Quick answer: A charter bus trip from Chicago’s south suburbs to another city usually runs 9 to 14 hours door to door. At our starting rates of $450 to $650 per hour, that puts most out-of-town day trips between $4,050 and $9,100 before gratuity, tolls and parking. Split across a full coach, that is roughly $100 to $180 per person for a round trip with no driving, no parking and no one stuck behind the wheel.

Written by the Emily’s Limousine Service team. We are based in Orland Park and have run our own 35 to 57 passenger coaches across Chicago, the south suburbs and the Midwest for more than 25 years. The estimates below are built on our real starting rates.

Our charter bus cost guide covers local pricing in Chicago. This guide is about the trips that leave town: game days in South Bend and Green Bay, a weekend in the Wisconsin Dells, a company outing in Lake Geneva, or a group heading to a convention in Indianapolis.

Charter Bus Trips From Chicago: Cost by Destination

Every estimate starts from Orland Park and uses our starting hourly rates multiplied by a typical day length. The day length includes drive time both ways and the time your group spends at the destination.

All figures are estimates before gratuity (18 to 20%), tolls and parking. Long charters are often quoted as a full-day or multi-day package, so your final quote may come in with a single trip price instead of an hourly total. See our pricing page for every vehicle in the fleet.

Destination Guides

Charter Bus From Chicago to Notre Dame

Notre Dame game day is one of the most requested trips we run each fall. The drive is short enough for a day trip, and a coach lets your group tailgate, watch the game and ride home without anyone choosing between a beer and the car keys.

• Time zone: South Bend is on Eastern Time, one hour ahead of Chicago. Plan your departure from the kickoff time in Eastern Time, then subtract the hour.
• Tolls: The route uses the Indiana Toll Road, and bus tolls are higher than car tolls.
• Parking: Game day bus parking near the stadium is controlled and can carry a separate fee. We confirm the drop-off point and bus lot before the trip.
• Typical schedule: Leave the south suburbs about 5 hours before kickoff in Chicago time, allow 4 to 5 hours for tailgating and the game, and return after traffic clears.

Our sporting events transportation page covers college and pro game days across the region.

Chicago to Green Bay Charter Bus for Lambeau Field

A Bears and Packers game at Lambeau is a bucket-list trip for a lot of Chicago fans. It is also the longest day trip on this list. With roughly 4 hours each way plus tailgating and the game, a Green Bay day runs about 14 hours.

That matters because of federal driver-hour rules. A bus driver cannot drive after 15 hours on duty, and time spent waiting with the bus counts toward that limit. A 14-hour day fits, but there is little room for a late finish or bad weather. For that reason, many groups choose one of two options:

• Overnight in Green Bay: Leave the day before or stay the night after the game. The group covers the driver’s hotel room, and the schedule becomes relaxed instead of tight.
• Relief driver: For a same-day trip with no slack in the schedule, a second driver can be added to the quote.

Heading to Soldier Field instead? Our Bears game bus rental guide covers home games in Chicago.

Charter Bus Chicago to Milwaukee

Milwaukee is an easy 2-hour run up I-94, which makes it a natural choice for Brewers and Bucks games, festivals on the lakefront, brewery tours and company outings. A 9-hour day gives a group about 5 hours on the ground.

For groups under 15, a Sprinter van rental is often the better value. At $180 per hour, a 9-hour Milwaukee day in our 14-passenger shuttle comes to about $1,620 before gratuity, compared with $4,050 for the smallest coach. Traveling with 6 or fewer? Our long distance car service covers Milwaukee in a luxury SUV or sedan.

Lake Geneva Group Trips

Lake Geneva works well for corporate retreats, golf outings, wedding weekends and family reunions. For the couple and wedding party, pair the guest coach with our wedding limo service. Many groups stay overnight at a resort, which turns the trip into two short transfers instead of one long day. Two separate transfers, one on arrival day and one on departure day, often cost less than keeping the coach for a full day.

Charter Bus Chicago to Indianapolis

Indianapolis draws Chicago groups for Colts games, conventions, youth sports tournaments and racing events. Like South Bend, Indianapolis is on Eastern Time, so arrival and check-in times need to be set one hour ahead of Chicago time. A 12-hour day trip fits within driver-hour limits, while tournament weekends usually work best as an overnight package.

Wisconsin Dells Bus Trips

The Dells are about 3.5 hours away, and most groups go for water parks and resorts that are worth more than one day. We quote these as multi-day packages that include the drive up, local runs during the stay if needed, and the trip home. School groups, church youth groups, sports teams and family reunions are the most common Dells charters.

Day Trip or Overnight? How to Decide

Federal hours-of-service rules for passenger carriers shape every long trip. A driver can drive a maximum of 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty and cannot drive after 15 hours on duty. Here is how that plays out:

On overnight trips, the group covers the driver’s hotel room. That cost is usually small next to the comfort of an unhurried schedule.

