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.
bus
Des Moines Charter Bus Prices
With one form, you'll see that charter bus rental pricing isn't one-size-fits-all, and you can compare live quotes in under 30 seconds right online! Below you'll learn what affects rates and how to save.
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
- Same dayrentals for last-minute plans in Des Moines
- Up to 56passengers on one charter bus, plus minibuses and vans
How To Get Your Quote
How to Get Des Moines Charter Bus Prices in 30 Seconds
When you fill out one quick form with your Des Moines pickup spot, travel date, and passenger count, you'll instantly compare buses, interior photos, and live prices from one of the largest networks of local providers! Once you pick the ride that fits your budget, book right online through the national booking platform with no account needed.
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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 Des Moines, 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.
Our Pricing & Rates
Des Moines 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 Des Moines. 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.
Book Ahead
Peak Des Moines Dates: When Prices and Minimums Go Up
Bringing a group to the Iowa State Fair in August, the Drake Relays in April, or spring proms and graduations means booking during peak Des Moines demand when bus rates and hourly minimums go up! Lock in your reservation early so independent bus companies in our network can compete to give you the best deal.
| Peak Date | Date or Season |
|---|---|
| Drake Bulldogs Men's Basketball Home Games | November 4, 2026 – February 24, 2027 |
| Drake Bulldogs Women's Basketball Home Games | November 3, 2026 – February 27, 2027 |
| Iowa State Cyclones Football Home Games | Oct 31, Nov 14 & Nov 28, 2026 |
| Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball Home Games | November 6, 2026 – March 6, 2027 |
| Iowa State Cyclones Women's Basketball Home Games | November 2, 2026 – February 24, 2027 |
| Northern Iowa Panthers Men's Basketball Home Games | November 3, 2026 – February 28, 2027 |
| Iowa State Fair | August 12–22, 2027 (Thursday–Sunday) |
| Des Moines Arts Festival | June 25–27, 2027 (Friday–Sunday) |
| Polk County Fair | July 17–23, 2027 (Saturday–Friday) |
| 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 Des Moines Charter Bus Prices?
With one quick online search, your Des Moines charter bus quote includes your vehicle rental, a driver's time, and full coverage for your custom route—with no hidden fees! Outside expenses like venue parking passes and road tolls are paid separately so your pricing stays 100% transparent.
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 Des Moines Bus Rentals
You'll secure your Des Moines bus rental right online through the national booking platform by putting down a deposit at the time of reservation, with all major payment options accepted! Your remaining trip balance is simply due in full before your departure date, and a confirmation department will verify every stop on your itinerary.
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.
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 Des Moines Charter Bus Prices
Every group itinerary around Polk County is unique, so your final Des Moines bus rental rate comes down to a few key trip details! Check out the six main pricing factors below to see how you can customize your group transportation services for the best possible value.
Factor 1: The Size of Bus You Book
Whatever your headcount is, choosing between a compact 20-passenger minibus, a 15- to 50-passenger party bus, or a spacious 56-passenger charter bus will directly affect your rate! Because Bus
Factor 2: The Time of Year
Get ahead of busy seasons in Des Moines—like late spring for proms and school field trips to the Science Center of Iowa, or August through fall for state fair crowds and college football Saturdays! Booking at least one to three months in advance helps you beat high-demand seasonal pricing.
Factor 3: Where and When You're Traveling
You can count on Bus
Factor 4: Tolls, Parking, and Route Fees
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Factor 5: Overnight Trips and Driver Lodging
It's never been easier to book multi-day excursions out of Des Moines and across Iowa, whether you're taking a sports team or corporate group on the road! For overnight itineraries, you'll simply need to factor in a comfortable 3-star (or better) hotel room for your driver so they stay rested and compliant with federal driving limits.
Factor 6: Weekday vs. Weekend Travel
You'll love how much you can save by scheduling your Des Moines outing on a Monday through Thursday when fleet demand is lower! Friday and Saturday nights see the highest demand for wedding shuttles and private events along Court Avenue, which often brings higher hourly minimums and weekend rates. If your dates are flexible, shifting to a weekday trip is an easy way to score a lower price!
