Bakersfield Charter Bus Pricing & Rates
Bakersfieldcoachbuscompany.com lets you compare charter bus prices in Bakersfield, California in under a minute — no phone tag, no waiting on callbacks. Your group size, the day, how far you're going, and the type of bus you need all push the number up or down, which is why there's no single answer. Fill out the quick form on this page and you'll see pricing from a network of transportation companies serving Bakersfield in seconds.
Or call 661-596-1055 any time. Keep reading to learn every factor that shapes your quote and how to put yourself in the best position to save.
Instantly Receive Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Charter Bus in Bakersfield, California?
It just got easier to see exactly what a bus rental costs in Bakersfield! Charter buses run $205–$385+ per hour on weekdays, $225–$410+ per hour on weekends, and $1,650–$2,950+ per day. Minibuses run $180–$370+ per hour on weekdays, $180–$385+ per hour on weekends, and $1,150–$2,415+ per day.
Party buses run $248–$426+ per hour on weekdays, $265–$460+ per hour on weekends, and $1,827–$2,954+ per day. School buses run $205–$365+ per hour on weekdays, $240–$380+ per hour on weekends, and $1,670–$2,335+ per day. Sprinter vans with a driver run $190–$373+ per hour on weekdays, $218–$466+ per hour on weekends, and $1,395–$2,848+ per day.
Sprinter limos run $190–$340+ per hour on weekdays, $190–$355+ per hour on weekends, and $1,300–$2,080+ per day. These are ranges — your actual quote depends on the specifics of your trip.
| 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 661-596-1055. | ||||
What Factors Affect Charter Bus Rental Prices in Bakersfield, California?
Six factors shape every charter bus quote in Bakersfield: the type and size of bus, how far and how long you need it, the day of the week, the time of year, where the bus is coming from, and any extra stops along the route. Each of those factors is covered in its own section below. Read through them before you fill out the form and you'll know exactly what you're looking at when pricing comes back — and which details to adjust if you want to bring the number down.
Call 661-596-1055 any time if you'd rather talk it through first.
How the Type of Bus You Choose Changes the Price in Bakersfield, California
It depends on what you're actually looking for. Bigger buses, newer buses, and buses with more amenities cost more per hour than simpler ones. Charter buses and minibuses have forward-facing seats and overhead storage — they're the practical, lower-cost way to move a large group from point A to point B. Party buses and Sprinter limos add color-changing LED lighting, flat-panel TVs, and lounge seating, and they cost more per hour as a result. Bakersfieldcoachbuscompany.com connects you to a network of transportation companies serving Bakersfield, so you can compare something on the straightforward side against the more premium side and find the vehicle that actually fits your group and your budget.
How the Distance and Duration of Your Trip Affect Charter Bus Rates in Bakersfield
It depends on what you're actually planning. Buses are rented by the hour, by the day, or by mileage — which structure applies to your trip depends on the total distance, how many hours the vehicle is in use, and whether you need the bus for one event or across multiple days. A two-hour airport run to Meadows Field Airport (BFL) prices very differently than a full-day charter down to Los Angeles.
Fill out the quote form and you'll see pricing for your specific trip in seconds. If nothing on the results page is quite the package you need, call for quote-request help at 661-596-1055 and they'll work to put a custom package together for you.
How the Day of the Week Changes What a Bus Costs in Bakersfield, California
Yes, the day matters — and it's one of the details you have the most control over. Saturday evenings typically price highest across the Bakersfield market. Friday evenings come in next.
Sunday through Thursday are typically the lowest, and Friday or Saturday daytime trips cost less than those same evenings. Season, location, and time of day all feed into it too. If your event has any flexibility, a trip that comes back too high on a Saturday may work for less on a Thursday or Wednesday — and shorter bookings tend to be easier to find on those days.
That said, certain Bakersfield dates make the whole market disappear early regardless of what day they fall on. The Kern County Fair at the Kern County Fairgrounds (1142 S P St, Bakersfield, CA 93307) runs late September through early October and is one of the largest county fairs in California — buses fill up fast that stretch. The Potato Bowl at Memorial Stadium (801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305) in December is Bakersfield's signature college bowl game and another date the market gets taken early.
Prom season across Bakersfield-area high schools runs April through May and is the single busiest stretch of the year for party buses and minibuses. April, May, and June are more expensive across the board. Book far ahead for any of those dates.
