare!
How the Type of Bus Changes the Price in Santa Monica, California
It depends on what you're actually looking for. Bigger buses, newer buses, and buses loaded with more amenities cost more per hour than simpler ones. Charter buses and minibuses come with forward-facing seats, overhead storage, and climate control — they're the practical, lower-cost way to move a large group from point A to point B. Party buses and Sprinter limos are a different experience entirely: LED lighting, flat-panel TVs, a built-in bar, and lounge seating push the hourly rate higher.
Through Santamonicacharterbuscompany.com, you can compare options from a large network of transportation companies serving Santa Monica — so you can weigh a straightforward 28-passenger minibus against a 30-passenger party bus side by side and find the vehicle that actually fits your group and your budget!
How the Distance and Duration of Your Trip Affect Charter Bus Rates
It depends on what you're actually planning. Buses are rented by the hour, by the day, or by mileage — which structure applies to your trip comes down to the total distance, how many hours the vehicle is in use, and whether you need the bus for a single event or across multiple days. A quick shuttle loop between a Santa Monica hotel and a venue in Culver City prices very differently from a full-day charter to Pasadena for a Rose Bowl game.
The clearest way to see what your specific trip costs is to fill out the quote form and get pricing in seconds. If the results page doesn't show the exact package you need, call for quote-request help at 310-504-9250 and they'll work to put a custom package together for you.
How the Day of the Week Changes What a Bus Costs in Santa Monica, California
Yes — the day matters, and it's one of the details you have the most control over. Saturday evenings typically price highest across the Santa Monica market. Friday evenings come in next.
Sunday through Thursday are generally the most affordable, and Friday or Saturday daytime trips cost less than those same evenings. Season, location, and time of day all feed into it too. If your event has any flexibility, a trip that comes back too high on a Saturday may work for less on a Thursday or Wednesday — and shorter bookings tend to be easier to find on weekday dates as well.
That said, certain Santa Monica and LA-area dates make the whole market disappear early no matter what day they fall on. The Twilight Concert Series at Santa Monica Pier draws massive summer Wednesday-night crowds that back up Ocean Avenue and PCH for hours. Coachella weekends in April send enormous demand east down I-10, pulling buses from across the Westside.
The LA Marathon in March closes streets around Ocean Avenue and Main Street in downtown Santa Monica as runners reach the finish festival. UCLA home football Saturdays in the fall and SoFi Stadium events year-round spike demand across the entire region. And prom season in April and May at Santa Monica High School and nearby schools is one of the single busiest stretches of the year for party buses and minibuses.
Book as far ahead as possible for any of those dates — April, May, and June are more expensive across the board.
How Your Starting Location and Deadhead Miles Affect Charter Bus Rates
Where your group boards matters more than most people expect. Many bus operators serving Santa Monica are based in the San Fernando Valley, the South Bay, or areas east of downtown Los Angeles — sometimes 18 to 25 miles away before the trip even begins. That distance the bus travels to reach your pickup point is called deadhead mileage, and it's part of what the platform prices against.
A pickup in central Santa Monica from an operator based in Van Nuys looks different on a quote than the same trip from an operator already positioned on the Westside. Keeping your pickup and drop-off locations as close together as possible — or choosing a central staging point — is one of the most direct ways to bring your quote down.
How Seasonality and Peak Times Affect Charter Bus Rates in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica does not have a true off-season. The city's mild year-round weather and constant draw of visitors means bus demand stays elevated compared to cold-weather markets — but it does have clear peaks. Summer from June through August is the busiest stretch: beach tourism, Twilight Concerts at the pier, bachelorette weekends, and outdoor weddings all compete for the same vehicles at the same time.
April and May add prom and graduation pressure on top of that. November and December bring a secondary surge from corporate holiday parties and New Year's Eve events.
The most affordable windows to rent a bus in Santa Monica are typically mid-January through February — but only outside of Rose Bowl weekend on January 1, which is one of the highest-demand single days in the entire LA metro. Early March can also be relatively quiet before spring events kick in. If your dates are flexible and budget matters, those windows are worth targeting.
Hypothetical Bus Rental Pricing Examples
Example only. These sample scenarios are for illustration only. They are not real quotes, guaranteed prices, or offers. Your actual trip price and availability may be higher or lower depending on your city, date, vehicle, passenger count, route, trip length, booking details, fees, gratuity, and other details. Submit your trip details to compare quote options for your specific request.
