Charter Bus Rentals Santa Cruz, California

You can expect to pay between $1,600–$3,800 per day or $197–$519 per hour to rent a charter bus in Santa Cruz. Minibuses cost $1,200–$2,700 per day or $155–$385 per hour. Final prices depend on your exact itinerary, vehicle size, and availability.

Example #1: A biotechnology firm in Scotts Valley needs to send 40 employees to a two-day training seminar at UCSF Mission Bay. They book a 56-passenger charter bus to handle both people and luggage, including daily shuttles between their hotel and the campus. Their quote comes to $5,100 for the two-day package. With a 15% driver tip, the total is $5,865.

Example #2: A Santa Cruz high school orchestra is performing at a weekend festival in downtown San Francisco. The group consists of 30 students, four chaperones, and bulky instrument cases, so they reserve a 50-seat coach. Their charter bus rental price is $3,200, and the band director adds a 10% gratuity. Final cost: $3,520.

Example #3: A tech startup based in Santa Cruz’s Wrigley Building arranges a corporate retreat at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove. They have 22 staff members and only need one-way transportation down the coast. The company books a minibus for 25 passengers at a rate of $1,850. Including a 15% tip, their total bill is $2,127.50.

Example #4: A UC Santa Cruz academic department organizes an off-site workshop for 12 faculty members at a venue near Half Moon Bay. They select a compact minibus with 18 seats for the round-trip journey. The quoted price is $1,400, and they plan to tip the driver 10%. Final expense: $1,540.

Charter bus pricing in Santa Cruz depends on your trip length, vehicle size, travel dates, and current demand. You’ll pay more during peak spring/summer months, around major events like UCSC move-in, Wharf to Wharf, Sea Otter Classic, or if you book last-minute. Multi-day trips requiring hotel rooms for drivers also increase costs.

Yes, Santa Cruz Charter Bus provides fully ADA-accessible and wheelchair-friendly buses in Santa Cruz and across all service areas. Please let us know your accessibility needs when booking—including number of wheelchairs, lift requirements, and seating configuration—and we will dispatch a vehicle equipped with lifts, securement straps, priority seating, and accessible restrooms (on larger coaches). We regularly handle trips for schools, senior groups, medical transportation, and any passenger requiring additional assistance. Accessibility features are provided at no extra charge, but advance notice ensures availability of properly equipped vehicles.

Santa Cruz Charter Bus handles transportation for school field trips to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, UC Santa Cruz campus shuttles, wedding guest transfers to venues in the Santa Cruz Mountains, corporate outings and tech employee shuttles to Silicon Valley, church retreats, sports team travel to games across California, band and choir trips, bachelor/bachelorette parties, cruise terminal transfers to San Francisco, and wine tours through the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA. If you have somewhere to be in Santa Cruz County, we’ll make sure you get there!

Santa Cruz Charter Bus offers minibuses seating 18–25 passengers, midsize shuttle buses for 28–35, and full-size charter buses with up to 56 seats—plus sprinter vans for smaller groups. Available models include the Grech EG40, Temsa TS30, Van Hool CX35, Prevost H3-45, and MCI J4500, so you can match capacity to your exact headcount.

Amenities on a charter bus include cushioned seats, air conditioning, overhead storage, undercarriage luggage bays, power outlets, USB ports, WiFi, video monitors, PA system, and restroom facilities. Additional features like reclining seats, tray tables, and upgraded entertainment systems may be available depending on the bus model.

You should book your charter bus at least 4–6 weeks before your trip—but 2–3 months ahead is better, especially if you’re traveling during peak season (April–June), over a holiday weekend, or around major local events like UCSC move-in, Wharf to Wharf, or Sea Otter Classic. Buses sell out fast when demand spikes, and last-minute reservations limit your options and drive up prices. Lock in your vehicle early to get the schedule, size, and amenities you want at the best rate.

Getting a quote is simple! Just call our 24/7 reservation line at 831-888-8620 with your trip details—including pickup location, destination, travel dates, passenger count, and any special requests—or fill out the online form on our website. Once you provide your itinerary, we’ll calculate the total cost based on mileage, duration, and vehicle type, then give you an exact price before you book. If you like what you see, you can reserve your bus with a deposit and pay the balance before departure.

Your quote includes the bus, driver, fuel, and mileage for your entire itinerary. It does NOT include tolls, parking fees, hotel rooms for the driver on overnight trips, cleaning fees, or gratuity. You’ll need to cover those extras separately. For example, if your trip requires a driver to stay overnight, you’ll need to book and pay for their hotel room. Parking fees vary by venue—for instance, Levi’s Stadium charges $120 per bus for event parking, while Shoreline Amphitheatre typically charges around $80–$100 per bus depending on the event. Make sure to ask about these additional costs when planning your budget.

To book a bus with Santa Cruz Charter Bus, simply call our reservation team at 831-888-8620 or use the online quote tool on our website to get an instant estimate. Once you receive your quote, you can confirm your reservation by signing the contract electronically and paying the required deposit. The remaining balance is due before your departure date. Our agents are available 24/7 to answer questions, help you choose the right vehicle, and finalize your booking quickly.

Santa Cruz Charter Bus provides charter bus service to and from Santa Cruz and all surrounding areas, including Capitola, Soquel, Aptos, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Felton, Boulder Creek, and Davenport. We operate throughout Santa Cruz County and beyond, handling trips anywhere you need to go—whether it’s local transportation around town or longer-distance travel to destinations across California.