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Why Rent a Bus in Burlington?

Burlington's downtown in winter

Because Vermont takes pride in preserving nature, you won’t find large cities or expansive public transit here. Although Burlington has public buses, you may need to rely on rideshares or a private bus to reach all of your destinations. Check out your travel options to decide what’s best for your group: 

  • Green Mountain Transit: GMT mainly provides buses to help people commute to work throughout the Burlington area. Tickets are affordable at $1.50-$2 per ride depending on the route, but you’ll need to share the bus with other travelers and figure out a way to get your large group to the correct bus stops.
  • Uber/Lyft: Although Uber and Lyft operate in Burlington, you probably won’t find as many drivers on the road as you will in larger cities. If you’re with a large group, finding enough cars for everyone will be tricky and can quickly become expensive.
  • Taxis: When you book in advance with a local taxi service, you’re guaranteed to have enough cars for your group. However, you’ll still need to split your group into multiple cars and pay for each one, which can get pricey.
  • Charter buses: When you book a charter bus from a company like Shofur, you’ll pay in advance so you don’t have to worry about unexpectedly high prices. You’ll also have privacy and relaxing amenities like WiFi and reclining seats. That said, prices for buses can vary depending on demand and availability, so make sure you call us at 1-800-436-8719 for a quote before you book.

Comparing Burlington Group Transportation

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Personal, professional driver

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Curbside drop-off

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On-board climate controls

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On-board entertainment

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Nationwide access

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Tailored to your schedule

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One vehicle for your entire group

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1-800-436-8719 Call Us Today to Rent a Charter Bus - Available 24/7

Field Trips in Burlington

Shelburne Museum lighthouse

Once you’ve booked your transportation, you’re ready to visit Burlington’s museums and historic buildings on your next field trip. One of the city’s most famous attractions is the Ethan Allen Homestead Museum, where the Revolutionary War hero lived until his death in 1789. The museum now features exhibits about Abenaki spirituality, life in the 18th century, Vermont’s famous “paper towns,” and the gang of outlaws known as the Green Mountain Boys.

To combine learning about history with learning about art, head over to the Shelburne Museum, which houses more than 150,000 works of American folk and decorative art. The art is spread across 39 buildings on the shores of Lake Champlain, and 25 of the buildings are historic. Your students can see pottery, weathervanes, and paintings by Grandma Moses before taking part in a guided workshop led by museum educators.

If you teach science, ask your bus driver to drop you off at the ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. At this science and nature museum, your students can meet more than 70 species of fish, reptiles, insects, and amphibians. You’ll also find exhibits that explore other branches of science, like the physics-focused Awesome Forces and Engineer It, which features hands-on building challenges for kids.

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum

Address: 1 Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington, VT 05408

Charter bus parking: Ethan Allen Homestead Museum has its own large parking lot where your bus can fit.

Shelburne Museum

Address: 6000 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482

Charter bus parking: The Shelburne Museum has a large parking lot, and the official site says buses are welcome to park there.

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

Address: 1 College St, Burlington, VT 05401

Charter bus parking: Public parking is usually available behind the museum or across the street.

Colleges in Burlington

University of Vermont

Though Burlington isn’t just a college town, it is the home of the University of Vermont, a public research university that’s the largest school in the state and the 5th-oldest college in New England. Today, the University of Vermont is known for its business, environmental studies, and nursing programs and its beautiful campus filled with trees and historic buildings.

Burlington also provides a home for Champlain College, a small private school with a focus on career-ready majors like computer science, cybersecurity, and accounting. If you’d like to take your students to tour these schools or others throughout New England, Shofur can provide a bus with free WiFi and comfortable seats for your road trip.

Champlain College and the University of Vermont also feature conference centers that welcome many business travelers each year. The Champlain College Conference & Event Center provides meeting rooms overlooking Lake Champlain that can hold anywhere from 5-500 people, and the Davis Center at the University of Vermont offers ballrooms and meeting rooms in an environmentally-friendly building.

Davis Center at University of Vermont

Address: 590 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401

Charter bus parking: There are several visitors’ lots at the university. You can book parking for your bus online or by calling 802-656-5665.

Champlain College Conference & Event Center

Address: 375 Maple St, Burlington, VT 05401

Charter bus parking: Limited visitor parking is available on campus, and you can reserve parking online for your bus.

1-800-436-8719 Call Us Today to Rent a Charter Bus - Available 24/7

Outdoor Living in Burlington

Oakledge Park on Lake Champlain shoreline

Whether you’re in Burlington for a field trip, a business conference, or a wedding, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to get outside and experience Burlington’s beautiful natural surroundings. If you like to walk, run, or cycle, the Burlington Greenway Bike Path along the shore of Lake Champlain is a great place to start exploring.

The bike path runs past two of the city’s most popular parks, Oakledge and Waterfront. Oakledge Park offers two large shelters where your group can have a picnic, two public beaches, and a playground and tree house for children. Waterfront Park is the home for many of Burlington’s music and food festivals and provides easy access to the ECHO museum and the Lake Champlain Sailing Center, where you can rent a boat if you’d like to get out on the water.

