1. San Diego Shuttle Bus Rentals /
  2. Charter Bus Prices

Shuttle Bus Prices in San Diego, California

Shuttle bus rental prices in San Diego typically range from $1,495 to $3,950+ for local trips under 50 miles, with longer or multi-day trips costing $4,500–$9,000+ depending on mileage and itinerary. You can get an instant quote online in under 30-seconds using our easy online tool! Final pricing depends on several factors including trip duration, mileage, number of days, pickup location, and time of year. Call our team anytime at 858-633-5250 to get an exact price breakdown for your trip!

Vehicle Type Per Hour* Per Day* Per Mile*
56-Passenger Shuttle Bus Bus $197 – $519 $1,600 – $3,800 $5.00 – $8.00
25-Passenger Shuttle Bus $165 – $428 $1,300 – $3,200 $4.00 – $7.00
20-Passenger Shuttle Bus $157 – $414 $1,300 – $3,100 $4.00 – $7.00
18-Passenger Shuttle Bus $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 Shuttle Bus Rental Cost in San Diego?

Shuttle bus rentals in San Diego generally cost between $1,495–$3,950+ for local service (under 50 miles) and $4,500–$9,000+ for longer or multi-day trips, depending on mileage and itinerary. You’ll pay either an hourly rate ($250–$495 per hour with a 5-hour minimum), a flat day rate ($2,400–$3,950 per day), or a per-mile rate ($8.00–$12.50 per mile) based on the specifics of your trip. Additional expenses like tolls, parking fees, and optional amenities may apply. The best way to get exact pricing is to use our online quote tool or call our reservations team with your trip details.

What Factors Influence Shuttle Bus Rental Pricing in San Diego?

The cost of renting a shuttle bus in San Diego depends on several key factors: trip duration, distance, number of days, pickup location, time of year, and vehicle size. Local trips within San Diego County are often billed at a flat day rate or hourly rate with a minimum block of hours, while longer trips outside the region (to Los Angeles, Orange County, Palm Springs, etc.) are typically charged by the mile. Multi-day events will be quoted at a daily rate. Additional expenses such as tolls (e.g., South Bay Expressway/SR 125), parking fees at venues (Pechanga Arena, Snapdragon Stadium, Petco Park), and hotel rooms for drivers on overnight trips will be added to your total cost. Larger vehicles with premium amenities may carry higher rates. We’ll break down every charge upfront so you know exactly what you’re paying for before you book.

Sample Trip Pricing in San Diego

To help you budget for your next event, here are some real-world examples of recent shuttle bus rentals we’ve booked in the San Diego area. These sample trips include both local and out-of-town itineraries and show how different variables—like distance, duration, and vehicle type—affect the final price. For exact pricing on your specific trip, use our online quote tool or contact our reservations team with your itinerary.

Example #1

18 passenger Shuttle Bus rental

A biotech company headquartered in Torrey Pines needed a private shuttle service for a two-day leadership retreat at the InterContinental San Diego on the downtown waterfront. We provided a 25-passenger executive shuttle bus with leather seats and Wi-Fi to run multiple round-trip loops each day between the company’s campus on Science Park Road and the hotel on Bayfront Court. The bus operated from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm both days, including midday transfers for off-site lunch meetings in Little Italy. Total mileage was under 100 miles per day. The client was billed at a daily rate of $2,850 per day, plus hotel valet parking fees and a flat $200 gratuity, for a total cost of $6,100.

Example #2

56 passenger charter bus

A bride and groom hired San Diego Shuttle Bus Rentals to shuttle guests between their wedding venue at the Darlington House in La Jolla and two designated parking areas at nearby churches, since there was no on-site parking available. We supplied an 18-passenger minibus to run continuous loops before and after the ceremony and reception. The rental lasted six hours and covered less than 40 miles total. At an hourly rate of $295 with a five-hour minimum, plus a 10% driver tip, the final price came to $2,125.

Example #3

56 passenger coach bus

An East County middle school booked a 56-seat charter bus for a three-day field trip to the state capitol in Sacramento. The itinerary included visits to the Capitol building, Sutter’s Fort, and the California State Railroad Museum. The round-trip distance was approximately 1,050 miles. At a per-mile rate of $7.50, plus two nights of hotel accommodation for the driver at $180 per night, the total cost was $8,475.

Example #4

18 passenger Shuttle Bus

A tech startup exhibiting at a convention rented a 20-passenger minibus to transport staff from a shared Airbnb in Mission Beach to the San Diego Convention Center each day. The shuttle made two round trips daily over four days, totaling 120 miles. The company was charged a daily rate of $2,250, plus convention center parking fees of $35 per day, resulting in a total bill of $9,140.

Example #5

20 passenger Shuttle Bus

A university athletics department arranged for a women’s soccer team to travel to an away game at UCLA. They selected a 25-seat minibus with extra luggage space for equipment. The round trip from San Diego to Los Angeles was 260 miles. At $8.50 per mile, plus a $100 UCLA campus parking fee, the total came to $2,310.

Example #6

25 passenger Shuttle Bus

A group of friends celebrating a milestone birthday booked a 20-passenger minibus for a private wine-tasting tour in Temecula Valley. The bus was reserved for eight hours and followed a custom itinerary to four wineries. With an hourly rate of $275 and a 10% gratuity, the total cost was $2,420.