Field trip charter bus rentals made easy
Find the perfect charter bus for your school field trip
Field trips offer great learning opportunities for K-12 students, and a field trip bus rental from Bus.com is one of the safest and most efficient ways of getting your students where they need to be. Not only is traveling by bus extremely safe, but it requires fewer drivers and chaperones (compared to private vehicle transportation). A bus rental also allows you to keep an eye on your entire group in transit — an invaluable advantage for teachers.
Why Bus.com?
Safety measures for all trips
In order to better protect our customers and our bus partners, we have implemented new measures such as the disinfecting of buses between trips
Making a change? No problem
Bus.com customers benefit from a flexible change and cancellation policy, including no-fee changes and cancellations for most trips
Here for you 24/7
Our award-winning team of bus experts can offer custom solutions for you and your team — and our support team is can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Why do field trip organizers love Bus.com?
Experts in school group logistics
Looking after a group of young people isn't easy. Bus.com has years of expertise in transporting minors and possesses all appropriate licenses
Trip options for every budget
All teachers know that field trips are an enriching part of any educational experience. Our budget-friendly options ensure that they are accessible to all
Support for teachers and organizers
If the need to contact us ever arises during your trip, our friendly team can be reached by telephone at all hours of the day
Field trip organizers frequently asked questions
Are field trip bus rentals safe?
All Bus.com drivers and partners have undergone our thorough vetting process and possess valid, up-to-date licenses. We conform to all federal and state or provincial charter bus safety stipulations which includes US D.O.T regulations or regulations put forth by the Federal Government of Canada. Please contact us if you have any specific concerns about our safety procedures.
Do you offer accessible school buses?
Equal access for students with special needs to all educational activities is not just a legal requirement. We recognize that, as a teacher, you want every student to participate in field trips and share the opportunities with the group. If you require an accessible school bus for your bus rental, please let our 24/7 customer care team know as soon as possible so that we can find the right charter bus for your needs.
Do bus rentals have room for children's backpacks?
It depends on the charter bus. All coach buses comes standard with a spacious undercarriage compartments that can be used to store all kinds of luggage and equipment. If you rent a school bus for a field trip, certain models offer storage in the undercarriage — please contact us if you believe you may need a large storage area for your group’s cargo.
How many people fit on a bus?
From smallest to largest, the bus capacity numbers are: sprinter van (15), minibus (21), mini coach bus (32), school bus (47), and coach bus (55). Pro tip: when calculating the number of passengers that you have, don’t forget to include teachers, parents, and any other chaperones who may be present.
Do your buses come with a driver?
The majority of rentals from Bus.com are chauffeured, meaning they come with a fully-licensed professional bus driver. However, if you prefer to drive your group on your own, we do offer sprinter van rentals that do not come with a driver.
In addition to reserving a bus, can I also book hotel rooms?
Yes, you can visit our hotel reservation site to book hotel rooms for your group.
Do you offer bus rentals for overnight trips for my students?
Yes. When you rent a charter bus, it can be used for overnight trips. The most common charter bus type for this type of trip is the coach bus, as the trips tend to be longer. Please note that all of our drivers compile with all federal regulations, which mandates the amount of time that a driver is allowed to drive for without stopping. If your trip includes overnight stops, the cost of accommodations for your driver will be included in your bus rental price.
I have a question that is not answered here. Who can I talk to?
Bus.com’s support team is here for you 24/7. Please reach out by calling us 1-855-428-7266 or emailing us at [email protected] Also, don’t forget to check out our full FAQ to see if your question is answered there.
Which vehicle is right for my group?
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Types of grade-appropriate field trips
Preschool
Preschool field trips focus on fun, but they also deliver educational value. It is advisable not to travel with your preschoolers too far: stick to the distance within an hour's drive or shorter. Very young students get bored and homesick quickly. This is excellent news for your budget: a minimal package of 4-5 hours of the field trip bus rental is likely to cover your entire trip. You will be surprised how many preschool learning opportunities there are within just 30 minutes by bus! Here are a few field trip ideas: a local bakery, pet caring lessons at a nearby shelter, visiting a fire station, a library, a nursing home, an apple orchard, a local aquarium, a children's theater, a farm or a greenhouse nursery, a pumpkin patch. Many of them are free to visit.
Elementary
Do you have a smaller group and a destination within 2.5 hours of driving? Renting one of our minibuses is a great option for short trips taken by small groups. Mini coaches, which are a smaller version of the coach bus, are also another option for small groups who are looking for the highest comfort level available. While mini coaches are great for hops across your town, they particularly excel at longer trips.
Middle school
A day field trip can vary in length from a few hours to a full day, and can be an academic field trip to showcase the concepts you study in class, or an extracurricular field trip to introduce new interests and incite the imagination. Food banks, shelters, recycling plants, environmental facilities, museums, plays, or even a sports arena backstage can make for great middle school field trips. While sitting on the bus together or working on the activities, your students will improve their teamwork and communication skills, too.
High school
Experiential learning through high school field trips can help to shape values and impact the future of students. By being exposed to life experiences that can't be replicated in the classroom, working through them as a group, and processing the impressions with your guidance, they can learn real-world skills or connect to an interest that will become their future profession. Hospitals, the mayor's office, laboratories, assisted living facilities, community services, animal farms, and local businesses can make meaningful and useful high school field trips.
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