Oakledge Park

Address: 35 Island Line Trail, Burlington, VT 05401

Charter bus parking: Oakledge Park offers parking for $2 per hour from sunrise to sunset for the months of May through October. You’ll pay at a kiosk when you park your bus.

Waterfront Park

Address: 4 College St, Burlington, VT 05401

Charter bus parking: Parking is available in the Pease Lot for $3 an hour from May to October. From November to April, the park charges a flat rate of $5 for parking from sunrise to sunset.

Skiing and Snowboarding Around Burlington

Stowe ski lodge surrounded by mountains

Thanks to the proximity of the beautiful Green Mountains, you’ll find many ski resorts within an hour or two of Burlington. Rent a charter bus to carry your group up to Bolton Valley, known for its ski school, acres of backcountry skiing, and views of Lake Champlain. Or head to Smugglers’ Notch, another great option for families with a ski school, an arcade, a snow-tubing hill, and three mountains divided by level. 

If you’re looking for challenging trails and the most traditional, charming ski lodges you can imagine, head to Stowe, which features 116 trails spread over a 3,625-foot mountain. Groups who love a challenging skiing experience can head to Mad River Glen, which doesn’t use snow-making machines and still preserves its historical single-chair ski lift. No matter which resort you choose, Shofur can provide safe, heated transportation to the lodge for your ski group.

Bolton Valley

Address: 4302 Bolton Valley Access Rd, Richmond, VT 05477

Charter bus parking: Ample parking is available near the main lodge.

Smugglers’ Notch Resort

Address: 4323 VT-108, Jeffersonville, VT 05464

Charter bus parking: You can park your bus near the Village Center and Meeting House.

Stowe

Address: 5781 Mountain Rd, Stowe, VT 05672

Charter bus parking: There’s free parking throughout the village of Stowe. Your bus can park there before your group boards a smaller shuttle up the mountain.

Mad River Glen

Address: 35-1 Schuss Pass, Waitsfield, VT 05673

Charter bus parking: Most people who ski here are either members of a ski club or book lodging on the mountain, so your bus should park near your motel or condo.

Explore Schools, Museums and the Outdoors in Burlington

Three young people sitting on mountain

Whether you want to tour the University of Vermont or experience the beauty of Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains, Shofur can help you explore Burlington on your schedule. Give us a call at 1-800-436-8719 to start planning your group trip to Vermont today.

1-800-436-8719 Call Us Today to Rent a Charter Bus - Available 24/7

Prices for Charter Buses and Minibuses in Burlington

Vehicles Passengers Luggage Hourly Min Hrs
vehicle image

CHARTER BUS

57 55
$110 - $170
5
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MINI BUS

25 7
$105 - $160
5

Frequently Asked Questions

The answer is: it depends. When you call one of our 24/7 reservation specialists with your trip details, they will build a quote for you based on a few factors, including how far you'll be traveling, which bus you rent, how many hours or days you will need the rental, and where and when you will be picked up. Depending on your trip itinerary, your rental cost will be broken down by hour, day, or mile.

You can learn more on our charter bus pricing page, and your reservation specialist will be happy to break down pricing further when you call.

Our network offers full-size charter buses, minibus rentals, and sprinter vans. Full-size charter bus rentals are great for larger groups or longer distance trips and can accommodate up to 56 passengers, while minibus rentals work well for medium-sized groups of 12 to 25 passengers. Groups even smaller than that can rent a sprinter van, which comfortably accommodates up to 12 people.

Visit our buses page to learn more about the charter bus options available in Shofur's network.

Every bus model in our network comes with their own special amenities and capabilities, including but not limited to:

  • WiFi and/or power outlets
  • A/C and heating
  • TV monitors and a DVD player
  • Onboard restrooms
  • AM/FM radio
  • Overhead storage bins
  • Luggage bays
  • ADA accessible features

If you have a specific amenity request, be sure to let your reservation specialist know and they will be happy to work with you to find the best bus for your group.

When you call to get a free, no-obligation quote, you will get a number that is transparent and all-inclusive. Below is a list of components your quote covers:

  • The bus itself
  • A professional charter bus driver
  • The bus's mileage and fuel
  • Insurance
  • Tolls
  • Processing fees

Remember that your quote will not include certain aspects that are out of Shofur's control or at your own discretion, such as:

  • Gratuity for your driver (at your discretion, typically 5-10% of the total cost of the rental)
  • Parking fees
  • Lodging for your driver (required for multi-day trips)

No. Your professional, trained, and highly experienced charter bus driver will take care of all the driving so you can sit back and relax during your journey. Each charter bus driver has undergone numerous background checks and driving tests to ensure their safety and expertise.

Yes. A fee of 10% of the total cost of the trip is due at the time of your booking.

Your rental will need to be paid in full 7 days before your trip date.

Most charter bus providers will allow you to drink on your bus. However, be sure to let your reservation specialist know so that they can determine for sure. Also, be mindful about not leaving a mess behind, or you may be subject to a cleaning fee that is usually $250.