How Your Starting Location and Deadhead Miles Affect Charter Bus Rates in Bakersfield
Where your group boards matters more than most people expect. Bakersfield has local operators, but some transportation companies serving the area are based in Fresno or Los Angeles. When a bus has to travel a significant distance before anyone boards — a run down SR-99 from Fresno or up from the LA basin — that distance is part of the trip cost.
Choosing a central pickup location in Bakersfield, or keeping your pickup and drop-off closer together, is one of the most direct ways to bring your quote down. Trips that start and end in the same area of the city tend to price lower than ones that require the bus to cross town twice before the event even begins.
How Seasonality and Peak Times Affect Charter Bus Rates in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is an inland valley city, which means the pricing calendar here doesn't follow the coastal California pattern. Winter is not peak season — January and February are genuinely the slowest months in the Kern County market, and that's when you'll find the most availability and the most competitive pricing. The real crunch comes in spring and fall.
April and May bring prom season, graduation season at California State University, Bakersfield (9001 Stockdale Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93311) and Bakersfield College (1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305), and warm-weather group outings to the Kern River and Lake Isabella. Late September through early October brings the Kern County Fair. December brings the Potato Bowl and corporate holiday events.
Those windows book early — the rest of the year is more forgiving.
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 48 friends and alumni wants a game-day charter from a neighborhood in northwest Bakersfield near Rosedale Highway to Memorial Stadium for the Potato Bowl in December, with a tailgate stop at a nearby restaurant on Panorama Drive before kickoff and a return trip after the final whistle. They've selected a 40–56 passenger charter bus on a Saturday.
Saturday is a weekend rate, so a charter bus costs $205–$385+ per hour. With pickup at 10:00 a.m., a pregame stop, game time, and a return trip after the game, the group estimates eight total booked hours. At the lower end of the weekend range, eight hours at $225 per hour comes to approximately $1,800.
At the higher end of $410 per hour, the same eight hours reaches $3,280. What the trip costs inside that spread depends on the specific operator, the vehicle, and how much demand is on that December Saturday in Bakersfield — and the Potato Bowl is one of the dates the market fills early.
This is an example to give you a general sense of scale, not a guaranteed price. Your actual quote depends on your specific pickup location, the operator available for your date, and the vehicle selected. Fill out the form or call 661-596-1055 for pricing on your date.
Example Quote #2
Twelve women are planning a Saturday bachelorette night starting in central Bakersfield — cocktails on 19th Street, dinner downtown, and a stop at Buck Owens' Crystal Palace before heading back to the hotel. They want a party bus with a built-in bar, LED lighting, and a Bluetooth sound system.
On a weekend, a 15–50 passenger party bus costs $248–$426+ per hour. With pickup at 6:00 p.m. and a return to the hotel at 1:00 a.m., the group is looking at roughly seven booked hours. At the lower end of the weekend party bus range, seven hours at $265 per hour comes to approximately $1,855.
At $460 per hour, the same seven hours reaches $3,220. Late Saturday evenings sit at the busiest point of the week in Bakersfield, so this kind of itinerary tends to price toward the higher half of that range more often than the lower.
This is a sample quote. The actual number depends on the operator, the specific vehicle, and your confirmed itinerary. Use the quote form or call 661-596-1055 to see what's available for your date.
Example Quote #3
A Bakersfield-based company wants to treat 22 employees to a Condors game at Dignity Health Arena (1001 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93301) on a Thursday evening, with pickup at their office on Stockdale Highway at 5:30 p.m., a drop-off downtown before puck drop, and a return trip after the game ends around 10:00 p.m. They've selected a 25-passenger minibus.
Thursday is a weekday rate, so a 25-passenger minibus costs $190–$350+ per hour. With the pickup run, the game, and the return trip, the vehicle is in service for approximately five hours. At the lower end of the weekday range, five hours at $190 per hour comes to approximately $950.
At $350 per hour, the same five hours reaches $1,750. A weekday evening corporate trip like this tends to sit in the middle of that range, and booking a few weeks out gives the group the best shot at the vehicle and price point they want.
This is an example to give you a general sense of scale, not a guaranteed or final price. Your actual quote depends on your pickup location, the operator available, and the vehicle selected. Fill out the form or call 661-596-1055 for pricing on your date.
Example Quote #4
A group of 30 coworkers wants a round-trip shuttle from a parking area in south Bakersfield near Panama Lane to the Kern County Fairgrounds on a Saturday afternoon during the Kern County Fair in late September, with two outbound runs in the early afternoon and two return runs in the evening. They've selected a 30-passenger minibus.
