Coach Bus Prices: How Much Does a San Mateo Coach Bus Rental Cost?
The cost of renting a coach bus in San Mateo will depend on several factors, but you can generally expect to pay between $170 and $500 per hour or $1,800 to $3,800 per day. To get an exact price for your trip, call our team at 650-715-0340 or use our online quote tool. We’ll ask you a few quick questions about your itinerary and send you an instant quote in under 30 seconds! Below, we’ve put together some estimated rates and detailed information about what goes into the price of your bus rental, so you can budget your trip with confidence.
| Vehicle Type | Per Hour* | Per Day* | Per Mile* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56-Passenger Coach Bus | $197 – $519 | $1,600 – $3,800 | $5.00 – $8.00 |
| 25-Passenger Minibus | $165 – $428 | $1,300 – $3,200 | $4.00 – $7.00 |
| 20-Passenger Minibus | $157 – $414 | $1,300 – $3,100 | $4.00 – $7.00 |
| 18-Passenger Minibus | $145 – $404 | $1,300 – $3,000 | $4.00 – $7.00 |
*Prices vary and fluctuate with fuel costs, holidays, and availability. Booking early usually secures the lowest rate. For exact pricing, please call our reservations team.
How Much Does a Coach Bus Rental Cost?
On average, a coach bus rental in San Mateo costs between $170 and $500 per hour, $1,800 to $3,800 per day, or $2,400 to $3,000 for a round-trip excursion. These are large, comfortable vehicles that seat 40-56 passengers and come equipped with amenities like reclining seats, restrooms, WiFi, power outlets, and luggage bays. If you need something smaller, minibuses that seat 18-35 passengers typically cost $150 to $350 per hour or $1,400 to $2,800 per day. For the most accurate pricing, call San Mateo Coach Bus Service at 650-715-0340 or use our online quote tool to get an instant estimate based on your specific needs and itinerary.
All quotes include the bus, driver, mileage, fuel, and tolls. Additional expenses like parking fees, hotel rooms for the driver (for multi-day trips), and gratuity are not included. We recommend budgeting $150-$250 per night for driver accommodations and tipping your driver 10-20% of the total cost.
What Factors Influence Coach Bus Rental Pricing in San Mateo?
There are several factors that go into the cost of your San Mateo bus rental. The biggest ones are:
- Travel Dates: Bus rentals are more expensive during peak season (April-June and September-December) when demand is highest for school trips, graduations, weddings, and holiday events. You’ll pay less if you travel in January-March or July-August.
- Trip Duration: We charge by the hour, day, or mile depending on your itinerary. Local trips under 8 hours are usually billed hourly, while longer trips are priced by the day or mile. Minimum rental time is 5 hours.
- Distance Traveled: The farther you go, the more you’ll pay. Trips that stay within San Mateo County (like shuttling between downtown and SFO) will cost less than going to San Francisco, Oakland, or Sacramento. Out-of-state trips are priced by the mile.
- Bus Type and Size: Larger vehicles like 56-passenger motorcoaches cost more than smaller minibuses or sprinter vans. Premium features like onboard restrooms, leather seats, or ADA lifts may increase the price.
- Local Events: Major events like SF Giants games, Bottlerock Napa Valley, or Dreamforce can drive up prices due to increased traffic and limited bus availability. Book early if your trip coincides with a big event.
- Starting Location: We have buses stationed across the Bay Area, but if you’re outside our core service area (San Mateo, Redwood City, Palo Alto, San Jose), you may pay extra for the bus to deadhead (travel empty) to your pickup point.
Other factors that can affect your quote include tolls (Bay Bridge, Golden Gate, San Mateo-Hayward), parking fees (especially in SF or at Levi’s Stadium), and whether you need the bus to stay with you all day or just drop off/pick up. For overnight trips, you must provide a hotel room for the driver.
If you have specific requests—like wrapping the bus with your company logo, stocking the fridge with drinks, or making multiple stops across different counties—let us know! We can accommodate almost any itinerary, but customizations may affect the final price.
The best way to get an accurate quote is to contact San Mateo Coach Bus Service with your exact trip details. We’ll build a package that fits your schedule and budget, with no hidden fees or surprises.
Sample Trip Pricing Examples
Below are a few sample pricing examples for common trips in San Mateo, CA and around the Bay Area. Please note that these are estimates and your actual price may vary based on your specific needs and travel dates.
Field Trip to California Academy of Sciences
A teacher at Borel Middle School is organizing a field trip for 50 students and 5 chaperones to the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. The bus will pick up the group at 8:00 AM, drop them off at the museum by 9:00 AM, and return to San Mateo by 3:00 PM. This is a 7-hour local charter, so the quoted price is $2,100 for a 56-passenger coach bus with restroom and WiFi. The cost per person comes out to $38, making it an affordable option for school budgets. The teacher requested a DVD player so students can watch a documentary on the way.
Corporate Shuttle From San Mateo to South San Francisco
A biotech company in downtown San Mateo needs daily commuter shuttles for employees working in Oyster Point. They book two 40-passenger minibuses to run morning and evening loops between the Caltrain station and their office park. Each bus does three round trips per day, Monday to Friday, for a total of 8 hours of service daily. The monthly rate is $16,000 per bus ($32,000 total), which includes drivers, fuel, tolls, and cleaning. The company signs a 6-month contract and gets branded headrest covers with their logo. This solution helps reduce parking congestion and attracts talent from across the Peninsula.
Wedding Shuttle in Half Moon Bay
A bride is getting married at a beachfront venue in Half Moon Bay and wants to shuttle guests from hotels in San Mateo and Burlingame. She rents a 28-passenger minibus for 10 hours to make continuous loops between the ceremony, reception, and lodging blocks. The all-day rate is $1,950, which covers about 60 guest movements without anyone having to drive Highway 92 after dark. The bus has USB chargers, reclining seats, and a cooler for bottled water. The bride adds white ribbon to the front grille and tips the driver $200 for excellent service. Compared to hiring multiple Ubers, this keeps everyone on schedule and saves money.
Sports Team Travel to Oakland Coliseum
A youth baseball team from Foster City Little League is attending an A’s game at Oakland Coliseum. They charter a 47-passenger bus to depart at 4:30 PM, arrive for batting practice, and return after the last inning. Total time on the road is 6 hours, quoted at $1,800 including bridge tolls and parking permit. Players store coolers and gear bags under the bus, while parents relax in reclining seats. The organizer collects $40 from each family to cover transportation and snacks. Riding together builds team spirit and avoids the hassle of caravanning through East Bay traffic.
Multi-day Tour to Yosemite National Park
A tour operator is leading a 3-day excursion from San Mateo to Yosemite National Park for a group of 35 hikers. The itinerary includes pickup at Hillsdale Mall, overnight stays in Groveland, and guided walks in the valley floor. The package price for a midsize coach is $5,400 ($1,800 per day), plus $500 for the driver’s hotel room and meals. Amenities include reclining seats, overhead storage, PA system, and onboard restroom. The bus drops off at trailheads and waits while guests explore. This arrangement provides door-to-door service without anyone having to navigate mountain roads or find parking inside the park.
Concert Transportation to Shoreline Amphitheatre
A group of friends is attending a summer concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. They split the cost of a 20-passenger minibus for round-trip service from downtown San Mateo. Pickup is at 6:00 PM, drop-off before the opening act, and return after the encore. The flat rate for the evening is $1,200, which works out to $60 per person. Riders can pregame on board, leave jackets and blankets on their seats, and avoid surge pricing after the show. The bus parks in the designated lot and waits until everyone is accounted for. This is a popular option for festivals and nightlife across the Bay Area.