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Charter Bus Prices in National City

National City Charter Bus is your go-to charter bus company in National City and San Diego County for fast, affordable, and transparent charter bus pricing! We make it simple to get the exact bus you need at a price you can afford—whether you're heading to a Padres game at Petco Park, organizing a corporate shuttle downtown, or planning a school trip to Balboa Park. Our fleet includes everything from 18-passenger minibuses to 56-passenger full-size coaches, so you'll always have the perfect vehicle for your group size and budget. Call our team anytime at 858-786-3420 to get an instant quote on your next charter bus rental in National City!

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

The cost of a charter bus rental in National City typically ranges from $1,890 to $3,710+ for multi-day trips, with shorter local rentals averaging $1,500–$2,400 per day. Minibuses are slightly less expensive, averaging $1,200–$2,000 per day. Final pricing depends on trip length, mileage, vehicle type, and exact itinerary. You can easily get an instant online quote in under 30 seconds using our charter bus pricing tool, or call our reservations team 24/7 at 858-786-3420 for personalized assistance and live charter bus prices. We make it simple to compare options and find the best solution for your budget!

What Factors Influence Charter Bus Pricing in National City?

There are several factors that will influence the final cost of your charter bus rental in National City:

  • Time of year: The time of year you book your trip will affect pricing. Peak season typically runs from April to June, when there are many proms, graduations, and end-of-year school trips happening. If you book during this time, your rental may cost more than if you book during the slower fall and winter months.
  • Type and size of bus: Larger buses such as 56-passenger motorcoaches generally cost more than smaller minibuses because they require more fuel and maintenance. However, if you have a large group, splitting the cost among passengers can make a larger bus more economical per person.
  • Number of days: Most charter bus companies charge by the day. The longer your trip, the higher the total cost will be.
  • Distance traveled: Some trips are charged by the mile instead of by the day. Longer trips with more mileage will increase the overall price.
  • Pickup location: If your trip starts in an area without easy access to available buses, you may incur an additional fee called deadhead. This covers the cost of getting the bus from its garage to your pickup location.

Sample Trip Pricing Examples

To give you a better idea of what to expect, here are some sample trip scenarios with estimated pricing. Please note that these are examples only—your actual price may vary based on current availability, exact itinerary, and other factors. For exact pricing please use our online quote tool or call our reservations team at 858-786-3420.

Example #1

18 passenger minibus rental

A local elementary school is planning a field trip for 40 students and 5 chaperones (total 45 passengers) from their campus in National City to Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma. They will need a 56-passenger charter bus with standard amenities. The trip will be a single-day outing, departing at 8:00 AM and returning by 3:00 PM. Total round-trip mileage is approximately 30 miles.

Estimated cost: $1,495

Example #2

56 passenger charter bus

A technology company is providing a daily commuter shuttle for its employees from a central pickup location in National City to their office building in downtown San Diego. They will run one minibus (seating up to 28 passengers) each weekday for a period of one month (22 operating days). The distance between pickup and drop-off is 8 miles each way (16 miles round trip), with two trips per day (morning and evening).

Estimated cost: $24,200 ($1,100 per day x 22 days)

Example #3

56 passenger coach bus

A couple is hosting their wedding at a beachfront venue in Coronado and needs transportation for guests staying at hotels in National City. They will rent a 25-passenger minibus to run continuous loops between three hotel locations and the venue over the course of one afternoon and evening (total rental time: 8 hours). Estimated total mileage for the day is 40 miles.

Estimated cost: $1,360 ($170 per hour x 8 hours)

Example #4

18 passenger minibus

A high school football team (including players, coaches, and staff—total 50 people) needs transportation to a weekend tournament in Los Angeles. They will depart from National City on Friday afternoon, stay two nights at a hotel near the tournament site, and return home Sunday evening. The team requires a full-size charter bus with luggage storage. Round-trip distance is 260 miles.

Estimated cost: $6,000 ($2,000 per day x 3 days)

Example #5

20 passenger minibus

A local nonprofit organization is organizing a day trip to the San Diego Zoo for 32 participants. They will rent a 35-passenger minibus for the occasion. The group will leave National City in the morning, spend the day at the zoo, and return in the evening. Total round-trip mileage is 20 miles.

Estimated cost: $1,100

Example #6

25 passenger minibus

A church is hosting a weekend retreat in Julian, California, and needs to transport 60 members of its congregation. They will charter a 56-passenger bus and a supplementary 20-passenger minibus to accommodate everyone. The retreat lasts from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. Round-trip mileage is 120 miles.

Estimated cost: $5,400 ($2,000 per day for charter bus + $800 per day for minibus x 2 days)

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