St. Paul Charter Bus Pricing & Rates
Ready to find out what a charter bus rental in St. Paul, Minnesota actually costs? Charter bus prices are not one-size-fits-all, your quote depends on your group size, travel date, trip distance, and the type of vehicle you need. The good news?
You can get bus pricing in under a minute right through the online form on this page, or call 651-333-3515 and a live agent will build a quote around your exact trip. Below, you will learn exactly what drives St. Paul charter bus rental costs — and how to get the best rate for YOUR trip.
Instantly Receive St. Paul 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 St. Paul.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Charter Bus in St. Paul, Minnesota?
| 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 651-333-3515. | ||||
St. Paul Charter Bus Rental Pricing Factors
Several key factors determine what your St. Paul charter bus rental will cost: the type of vehicle you choose, how long and how far you are traveling, the day of the week and time of year you are booking, and where your route starts and ends. Each of those factors is explained in its own section below so you know exactly what will shape your quote and what you can adjust to save money. Get the ball rolling with one quick form to compare bus prices right now, or read on to understand what you are looking at before you request your quote.
How Bus Type Changes Charter Bus Prices in St. Paul, Minnesota
It depends on what you are actually looking for. Bigger buses, newer buses, and buses loaded with premium amenities cost more per hour than simpler models. A 40- to 56-passenger charter bus and a minibus use forward-facing seats and are the most cost-effective way to move a large group — they are built for efficiency, not entertainment.
Party buses and sprinter limos include LED lighting, flat-panel TVs, and lounge-style perimeter seating, which pushes the hourly rate higher. This website connects you with a large network of independent bus companies serving St. Paul, so you can compare a budget-friendly minibus against a full luxury party bus and find what actually fits your group and your budget.
How Distance and Trip Duration Affect Charter Bus Rates in St. Paul
It depends on what you are planning. Buses in St. Paul are typically priced by the hour, by the day, or by mileage — and which pricing model applies comes down to the specifics of your trip. A short round-trip downtown is usually priced hourly.
A day-long excursion to the Twin Cities metro or beyond may shift to a daily rate. A one-way run to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport might be quoted differently still. Rather than guessing, fill out the quote form and you will see pricing for your specific trip in seconds.
If the results page does not have the exact package you need, call 651-333-3515 and the reservation team can help you compare options for a custom package through the national booking platform.
How the Day of the Week Changes What a Bus Costs in St. Paul, Minnesota
Yes, the day of the week meaningfully changes your St. Paul charter bus rental price. Saturday evenings price highest across the board, Friday evenings run second, and Sunday through Thursday typically come back lowest. Friday and Saturday daytime slots run cheaper than those same nights, but still above midweek.
If your event has flexibility, a Thursday evening may cost noticeably less than the same trip on a Friday. That said, certain St. Paul dates wipe out that flexibility entirely: Minnesota Wild playoff games at Xcel Energy Center (199 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102), the Minnesota State Fair (1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul, MN 55108, late August through Labor Day), St. Patrick's Day on Seventh Street West, Cinco de Mayo on District del Sol, and spring graduation weekends at the University of St. Thomas all drive early sellouts. April, May, and June are consistently more expensive.
Book those dates far in advance. Xcel Energy Center has no oversized-vehicle parking. Bus parking at Union Depot Lot D requires reservations with 48-hour notice and prepayment, so include the off-site bus-parking stop in your game-night itinerary.
Charter buses can park free in a designated lot at the Minnesota State Fair with prior authorization, giving your group a shared arrival and a planned place to park.
How Where and When You Are Traveling Affects St. Paul Bus Rental Rates
Where your trip starts and ends matters. A route that stays within St. Paul proper is priced differently than one crossing into Minneapolis, heading to Mall of America in Bloomington, or running all the way to Rochester or Duluth. Trips that require the bus to dead-head — meaning the vehicle drives empty to reach your pickup location — may reflect that added mileage in your quote.
