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.
amescharterbuscompany.com is a comparison and referral website, not a local company. We do NOT own or operate vehicles. Use our online quote form to view pricing and vehicle choices from independent transportation providers through a national booking platform. Read more: terms and referral details
Ames Charter Bus Prices
Get your exact Ames charter bus rental cost in under 30 seconds by filling out one quick online form or calling the live support team! Because every group trip is different, prices vary—so read below to learn what affects your rate and how to score our best deals.
For special deals, call us! Call (515) 815-6330
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 Ames
- Up to 56passengers on one charter bus, plus minibuses and vans
How To Get Your Quote
How to Get Ames Charter Bus Prices in 30 Seconds
We help you compare live availability, interior pictures, and transparent bus types from one of the largest networks of independent bus companies in Ames and all of Iowa with no account needed! Simply enter your travel date, passenger count, and pickup spot into our 30-second quote tool, and you'll instantly receive personalized pricing right on your screen and straight to your phone via text and email.
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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 Ames, 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 (515) 815-6330
Our Pricing & Rates
Ames 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 Ames. 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 (515) 815-6330 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 Ames Dates: When Prices and Minimums Go Up
Just like hotels and flights, Ames bus rental rates and hourly minimums go up when local demand spikes for Iowa State University move-in week, graduation, spring prom weekends, and sold-out Cyclones football Saturdays at Jack Trice Stadium! Because multiple operators in our network compete for your trip, locking in your reservation early ensures you beat high single-fleet peak rates for events at Stephens Auditorium or the Iowa State Fair down I-35.
| Peak Date | Date or Season |
|---|---|
| Iowa State Cyclones Football Home Games | October 31, November 14 & November 28, 2026 |
| Iowa State Cyclones Men's Basketball Home Games | November 6, 2026 – March 6, 2027 |
| Iowa Wild Hockey Home Games | Through April 2027 |
| Iowa Wolves Basketball Home Games | November 6, 2026 – March 2027 |
| Iowa Cubs Baseball Home Games | March 30 – September 2027 |
| Iowa Boys' State Basketball Tournament | March 8–12, 2027 |
| Drake Relays | April 21–24, 2027 |
| Iowa State Fair | August 12–22, 2027 |
| Des Moines Civic Center Broadway Series | December 2026 – August 2027 |
| 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 Ames Charter Bus Prices?
Amescharterbuscompany.com will help you book with total confidence by bundling the cost of your vehicle, a driver, and fuel into one upfront quote with zero hidden fees! Outside trip expenses like oversized vehicle parking passes at the Iowa State Center, highway tolls, driver hotel rooms on multi-day trips are simply paid separately as you go.
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 Ames Bus Rentals
Give yourself peace of mind by locking in your favorite vehicle right on the national booking platform with an upfront deposit, while your remaining balance isn't due until closer to your departure date! After you pay online, our dedicated confirmation department calls you directly to verify every pickup, drop-off, and stop on your Ames itinerary so nothing is missed.
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 Ames Charter Bus Prices
View instant online quotes tailored to your exact headcount, schedule, and route in under 30 seconds, or reach out to us to customize a package that fits YOUR budget! Because Amescharterbuscompany.com isn't a local bus company limited to a single lot, you can easily adjust any of the six factors below to get the right ride at the right price.
Factor 1: The Size of Bus You Book
Amescharterbuscompany.com is how you compare every vehicle size in one quick search, from 11- to 14-passenger sprinter vans and 15- to 35-passenger minibuses to 15- to 50-passenger party buses and full-size 56-passenger charter buses! Smaller shuttles cost less per hour for quick campus loops along Lincoln Way, while full-size motorcoaches with onboard restrooms and undercarriage luggage bays often deliver the lowest cost per person for large rosters.
Factor 2: The Distance and Duration of Your Trip
Amescharterbuscompany.com is ready to build hourly, one-way, round-trip, split-time, or multi-day packages around your exact timeline! Local trips around Campustown, Main Street, and Reiman Gardens are typically billed by the hour with a standard 2- to 5-hour windows, whereas long-distance trips down I-35 to Des Moines or across I-80 are priced by the day or total mileage. If you don't need the full hourly minimum for a quick one-way transfer, just call the 365-day team to ask about below-minimum phone deals and exclusive discounts!
Factor 3: Your Starting City
Planning a pickup outside of Story County can affect your quote if a vehicle has to travel empty from its home base to reach your starting address—a factor known in the industry as "deadhead" mileage. Thankfully, our network covers Ames, the cities around it, and all of Iowa, including Boone, Nevada, Ankeny, and Marshalltown! By matching you with an independent operator already stationed near your pickup spot, we keep deadhead costs down and even make same-day bus rentals a breeze.
Factor 4: The Travel Fees on Your Route
Amescharterbuscompany.com keeps your quote 100% transparent by separating external venue and road fees from your base rental rate! Depending on your itinerary, you'll simply budget separately for out-of-state turnpike tolls or pre-arranged oversized bus parking passes at destinations like Hilton Coliseum or Des Moines International Airport (DSM).