Choosing the Right Vehicle for an Out-of-Town Trip

• Up to 14 passengers: A 14-passenger Sprinter shuttle or our 10-passenger Executive Jet Sprinter for corporate travel.
• 15 to 35 passengers: Our 35-passenger coach, which has luggage space for weekend trips.
• 36 to 57 passengers: A 50, 51, 54 or 57 passenger coach from our coach bus rentals. The larger the coach, the lower the cost per seat when it is full.

Not sure which size fits? Our group transportation vehicle guide walks through every option, and our breakdown of coach bus and Sprinter van sizes covers seating, luggage and amenities.

Sample Notre Dame Game Day Timeline

Here is how a typical game day runs for a 3:30 PM Eastern kickoff, which is 2:30 PM Chicago time. All times below are Chicago time.

That is an 11-hour booking, which fits comfortably inside the driver-hour limits with room for a late finish.

What Your Charter Bus Quote Includes

A clear quote lists every cost before you book. Here is how each item is handled on an out-of-town trip:

What to Have Ready When You Request a Quote

• Travel date or dates, and whether the trip is a day trip or overnight
• Pickup address, plus any extra pickup stops
• Destination and venue, such as the stadium, hotel or convention center
• Arrival time you need, noting whether the destination is on Eastern Time
• Return time or the event end time
• Group size and how much luggage is coming
• Any planned stops for meals or restrooms on the way

With these details, we can confirm the right coach size, build a schedule inside driver-hour rules and give you an all-in price.

Who Books Out-of-Town Charters

• Alumni groups and fan clubs heading to college and pro game days
• Schools taking students on field trips, band trips and team tournaments
• Churches and youth groups traveling to retreats, camps and conferences
• Companies moving teams to conventions, retreats and client events. See our trade show and convention transportation guide.
• Families planning reunions, wedding weekends and milestone birthdays

How to Keep Out-of-Town Charter Costs Down

• Fill the seats. A full 57-passenger coach on an 11-hour Notre Dame day works out to about $125 per person. Half full, it doubles.
• Use transfers for overnight trips. If your group stays somewhere for two or three days and does not need the bus in between, two transfers usually cost less than keeping the coach for the whole stay.
• Book early for fall Saturdays. Football weekends in September through November fill first. Book 2 to 3 months ahead for game days.
• Keep the schedule realistic. A tight plan that runs past driver-hour limits forces a second driver or an overnight stay at the last minute.
• Compare all-in totals. Ask every operator to include gratuity, tolls and parking so you compare real prices.

Charter Bus Trips From Chicago FAQ

How much does a charter bus from Chicago to Notre Dame cost?
A typical 11-hour Notre Dame game day from the south suburbs costs about $4,950 in a 35-passenger coach and about $7,150 in a 57-passenger coach at our starting rates, before gratuity, tolls and parking.

Can a charter bus go from Chicago to Green Bay and back in one day?
Yes, but it is close to the limit. A Lambeau game day runs about 14 hours, and drivers cannot drive after 15 hours on duty. Many groups stay overnight or add a relief driver to keep the day stress free.

Who pays for the driver’s hotel on an overnight trip?
On overnight charters, the group covers the driver’s hotel room. It is listed on your quote so there are no surprises.

Do you run charter trips outside Illinois?
Yes. Our charter bus service regularly runs to Wisconsin, Indiana and other Midwest destinations, with schedules planned around federal driver-hour rules.

How far ahead should I book an out-of-town charter bus?
Book 6 to 8 weeks ahead for most trips and 2 to 3 months ahead for football weekends, graduation season and holiday travel.

Can you pick up from more than one suburb?
Yes. We can add pickups across Orland Park, Tinley Park, Frankfort, Mokena and other south suburbs. Each extra stop adds a little time to the day, which we build into the quote.

Is gratuity included in the price?
A standard chauffeur gratuity of 18 to 20% may be added unless it is already included in your quote. Your quote shows the full total before you book.

What is your deposit and cancellation policy?
A deposit reserves your coach and locks in your rate, and the balance is due before or on the day of service. Cancellations made with sufficient notice are eligible for a refund of the deposit, while late cancellations may be subject to a fee.

How can we pay?
We accept major credit cards and cash. Schools, churches and companies with a corporate account can be invoiced.

Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Emily’s Limousine Service is licensed and fully insured. Schools and organizations that need a certificate of insurance for trip approval can request one when they book.

Can we stop for food or restrooms on the way?
Yes. Tell us where you want to stop and we will build it into the schedule. Each stop adds a little time to the day, so we plan for it in your quote.

What happens if the game or event runs late?
Time beyond your booked hours is billed at the hourly rate, and the federal driver-hour limits still apply. That is why we build buffer time into long trips like Green Bay and Indianapolis.

Is there room for luggage on an overnight trip?
Yes. Our coaches carry luggage for weekend and overnight trips. Let us know how many bags your group is bringing so we can confirm the right coach.

Plan Your Out-of-Town Charter Bus Trip

Send us your destination, date, group size and the time you need to arrive, and we will build a schedule that fits the driver-hour rules and your budget. Request a free quote or call Emily’s Limousine Service in Orland Park at (312) 446-7505. We are available 24/7.