Early-morning pickups before 6:00 AM and late-night returns after midnight can also influence pricing depending on the operator. Fill out the online quote form with your exact pickup address, destination, and timing, and the platform will return pricing built to your actual route.
How the Time of Year and Peak Seasons Affect St. Paul Charter Bus Prices
Seasonality plays a real role in what you will pay for a charter bus rental in St. Paul. Spring is the most competitive stretch of the year — prom season runs April through early June, college graduation weekends stack up across May, and demand for school event bus rentals peaks hard during those same months. Summer stays busy through the Minnesota State Fair and outdoor festival season.
Winter is not a slow season in St. Paul — the city leans into it, and events like the St. Paul Winter Carnival in January and February drive bookings earlier than most people expect. Late September through early November tends to offer the most availability and the most competitive rates across the St. Paul market.
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
A group of 30 coworkers based near the Science Museum of Minnesota wants to catch a Minnesota Wild game at Xcel Energy Center on a Friday night in January. Rather than fighting for parking on Kellogg Boulevard or splitting into ten rideshares, they decide to find and book a sporting event charter bus rental through Busrentalstpaul.com.
Itinerary: 6:00 PM pickup at the Science Museum of Minnesota (120 W Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55102), 6:20 PM drop-off at Xcel Energy Center, 10:30 PM return pickup after the final buzzer
Vehicle: 30-passenger minibus with onboard WiFi and overhead storage
Total booked time: Approximately 5 hours
Estimated cost: $1,200–$1,900+ (Friday evening weekend rate of $240–$380+ per hour)
Estimated cost per person: About $40–$63
Example Quote #2
A 20-person corporate team wrapping up a two-day conference at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront needs a Tuesday-morning airport transfer to Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) for a 9:00 AM departure. Rather than coordinating rental cars or expensing a dozen rideshares, the event coordinator books a corporate charter bus rental through Busrentalstpaul.com.
Itinerary: 6:30 AM pickup at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront (11 E Kellogg Blvd, St. Paul, MN 55101), 7:30 AM drop-off at MSP Terminal 1, two hours before departure
Vehicle: 20-passenger minibus with WiFi and overhead luggage storage
Total booked time: Approximately 2 hours
Estimated cost: $380–$680+ (weekday rate of $190–$340+ per hour)
Estimated cost per person: About $19–$34
Example Quote #3
A bachelorette party of 20 women wants to hit three stops on a Saturday night — Barrio on Wabasha Street, The Nook on Hamline Avenue, and a late-night stop at Tin Whiskers Brewing on East Sixth Street. Instead of coordinating Ubers all night, the maid of honor books a bachelorette party bus rental through Busrentalstpaul.com.
Itinerary: 7:00 PM pickup at a Lowertown hotel, Barrio (235 E 6th St), The Nook (492 Hamline Ave S), Tin Whiskers Brewing (125 E 6th St), midnight return drop-off at hotel
Vehicle: 20-passenger party bus with LED lighting, onboard bar, and Bluetooth sound system
Total booked time: Approximately 5 hours
Estimated cost: $1,325–$2,300+ (Saturday evening party bus rate of $265–$460+ per hour)
Estimated cost per person: About $66–$115
Example Quote #4
A fifth-grade class of 40 students from a St. Paul elementary school is planning a Wednesday field trip to the Minnesota Zoo (13000 Zoo Blvd, Apple Valley, MN 55124). The Zoo requires school groups to book at least two weeks ahead, and bus parking is $15 per bus, which isn't included in your free price quote, so a St. Paul charter bus rental keeps the class together while you budget for the separate venue parking cost. The teacher needs a bus big enough for all students and chaperones, with undercarriage storage for gear and a restroom on board for the 30-minute highway drive south on I-35E.
They find and book a school field trip charter bus through Busrentalstpaul.com.