Factor 5: Your Driver's Shifts and Hotel
If your group is booking an overnight tournament trip or a multi-day tour across the Midwest, you'll need to provide a comfortable 3-star (or better) hotel room so your driver can rest up! For marathon trips that require non-stop overnight driving, Amescharterbuscompany.com can also arrange a second relief driver to keep your bus rolling safely on schedule.
Factor 6: Which Day You Ride
Ready to compare weekday vs. weekend rates for your Ames group transportation? Friday and Saturday nights see the highest demand for wedding shuttles and game-day buses, so scheduling your school field trip or corporate outing on a Monday through Thursday can unlock lower hourly rates and shorter minimums!
Ways to Save
Top 5 Ways to Save on Your Ames 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 (515) 815-6330 and we can often set up less time, a one-way, split time or a custom package.
Sample Trips
Examples of Ames Charter Bus Quotes
Below are sample quotes to help you plan your trip.
Example #1: Executive Team to DSM
A Ames-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 Ankeny and Boone, 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 Ames airport transportation shuttle bus through Amescharterbuscompany.com instead.
- Itinerary
- 5:30 AM pickup in Ankeny, 6:00 AM second stop in Boone, 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: Stephens Auditorium Concert Night
A group of 35 friends from Ankeny is heading to a sold-out show at Stephens Auditorium. The roads back into Ames after a late concert are not something anyone wants to navigate. The group decided to find and book a Ames concert charter bus rental through Amescharterbuscompany.com, keeping everyone together from the first pregame drink to the last encore.
- Itinerary
- 5:30 PM pickup in Ankeny, 6:30 PM arrival at Stephens Auditorium, 11:30 PM post-show return to Ankeny
- 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: the Amana Colonies Day Trip
A Ames tech company is rewarding its 40-person sales team with a day trip to the Amana Colonies. Rather than splitting into a caravan of rental cars for a Friday day trip, the company decided to find and book a Ames corporate charter bus rental through Amescharterbuscompany.com. Everyone boards together downtown, the group rides together on a bus booked through Amescharterbuscompany.com, and arrives ready to explore.
- Itinerary
- 6:30 AM pickup at the company's downtown Ames office, 9:00 AM arrival at the Amana Colonies, 4:30 PM departure, 7:00 PM return to Ames
- 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 Boone 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 Ames sporting event party bus rental through Amescharterbuscompany.com, keeping the pregame energy going from the first pickup to the stadium gate.
- Itinerary
- 11:00 AM pickup in Boone, 12:30 PM arrival at Jack Trice Stadium, 5:30 PM post-game pickup and return to Boone
- 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 Ames Charter Bus Prices
Not sure what you need? Let us help! Just call us at (515) 815-6330, every single day of the year.
Contact usCan I get a quote even if I don't have my final headcount or exact stops yet?
Yes, absolutely! You only need an estimated passenger count, your travel date, and your pickup city to use our 30-second online quote tool—with no account needed and no obligation to book. The live support team is also available 365 days a year to walk you through different vehicle sizes and price ranges over the phone. As your Ames itinerary comes together, we'll happily update your package and confirm every stop before departure!
Why is comparing prices on Amescharterbuscompany.com better than calling one local bus company?
Amescharterbuscompany.com is a bus rental comparison website, not a single local fleet—and that's the whole point! Instead of being stuck with whatever one company happens to have parked in its lot (and paying their high peak rates), one quick form connects you to a massive network of independent Iowa operators competing for your business. You get the widest selection of party buses, minibuses, and charter buses at competitive prices in under 30 seconds!
What if I only need a bus for a quick one-way transfer and not the full hourly minimum?
While most bus rentals have a standard 2- to 5-hour windows, you should always call our 365-day reservation specialists directly if you need less time! Whether you're arranging a quick airport shuttle from DSM down US-30 or a fast one-way transfer between a downtown hotel and Prairie Moon Winery, our agents can check for split-time packages and below-minimum rates. We love offering custom packages and exclusive phone discounts that you won't always see in standard online searches. Just reach out and let us earn your business!
How can our group lower the cost of our Ames charter bus rental?
The easiest ways to save money on your Ames bus rental are to book early before peak ISU weekends sell out, travel on a weekday (Monday through Thursday) when hourly minimums are lower, and choose a bus size that matches your exact headcount without paying for empty seats! You can also minimize "deadhead" mileage by starting your trip in a major hub and asking your venue about free oversized vehicle staging near US-30 or Duff Avenue. Sharing your quote link via text and email makes it super easy to split the per-person cost across your entire group. Plus, calling the live support team directly is a great way to unlock special seasonal promotions and multi-bus bundle deals!
Are same-day or last-minute bus rentals more expensive in Ames?
Last-minute plans don't have to break your budget when you tap into one of the largest networks of independent bus companies in Ames and all of Iowa through one of America's largest national booking platforms! Because so many providers serve the area, we can quickly locate an open minibus, party bus, or 56-passenger motorcoach for the very same day without gouging you on price. Fill out our 30-second form or call the 24/7 team right away to see live same-day availability and lock in your ride in minutes!
Book With Amescharterbuscompany.com!
Get Ames Charter Bus Prices Now!
With one quick form, you'll see live photos, amenities, and Ames charter bus prices in under 30 seconds—with no account needed and a copy sent straight to your text and email! Compare your options online right now or call the 365-day support team to grab a custom package and hit the road with confidence.