Saturday is a weekend rate, so a 30-passenger minibus costs $205–$365+ per hour. With the first pickup at 12:00 p.m. and the last return drop-off at 10:00 p.m., the vehicle is in service for approximately ten hours. At the lower end of the weekend range, ten hours at $240 per hour comes to approximately $2,400.
At $380 per hour, the same ten hours reaches $3,800. Fair weekend is one of the highest-demand stretches of the Bakersfield year — availability tightens and pricing reflects the competition. Book as early as possible for late September dates.
This is an example to give you a general sense of scale, not a guaranteed or final price. Your actual quote depends on your specific pickup location, the operator available for your date, and the vehicle selected. Call 661-596-1055 or use the form to get pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bakersfield Charter Bus Rental Prices
Bakersfieldcoachbuscompany.com helps you compare buses rental options; it is not a transportation company and does not rent, own, or operate vehicles. When you submit the quote form, your trip details go through a booking company so you can review pricing and available vehicles for your date. You compare the options and book through the process shown with your quote.
Bakersfieldcoachbuscompany.com is an advertising and quote comparison website. It is not a bus operator, not a motor carrier, and it does not set prices. You fill out the quote form with your trip details, and those details go to an online booking platform that returns pricing based on what independent operators have available for your trip.
Booking is completed on that platform, not on this site. Bakersfieldcoachbuscompany.com helps you find and compare your options — that's it.
Enter your pickup city, date, passenger count, trip times, and any stops as accurately as possible — those details are what the booking platform prices against. More complete trip details return more accurate vehicle options. Weekday trips, shorter routes, earlier booking, and flexible timing may help with pricing when those options are available for your date and route.
The more specific you are upfront, the closer your results will be to the actual cost of your trip.
Bakersfieldcoachbuscompany.com passes your trip details — pickup location, date, group size, timing, and stops — to the online booking platform. The platform prices the trip against what independent operators in the network have available for those specifics. The result reflects availability on your date, not a published rate card.
That's why two different trips with similar details can still come back at different prices — the operators behind them are different.
Different operators in the network price the same itinerary differently. Each independent operator sets its own rates based on its fleet, its costs, and its availability on a given date. The booking platform returns what each operator has available for your trip.
Two quotes for the same route on the same day can differ because two different operators are behind them — and that's exactly why comparing through a network gives you more options than calling one company.
Demand is higher on weekends. Saturday evenings in Bakersfield — prom nights, bachelorette parties, Condors games at Dignity Health Arena — pull from the same pool of available vehicles at the same time. When more groups compete for the same buses, pricing goes up.
Tuesday through Thursday, demand is lower and pricing reflects that. A party bus costs $248–$426+ per hour on weekdays versus $265–$460+ per hour on weekends.
Every additional stop adds time to the trip, and more time means more hours booked. Multiple pickup locations — say, a hotel on Stockdale Highway and a second stop near downtown before heading to the Kern County Fairgrounds — extend the vehicle's schedule before the main event even begins. The more stops on the itinerary, the more accurately you need to map the timing when you fill out the quote form, so the platform can price the full block of hours correctly.
Significantly. The Kern County Fair at the Kern County Fairgrounds in late September and early October is one of the largest county fairs in California — it fills the Bakersfield bus market fast. The Potato Bowl at Memorial Stadium in December does the same.
Prom season across Bakersfield-area high schools in April and May is the busiest stretch of the year for party buses. Graduation season at CSUB and Bakersfield College in May adds to that pressure. Book four to six months out for any of those dates.
January and February are typically the lowest-demand months in the Bakersfield market. Bakersfield is an inland valley city — winter is not a peak tourism season here the way it is on the coast. Post-holiday, with no major events on the calendar, more vehicles are available and pricing is more competitive.
Early March is also relatively quiet. Avoid assuming that holds through the spring — April and May are among the most expensive months of the year.
Book three to six months out for most Bakersfield trips. For the Kern County Fair, the Potato Bowl, prom season, and graduation weekends at CSUB and Bakersfield College, six months or more is the safer window. Those dates get taken early, and waiting until the last minute means higher rates and fewer vehicles to choose from.
Total distance and how much of the day the vehicle spends moving versus parked are the main factors. Short in-city trips — a shuttle loop between a hotel and Dignity Health Arena — are typically priced by the hour. Long-distance runs, like a charter down SR-99 to Los Angeles or out SR-58 toward the Mojave, are more likely to be priced by the day or by mileage.
The booking platform determines the structure based on your specific itinerary.