Coach Bus Prices: How Much Does a New Bedford Coach Bus Rental Cost?

Coach bus rentals are the largest and most expensive option in our fleet. These buses can seat up to 56 passengers and come equipped with premium amenities like reclining seats, onboard restrooms, TVs, DVD players, WiFi, power outlets, and luggage bays. In New Bedford, you can expect to pay $180 to $300 per hour or $2,000 to $3,800 per day for a coach bus rental. The exact price will depend on how many hours you need the bus, how far you’re traveling, and whether you’re booking during peak season (April-June) or off-season (December-February). For example, a 4-hour local charter from downtown New Bedford to UMass Dartmouth might cost around $1,400, while a full-day trip to Boston or Cape Cod could be $2,600-$3,200.

There are several factors that can affect the price of your coach bus rental in New Bedford:

• Trip Duration: Most companies charge by the hour for local trips (usually with a 4- or 5-hour minimum), and by the day for longer-distance or multi-day trips. The more hours you book, the higher the total cost—but the lower the hourly rate tends to be.
• Mileage: If you’re traveling outside of New Bedford—say, to Boston, Worcester, Providence, or Cape Cod—your quote will factor in the total number of miles driven. Long-distance trips may be priced as a flat daily rate plus mileage overages.
• Seasonality: Demand for charter buses peaks in the spring and early summer, when schools are booking field trips, sports teams are in playoff season, and wedding planners are scheduling shuttles. You’ll pay the highest rates from April through June, and the lowest rates in the winter months.
• Day of the Week: Weekend rentals (especially Saturdays) are more expensive than weekday rentals, due to higher demand from wedding parties and event organizers.
• Bus Size and Type: Larger buses cost more than smaller ones, and specialty vehicles like party buses or entertainer coaches command premium rates. Older models may be slightly cheaper than brand-new buses with the latest features.
• Optional Amenities: Standard amenities like A/C, reclining seats, and luggage storage are included in the base price. However, if you request extras like WiFi, power outlets, PA systems, or ADA-accessible lifts, there may be additional charges.
• Tolls and Parking: Any bridge tolls, highway tolls, or parking fees incurred during your trip are typically passed through to the customer at cost.
• Driver Accommodations: For overnight trips, you are responsible for providing a hotel room for the driver (minimum 3-star, single occupancy). This cost is not included in the rental quote.
• Gratuity: While not mandatory, it is customary to tip your driver 10-20% of the total rental cost for excellent service. Gratuities can be paid in cash at the end of the trip or added to your invoice.

New Bedford is a unique market because it sits at the intersection of several major highways (I-195, Route 140, US-6) and serves as a gateway to both southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This makes it a popular departure point for school field trips to Boston museums, corporate outings to Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun casinos, wedding shuttles to Cape Cod venues, and sports team travel to Providence or Worcester. The city’s proximity to the waterfront also means we frequently handle cruise transfers to the Port of New Bedford and ferry connections to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Local traffic patterns, especially around the Route 18 corridor and the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge, can impact scheduling and pricing. During peak summer months, congestion increases as tourists flock to the South Coast beaches and island ferries, which can affect travel times and availability. Additionally, New Bedford’s diverse population and active community calendar—featuring events like the New Bedford Folk Festival, Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, and Seaport Art Walk—drive consistent demand for group transportation year-round.

Whether you’re organizing a school trip to the Whaling Museum, a corporate retreat in Westport, or a family reunion at Fort Taber Park, New Bedford Coach Bus Service offers flexible packages tailored to your itinerary and budget. Our extensive fleet, local expertise, and commitment to customer satisfaction make us the top choice for charter bus rentals in New Bedford and beyond.