Ways to Save
Top 4 Ways to Save on Your Des Moines 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.
Sample Trips
Examples of Des Moines Charter Bus Quotes
Below are sample quotes to help you plan your trip.
Example #1: Executive Team to DSM
A Des Moines-based financial services firm is sending its 12-person executive team to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) for an 8:00 AM Monday departure to a conference. The team is scattered across West Des Moines and Ankeny, 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 Des Moines airport transportation shuttle bus through Bus
- Itinerary
- 5:30 AM pickup in West Des Moines, 6:00 AM second stop in Ankeny, 7:00 AM drop-off at DSM
- 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: Casey's Center Concert Night
A group of 35 friends from West Des Moines is heading to a sold-out show at Casey's Center. The roads back into Des Moines after a late concert are not something anyone wants to navigate. The group decided to find and book a Des Moines concert charter bus rental through Bus
- Itinerary
- 5:30 PM pickup in West Des Moines, 6:30 PM arrival at Casey's Center, 11:30 PM post-show return to West Des Moines
- 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: Ankeny Day Trip
A Des Moines tech company is rewarding its 40-person sales team with a day trip to Ankeny. Rather than splitting into a caravan of rental cars for a Friday day trip, the company decided to find and book a Des Moines corporate charter bus rental through Bus
- Itinerary
- 6:30 AM pickup at the company's downtown Des Moines office, 9:00 AM arrival at Ankeny, 4:30 PM departure, 7:00 PM return to Des Moines
- 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: Iowa State Cyclones Game Day
A group of 25 Iowa State Cyclones season ticket holders from Ankeny wants to make a home game at Jack Trice Stadium into a proper tailgate without losing anyone to parking nightmares or a midnight rideshare shortage. They decided to find and book a Des Moines sporting event party bus rental through Bus
- Itinerary
- 11:00 AM pickup in Ankeny, 12:30 PM arrival at Jack Trice Stadium, 5:30 PM post-game pickup and return to Ankeny
- 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 Des Moines Charter Bus Prices
Not sure what you need? Let us help!
Contact usHow can I get a Des Moines charter bus price quote?
Getting your personalized price takes less than 30 seconds! Just enter your travel date, passenger count, and Des Moines pickup and drop-off locations into our quick online form to instantly see buses, interior photos, and live pricing on your screen. You'll also receive a copy of your quote by text and email with no account needed and zero obligation to book!
Does Busrentalcompanydesmoines.com own the buses in Des Moines?
No, and that's the whole point! Because Bus
Can I get a quote if I don't have my final headcount or exact stops yet?
Yes, absolutely! Just put your best estimate for passenger count, your travel date, and your Des Moines pickup area into our 30-second online quote tool to compare ballpark rates across different 15-passenger minibuses, party buses, and full-size motorcoaches. Once you book online, a dedicated confirmation department will follow up to verify your final itinerary and every exact stop!
What packages can I book through Busrentalcompanydesmoines.com?
You can book hourly, one-way, round-trip, multi-stop, full-day, and multi-day packages right through our website! Whether you need a quick Des Moines International Airport (DSM) transfer off Fleur Drive, a recurring employee shuttle for downtown insurance headquarters, or a sports team charter bus for the whole weekend, our network has a package built around YOUR schedule. You can even find and book same-day bus rentals when last-minute plans come together! Share your details once in the online form to see packages that fit your budget.
How do I get the best deal on a Des Moines bus rental?
The easiest ways to save are booking early before peak Iowa event dates, choosing the right bus size for your headcount, and traveling on a weekday if your schedule allows! Splitting the total rental cost evenly among your passengers also makes a private charter bus or sprinter van far more affordable than paying surge-priced rideshares or individual parking fees downtown. Fill out one quick form to compare competing rates side by side in under 30 seconds!
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Get Des Moines Charter Bus Prices Now!
Need fast, transparent pricing for your next group trip in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, or anywhere across Iowa? Fill out one quick form right now to compare live availability, interior photos, and Des Moines charter bus prices in under 30 seconds—no account needed!