How Much Is the Deposit?
- A 20 to 30% deposit is required to make a reservation.
- Your quote shows the exact payment schedule, with the balance due before your trip date.
charter
Madison Charter Bus Prices
A Madison charter bus rental isn’t a one-price-fits-all deal, but you can get free quotes in under 30 seconds right online through our form or by calling (608) 571-0010! Below, you’ll learn about all the factors affecting rates and how to score the best deals.
For special deals, call us! Call (608) 571-0010
Get Instant Pricing & Availability in 30 Seconds
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- 30 sec.to see online pricing and availability, with no account needed
- Great dealson every bus size, plus special deals when you call us
- Same dayrentals for last-minute plans in Madison
- Up to 56passengers on one charter bus, plus minibuses and vans
How To Get Your Quote
How to Get Madison Charter Bus Prices in 30 Seconds
Charter
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Fill Out One Quick Form
Enter your pickup city, date, passenger count and hours in the bar right below, then finish the quick form. It takes under 30 seconds, there's no account to create, and your pricing comes by text and email too.
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Compare Buses & Prices
See available buses, interior pictures, rental packages and online prices for your trip side by side, from bus companies serving Madison, without calling company after company.
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Book Online & Get a Confirmation Call
Book with a deposit through the national booking company, and you'll see your full payment schedule before you pay. You get an instant booking confirmation, and its confirmation team calls to go over your whole itinerary.
For the best deals, call us! Call (608) 571-0010
Our Pricing & Rates
Madison Charter Bus Rental Pricing
| 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+ |
*Rates shown are general estimates from one of the largest networks of independent bus companies serving Madison. Your exact price depends on your travel date, trip length, and the bus you pick—and you can see it in under 30 seconds on your online quote, with no account needed! Standard hourly minimums are typically 2 hours Monday through Wednesday (or earlier in the day), 3+ hours after 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and up to 5 hours on peak dates. Don't need that much time? Just call us at (608) 571-0010 any day of the year—we can often set up less time, a one-way transfer, a split-time shuttle, or a custom package built around YOUR schedule!
Book Ahead
Peak Madison Dates: When Prices and Minimums Go Up
Call (608) 571-0010 or book 3 to 6 months early if you’re traveling during peak demand like UW-Madison commencement in May, spring prom season, or fall Badgers Saturdays at Camp Randall Stadium! Because multiple operators in our network compete for your business, you’re never stuck paying one local fleet’s high peak rates or 5-hour windows.
| Peak Date | Date or Season |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin Badgers Football Home Games | Nov 7 & Nov 27, 2026 |
| Wisconsin Badgers Men's Basketball Home Games | November 2, 2026 – March 3, 2027 |
| Wisconsin Badgers Women's Basketball Home Games | November 3, 2026 – February 20, 2027 |
| Milwaukee Bucks Home Games | October 31, 2026 – April 8, 2027 |
| Milwaukee Brewers Home Games | March 25 – September 19, 2027 |
| Northern Illinois Huskies Football Home Games | Nov 14 & Nov 28, 2026 |
| Summerfest | June 24–26, July 1–3 & July 8–10, 2027 |
| Dane County Fair | July 15–18, 2027 (Thursday–Sunday) |
| Taste of Madison | September 4–5, 2027 (Saturday–Sunday) |
| Prom season | April–May 2027 |
| Homecoming season | September–October 2026 |
Event dates can change, so check yours before you book.
Before You Book
What's Included in Madison Charter Bus Prices?
Through our transparent quoting process, your base price includes your vehicle and your driver’s time—with zero hidden fees! Outside expenses like stadium parking passes and highway tolls are paid separately so there are never any last-minute surprises.
What's Included in Your Price
- Your bus and its driver
- Your driver's gratuity
- Use of the bus for the hours or miles you book
- Unlimited stops during your booked time
- An instant booking confirmation, then a call from the confirmation team to verify your itinerary
- Your driver's contact information before your trip date
Extra Costs: Tolls, Parking, Tax & Driver Hotel
- Tolls and parking
- The driver's hotel room each night of an overnight trip, which you book
- A second driver, when your itinerary needs one
- Overtime past your booked hours, billed by the hour
- Extra charges if your final drop-off isn't near your pickup
- Changes to your date, time or route, which may cost more
Charter Bus Fees to Avoid
- No smoking: violations bring a fine.