Example Quote #1
Fourteen women are planning a Saturday bachelorette night starting in Santa Monica — cocktails on the Third Street Promenade, then heading east to West Hollywood for dinner and bar-hopping along Santa Monica Boulevard. They've chosen a party bus with a built-in bar, LED lighting, and a Bluetooth sound system to keep the energy going between stops.
On a weekend, a 15–50 passenger party bus costs $265–$460+ per hour. With pickup at 7:00 p.m. near the Promenade and a return drop-off at the hotel around 1:00 a.m., the group is looking at roughly six booked hours.
At the lower end of the weekend party bus range, six hours at $265 per hour comes to approximately $1,590. At the higher end of $460 per hour, the same six hours reaches approximately $2,760. Late Saturday evenings in Santa Monica and West Hollywood are among the busiest hours of the week, so this kind of itinerary tends to price toward the upper half of that range rather than the lower.
This is an example to give you a general sense of scale — your actual quote depends on the specific operator, the vehicle selected, and your confirmed itinerary. Fill out the form or call 310-504-9250 for pricing on your date!
Example Quote #2
A company based near the Santa Monica Airport needs to move 28 employees from their Clover Park-area office to a full-day conference at a downtown Los Angeles hotel, with a morning departure and an afternoon return. They've selected a 28-passenger minibus for the round trip.
On a weekday, a 28-passenger minibus costs $190–$355+ per hour. With pickup at 8:00 a.m. and a return drop-off back in Santa Monica around 5:00 p.m., the vehicle is in service for approximately nine hours — including standby time while the group is inside the conference.
At the lower end of the weekday range, nine hours at $190 per hour comes to approximately $1,710. At the higher end of $355 per hour, the same nine hours reaches approximately $3,195. Most of those hours are standby rather than driving, which is what separates a full-day corporate shuttle from a simple point-to-point transfer — and that standby time is part of what the platform prices against.
This is a sample quote. Your actual quote reflects the operator available for your date, the specific vehicle, and your confirmed route. Use the quote form or call 310-504-9250 to see what's available!
Example Quote #3
A group of 52 UCLA alumni and fans wants a charter bus from Santa Monica to Rose Bowl Stadium (1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena, CA 91103) for a Saturday home football game, with a tailgate in the lot before kickoff and a return trip after the final whistle. They've selected a 40–56 passenger charter bus.
On a weekend, a 40–56 passenger charter bus costs $225–$410+ per hour. With pickup at 9:00 a.m. in Santa Monica, the drive east on I-10 to the 110 to Pasadena (roughly an hour each way on a game Saturday, often longer), tailgate time, game time, and the return trip, the group estimates nine total booked hours.
At the lower end of the weekend range, nine hours at $225 per hour comes to approximately $2,025. At the higher end of $410 per hour, the same nine hours reaches approximately $3,690. UCLA home Saturdays are among the highest-demand days in the LA metro, so book early — availability gets tight fast on those dates.
This is a sample to illustrate what a game-day charter costs at this scale — your actual quote will reflect your specific pickup location, the operator available on your date, and the vehicle selected. Call 310-504-9250 or use the form to get pricing!
Example Quote #4
Twelve friends are planning a Saturday afternoon winery tour starting in Santa Monica, heading north on Pacific Coast Highway and into the Santa Monica Mountains for two stops in Malibu — Rosenthal – The Malibu Estate Vineyard (29000 Newton Canyon Rd, Malibu, CA 90265) and The Barn at Cielo Farms (31424 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265) — with a return to Santa Monica in the early evening. They've chosen a Sprinter van with a driver to keep the group together and comfortable on PCH.
On a weekend, a Sprinter van with a driver costs $218–$466+ per hour. With pickup at noon and a return drop-off around 6:00 p.m., the group is looking at approximately six booked hours.
At the lower end of the weekend Sprinter range, six hours at $218 per hour comes to approximately $1,308. At the higher end of $466 per hour, the same six hours reaches approximately $2,796. PCH on a Saturday afternoon can slow significantly — especially northbound heading toward Malibu — so building buffer time into the itinerary is always a smart move.