Itinerary: 8:30 AM pickup at the school in St. Paul, 9:15 AM arrival at the Minnesota Zoo, 2:00 PM departure, 3:00 PM return to school
Vehicle: 40- to 56-passenger charter bus with onboard restroom and undercarriage luggage storage
Total booked time: Approximately 7 hours
Estimated cost: $1,435–$2,695+ (weekday charter bus rate of $205–$385+ per hour)
Estimated cost per person: About $36–$67
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Paul Charter Bus Rental Prices
Busrentalstpaul.com is a website that helps you rent buses online. It does not own, operate, dispatch, or maintain vehicles or employ drivers. Independent local providers supply the vehicles.
When you fill out the quote form, your trip details go through a national booking platform, where you can compare buses, photos, packages, and prices from independent local transportation companies serving St. Paul. Bookings are made through that platform. Busrentalstpaul.com connects you with the options, and you choose the bus that works for YOUR trip.
Enter your pickup city, travel date, passenger count, trip times, and any stops as accurately as possible — those details are exactly what the booking platform prices against. More accurate trip details return more accurate vehicle options and pricing. Weekday bookings, shorter routes, earlier reservations, and flexible timing can all help when those options are available for your specific dates in the St. Paul market.
You submit your trip details through the quote form on this site, and that information passes directly to the online booking platform. The platform then prices your trip against what independent operators in the St. Paul network have available for your date, route, passenger count, and vehicle type. The rate you see reflects the operator's pricing for your specific itinerary — not a flat published rate.
That is why filling out the form with accurate details matters so much.
Quotes for the same itinerary can differ because vehicle type, amenities, trip details, and provider pricing vary. One available bus may have features or capacity that another option does not. That difference can affect the price shown for the specific trip.
The national booking platform returns options from independent local transportation providers, so compare buses, photos, packages, and prices side by side to find a fit for your St. Paul itinerary.
Weekend demand in St. Paul is simply higher. Saturday and Friday evenings see the most competition for available vehicles — from bachelorette groups, birthday parties, wedding shuttles, and fans heading to Xcel Energy Center. Operators price accordingly.
Midweek trips — Tuesday through Thursday — face less competition, which typically means lower hourly rates and more vehicle availability. If your event can shift even one day earlier, it can make a real difference in what your quote comes back at.
Every additional stop adds time to the trip, and time is what most St. Paul bus rentals are priced against. A route with three hotel pickups before a wedding venue takes longer than a single-origin run, and that added time is reflected in the quote. Multiple drop-off points at the end of the night work the same way.
When you fill out the quote form, list every stop so the platform can price your actual itinerary — not a simplified version of it.
Significantly. The Minnesota State Fair at the State Fairgrounds runs late August through Labor Day and is one of the largest events in the country — available buses get claimed fast. Minnesota Wild playoff runs at Xcel Energy Center, the St. Paul Winter Carnival in January and February, Cinco de Mayo on District del Sol, and spring graduation weekends at the University of St. Thomas and Hamline University all drive early sellouts.
Book well ahead for any of those dates — the market moves quickly and prices climb as availability drops.
Late September through early November tends to offer the most competitive charter bus pricing in the St. Paul market. Summer festival season wraps up after Labor Day, prom and graduation demand has cleared, and winter event season has not yet kicked in. That window is typically your best shot at lower hourly rates and wider vehicle availability.
January and February can be surprisingly competitive for buses that are not already committed to Winter Carnival events.
Book as early as possible — ideally three to six months out for major events, and at least four to eight weeks out for standard trips. St. Paul's spring prom and graduation season, the Minnesota State Fair, and Wild playoff dates get claimed the fastest. Waiting until the last minute almost always means higher rates or no availability at all on the dates that matter most.
It depends on how the trip is structured. Shorter in-city routes where the bus spends significant time parked or waiting are typically priced hourly. Longer highway runs where total mileage is the main cost factors may be quoted differently.
The booking platform determines the pricing model based on your trip details — which is why entering your exact route, stops, and timing into the quote form returns the most accurate number for your specific St. Paul itinerary.