- A surcharge applies for vomit incidents.
- Your group pays for any damage it causes.
Know Before You Pay
A Note on Payment Terms for Madison Bus Rentals
Charter
How Can I Pay?
- All major credit cards are accepted, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.
- Corporate or custom billing is set up by phone with the booking company.
Can I Cancel and Get a Refund?
- Cancellations and refunds follow the national booking company's terms, which you'll see before you book.
- Read them before you pay, and call us with any question first.
What If My Plans Change or Run Over?
- Your booked hours are the minimum you pay, so book enough time for your event.
- Overtime is billed by the hour, and only if the bus is free to stay.
- Date, time and route changes aren't guaranteed. You can upgrade to a bigger bus if one is available, but downgrades aren't allowed.
What Affects Your Price
6 Factors That Affect Madison Charter Bus Prices
When calculating the cost of your trip around Dane County and across Wisconsin, providers look at six main details. Here is how each factor shapes your final quote:
Factor 1: Which Bus You Choose
Just like renting a car, the size and style of your vehicle make a big difference in your rate! Because we don’t own the buses, you can compare TONS of bus types in one search rather than settling for one company’s lot. A 56-passenger charter bus with an onboard restroom and undercarriage bays or a decked-out party bus costs more than a compact 20-passenger minibus or sprinter van.
Factor 2: How Far and How Long You Travel
With hourly, one-way, round-trip, and multi-day packages available, your total mileage and hours on the clock directly impact your quote. A quick airport transfer from Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) to downtown hotels near the Wisconsin State Capitol is usually billed at an hourly rate. Meanwhile, a long-distance charter bus down I-94 to Milwaukee or I-90 to Chicago is priced by the mile or day.
Factor 3: The Time of Year
Whether you’re planning a school field trip to Henry Vilas Zoo in May or a summer wedding shuttle to The Edgewater, the season matters! Bus demand in Madison spikes from April through June for graduations and proms, and again from September through November for sporting events and conferences at Monona Terrace. Winter trips in January and February often score our lowest off-peak rates!
Factor 4: The Travel Fees on Your Route
Booking a trip that requires paid oversized vehicle parking at the Kohl Center, Alliant Energy Center, or out-of-state tollways on I-90? Those route-specific parking permits and road tolls aren’t built into your base quote, so you only cover the exact fees your itinerary requires.
Factor 5: Your Driver's Shifts and Hotel
For easy multi-day trips—like taking a corporate group to the Wisconsin Dells or Green Bay—you’ll need to provide a private 3-star hotel room for your driver. Federal DOT laws also cap driving at 10 hours per shift, so cross-country routes may require a second driver.
Factor 6: Which Day You Ride
On Friday and Saturday nights, everyone wants a ride to State Street, the Sylvee, or a wedding reception, which means higher weekend rates and stricter 3- to 5-hour windows. If your schedule is flexible, booking a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday trip is an easy way to save! Need less than the standard hour windows? Call (608) 571-0010 for exclusive below-minimum phone deals!
Ways to Save
Top 5 Ways to Save on Your Madison Charter Bus Rental
Ride on a weekday. Weekday hourly rates in the table start below weekend rates for most buses, and Sunday through Thursday typically run the lowest rates.
Fill the seats you pay for. A bigger bus costs more per hour but less per person: a full 56-passenger charter bus starts under $4 per person, per hour.
Book early. Booking early gives you the widest choice of buses for your date.
Keep your pickups together. Every extra pickup adds time on the clock, so one meeting spot keeps the hours, and the price, down.
Ask about less time. Standard minimums apply, but call us at (608) 571-0010 and we can often set up less time, a one-way, split time or a custom package.
Sample Trips
Examples of Madison Charter Bus Quotes
Below are sample quotes to help you plan your trip.