This is an example to give you an idea of what this type of trip costs, not a guaranteed price or final quote. Fill out the form or call 310-504-9250 for pricing on your specific date and route!
Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Monica Charter Bus Rental Prices
Santamonicacharterbuscompany.com helps you compare buses rental options; it is not a transportation company and does not rent, own, or operate vehicles. When you submit the quote form, your trip details go through a booking company so you can review pricing and available vehicles for your date. You compare the options and book through the process shown with your quote.
Santamonicacharterbuscompany.com is an advertising and quote comparison website. It is not a bus operator, not a motor carrier, and it does not set prices. You fill out the quote form with your trip details, and those details go to an online booking platform that returns pricing based on what independent operators have available for your trip.
Booking is completed on that platform — not on this site. Santamonicacharterbuscompany.com helps you find and compare options; the booking platform and independent operators handle everything after that.
Enter your pickup city, date, passenger count, trip times, and any stops as accurately as possible — those details are exactly what the booking platform prices against. More complete trip details return more accurate vehicle options. When your schedule has flexibility, weekday trips, shorter routes, and earlier booking may help with pricing.
Locking in your date well before peak periods like Coachella weekends, summer Twilight Concert Wednesdays, and prom season gives you the widest selection at the most competitive rates.
Santamonicacharterbuscompany.com passes your trip details — pickup location, date, group size, timing, and stops — to the online booking platform, which prices the trip against what independent operators in the network have available for those specifics. The platform builds a quote around your itinerary. The result reflects availability on your date, not a published rate card.
That's why entering accurate trip details matters: the more specific your information, the more accurate the pricing that comes back.
Different operators in the network price the same itinerary differently. Each independent operator sets its own rates based on its fleet, its costs, and its availability on a given date. The booking platform returns what each operator has available for your trip.
Two quotes for the same route on the same day can differ because two different operators are behind them — which is exactly why comparing options through a network gives you a better shot at finding the right price for your trip.
Demand is higher on weekends. Saturday evenings in Santa Monica — bachelorette parties in West Hollywood, concerts at the Kia Forum, Dodgers night games — pull from the same pool of available vehicles at the same time. When more groups compete for the same buses, pricing goes up.
Tuesday through Thursday, demand is lower and pricing reflects that. A party bus costs $248–$426+ per hour on weekdays versus $265–$460+ per hour on weekends — the same bus, the same route, a different day.
Every additional stop adds time to the trip, and more time means more hours booked. Multiple pickup locations — say, a hotel on Ocean Avenue and a second pickup near the Promenade before heading to a venue in Culver City — extend the vehicle's schedule before the main event even begins. The more stops on the itinerary, the more accurately you need to map the timing when you fill out the quote form, so the platform can price the full block of hours correctly.
Significantly. Coachella weekends in April send enormous demand east from the Westside, pulling buses from across the Santa Monica area. The Twilight Concert Series at Santa Monica Pier on summer Wednesday evenings, the LA Marathon in March, UCLA home football Saturdays in the fall, and SoFi Stadium events year-round all drive demand across the entire LA metro at once.
Prom season in April and May across Santa Monica High School and nearby schools is one of the tightest stretches of the year for party buses and minibuses. When every group in the region needs a bus on the same weekend, available vehicles get taken early and pricing reflects the competition. Book as far ahead as possible for any of those dates.
Santa Monica doesn't have a true slow season — mild weather keeps demand elevated year-round. The most affordable windows are typically mid-January through February, and only outside of Rose Bowl weekend on January 1, which is one of the highest-demand single days in the entire LA metro. Early March can also be relatively quiet before spring events and prom season begin.
Summer, April through June, November, and December all run at higher rates.
Book three to six months out for most Santa Monica trips. For Coachella weekends, Rose Bowl game day, summer Twilight Concert dates, and prom season, six months or more is the safer window. The Santa Monica and greater LA market moves fast on high-demand dates — waiting until the last minute means higher rates and fewer vehicles to choose from.
Total distance and how much of the day the vehicle spends in motion versus parked are the primary factors. Short in-city trips — a shuttle loop between Santa Monica and a venue in West Hollywood — typically cost by the hour. Long-distance trips where the bus covers significant highway miles, like a charter to Coachella or a multi-day run to San Francisco, are more likely to be priced by the day or by mileage.
The booking platform determines the structure based on your specific itinerary.