Example #1: Executive Team to MSN
A Madison-based financial services firm is sending its 12-person executive team to Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) for an 8:00 AM Monday departure to a conference. The team is scattered across Fitchburg and Sun Prairie, and juggling rideshares for a dozen people with luggage in construction traffic is not a realistic plan. The company decided to find and book a Madison airport transportation shuttle bus through Charter
- Itinerary
- 5:30 AM pickup in Fitchburg, 6:00 AM second stop in Sun Prairie, 7:00 AM drop-off at MSN
- Vehicle
- Sprinter van with driver
- Booked time
- 2 hours (the weekday minimum)
- Rate
- $190–$373 an hour (weekday) × 2 hours
- Paid separately
- Tolls and parking
$380–$746about $32–$62 per person
Example #2: Kohl Center Concert Night
A group of 35 friends from Fitchburg is heading to a sold-out show at Kohl Center. The roads back into Madison after a late concert are not something anyone wants to navigate. The group decided to find and book a Madison concert charter bus rental through Charter
- Itinerary
- 5:30 PM pickup in Fitchburg, 6:30 PM arrival at Kohl Center, 11:30 PM post-show return to Fitchburg
- Vehicle
- 35-passenger minibus
- Booked time
- 6 hours on a Saturday evening
- Rate
- $255–$385 an hour (weekend) × 6 hours
- Paid separately
- Tolls and parking
$1,530–$2,310about $44–$66 per person
Example #3: Milwaukee Day Trip
A Madison tech company is rewarding its 40-person sales team with a day trip to Milwaukee. Rather than splitting into a caravan of rental cars for a Friday day trip, the company decided to find and book a Madison corporate charter bus rental through Charter
- Itinerary
- 6:30 AM pickup at the company's downtown Madison office, 9:00 AM arrival at Milwaukee, 4:30 PM departure, 7:00 PM return to Madison
- Vehicle
- 56-passenger charter bus
- Booked time
- About 12 hours (full day)
- Rate
- Full-day rate, $1,650–$2,950
- Paid separately
- Tolls and parking
$1,650–$2,950about $41–$74 per person
Example #4: Northern Illinois Huskies Game Day
A group of 25 Northern Illinois Huskies season ticket holders from Sun Prairie wants to make a home game at Huskie Stadium into a proper tailgate without losing anyone to parking nightmares or a midnight rideshare shortage. They decided to find and book a Madison sporting event party bus rental through Charter
- Itinerary
- 11:00 AM pickup in Sun Prairie, 12:30 PM arrival at Huskie Stadium, 5:30 PM post-game pickup and return to Sun Prairie
- Vehicle
- 25-passenger party bus
- Booked time
- About 6.5 hours on a Sunday
- Rate
- $248–$460 an hour (weekday low to weekend high) × 6.5 hours
- Paid separately
- Tolls and parking
$1,612–$2,990about $64–$120 per person
Frequently Asked Questions About Madison Charter Bus Prices
Not sure what you need? Let us help! Just call us at (608) 571-0010, every single day of the year.
Contact usHow can I get a quote if I don't have my final headcount or exact stops yet?
You can still get an instant estimate in under 30 seconds! Just enter your best guess for passenger count, your travel date, and Madison as your pickup city in our online quote tool—no account needed. You can also call the 365-day support team at (608) 571-0010 to adjust your package as your plans come together!
Does Charterbusmadison.com own the buses in its network?
No, and that’s the whole point! Charter
How can we lower the cost of our Madison bus rental?
Locking in your reservation 3 to 6 months early and choosing a vehicle that matches your exact headcount—like a 25-passenger minibus instead of a full-size coach—will keep your per-person cost low! Avoiding peak Saturday game days around Regent Street and minimizing empty deadhead mileage by picking up everyone at one central lot also helps. Plus, you can always call (608) 571-0010 to ask our agents about split-time packages and special phone discounts!
What types of bus rental packages can I book in Madison?
You can book hourly, one-way, round-trip, multi-stop, full-day, and multi-day packages built around YOUR schedule! Whether you need a daily employee shuttle along the US-12/18 Beltline to Middleton or Fitchburg, a corporate shuttle to Epic Systems in Verona, or a same-day rental for a last-minute flight, we make it happen. You can book a single vehicle or a 10-bus fleet all in one place!
Book With Charter
Get Madison Charter Bus Prices Now!
Cross group transportation off your to-do list in seconds! Fill out one quick form right now to compare buses, interior pictures, and live Madison charter bus prices in under 30 seconds—with no account needed. Or call the live reservation team 365 days a year at (608) 571-0010 for custom packages and our best rates!