If you’re planning group transportation in Utah County, one of the first questions you’ll need answered is: how many seats are on a charter bus? Whether you’re shuttling tech employees to Silicon Slopes, taking students from Lehi High School to a science day at Thanksgiving Point, or organizing a wedding party transfer between venues in American Fork and Saratoga Springs, knowing your headcount helps you book the right size vehicle. Here at Charter Bus Rental Lehi, we offer a variety of bus sizes—from intimate 18-passenger minibuses to full-size 56-passenger motorcoaches—to serve every type of trip and group.
Call us anytime at 385-746-6060 to get a quick quote for your next charter bus rental in Lehi! Our reservation team will help you find the perfect bus with enough seats and all the amenities your passengers need!
Most standard charter buses seat between 40 and 56 passengers, depending on the model. At Charter Bus Rental Lehi, our most popular large coach is the 56-passenger motorcoach, which can comfortably transport an entire sports team (plus coaches and gear) or a big corporate group. If you have a smaller group or want something more compact for tight parking lots or city streets, minibuses come in 15-, 18-, 25-, and 35-passenger configurations. We even have sprinter vans for 10–15 people and party buses for 10–50 people if you’re looking for something fun for nights out or bachelor/ette parties.
When you call our team, let us know your passenger count, itinerary, and any special requests. We’ll make sure you get a bus rental with enough seats for everyone—and the flexibility to add extra vehicles if your headcount grows later.
The largest vehicles in our fleet are the 56-passenger charter buses, similar to what you might see transporting BYU fans to LaVell Edwards Stadium or hauling convention attendees from Salt Lake City International Airport to the Mountain America Expo Center. These spacious coaches are built for long-distance comfort, offering high-back reclining seats, climate control, overhead luggage racks, undercarriage storage bays, and often an onboard restroom. They’re ideal for school field trips, band competitions, multi-day tours to Moab or Zion National Park, and any event where you want to keep a big group together on one vehicle.
Smaller “full-size” options include 47- and 50-passenger buses, which have nearly all the same amenities but sacrifice a few rows of seats for extra legroom or cargo space. Some models offer features like WiFi, power outlets, DVD players with flat-screen monitors, and PA systems—just ask when booking if you need anything specific for your passengers.
If a 56-passenger coach seems like overkill, our mid-size minibuses are a great middle ground. The 35-passenger minibus is perfect for company retreats to Sundance Resort, church youth group outings to Lagoon Amusement Park, or shuttling wedding guests between hotels and reception venues. With forward-facing cushioned seats, air conditioning, and optional extras like TVs and aux-capable sound systems, these buses provide a smooth ride without the bulk of a full-size coach.
Our 28- and 25-passenger minibuses are slightly smaller but just as comfortable, making them popular for airport transfers, campus shuttles around UVU or BYU, and offsite meeting transportation. They’re easy to maneuver through downtown Provo or the narrow roads near Bridal Veil Falls, yet still offer plenty of room for carry-on bags and personal items.
For groups that don’t fill a whole classroom or boardroom, our smallest minibuses seat 18 or 15 passengers. These are commonly used for private wine tours in Utah Valley, birthday party transportation, or small business teams attending conferences in Salt Lake. Despite their compact size, they feature plush seating, tinted windows, and enough aisle space for everyone to board and exit quickly. They also fit easily into hotel driveways or event center parking lots, making them a practical choice for short-distance shuttles or last-mile connections to public transit hubs.
When you need something even cozier than a minibus, our sprinter vans seat 10 to 15 people in a luxury van-style layout. These are perfect for executive airport transfers, VIP client pickups, or family trips to ski resorts like Snowbird or Alta. Sprinters have leather captain’s chairs, individual reading lights, USB charging ports, and high-roof designs for easy standing room. They handle Utah’s mountain roads and city traffic with equal ease, offering a premium alternative to rideshares or rental cars for small-group travel.
If your main goal is to celebrate on the road, our party buses turn any journey into an event. Sizes range from intimate 10-passenger limos to rolling nightclubs that hold up to 50 people. Inside, you’ll find wraparound leather seating, color-changing LED lights, dance poles, Bluetooth sound systems, coolers for drinks, and sometimes even karaoke machines or mirrored ceilings. Party buses are the top choice for bachelorette parties, prom nights, milestone birthdays, or bar crawls in downtown Salt Lake City or Park City’s Main Street. Just remember that open containers are only allowed when the bus stays in motion—check local laws if you plan to drink onboard.
While those are the standard seat counts, the exact number of passengers a charter bus can carry may vary based on a few factors:
Bus Model: Different manufacturers (like MCI, Prevost, Van Hool, Temsa) build coaches with slightly different dimensions and floorplans. A 56-passenger MCI J4500 might feel roomier than a similar-sized Van Hool CX45, for example, due to seat pitch or aisle width.
Onboard Amenities: Adding features like an ADA wheelchair lift, larger restroom, or expanded luggage racks can reduce the total seat count by taking up space that would otherwise fit another row. Always specify if you need accessible seating or extra storage when requesting a quote.
Local Regulations: Utah law requires that each passenger have a seatbelt if the bus is equipped with them (most modern coaches are), and standing-room-only travel is not permitted on intercity routes. For school trips or youth groups, you may need additional adult chaperones per district policy, which could affect how many kids you can bring.
Luggage Needs: If your group is bringing skis, instruments, or other bulky gear, you might want to leave a few seats empty so there’s room to store everything safely. Our team can advise you on how much cargo each bus can handle.
Picking the best charter bus isn’t just about filling every seat—it’s about matching the vehicle to your route, schedule, and passenger expectations. Here are some tips to get it right:
Count Heads Carefully: Always confirm your guest list before booking, and round up if you expect last-minute additions. It’s better to have a few empty seats than to leave someone behind or cram three to a double bench. If your numbers are uncertain, ask about reserving a backup minibus or splitting the group across two vehicles.
Consider Comfort: For longer trips (over an hour), passengers will appreciate a little extra elbow room. Renting a 56-passenger bus for 45 people lets everyone spread out and gives you space for snacks, games, or workstations. On short hops between hotels and conference centers, a packed minibus is usually fine.
Plan for Luggage: Make sure there’s enough storage for suitcases, coolers, strollers, or whatever else your group needs to bring. Full-size coaches have huge undercarriage bays, while minibuses rely on overhead racks and trunk space. If in doubt, describe your cargo when you call and our team will recommend the right bus.
Match Bus Size to Venue: Check if your pickup and drop-off locations can accommodate a large coach. Some rural churches, mountain lodges, or downtown blocks have tight turns or limited parking. In those cases, multiple minibuses or sprinters might be easier to stage and load.
Customize Amenities: Beyond seat count, think about what will make the ride enjoyable. Do you need WiFi for remote work? TV screens for movie marathons? Cooler bins for tailgating? Each bus can be tailored to your group’s needs, so don’t hesitate to ask for upgrades or special setups.
To help you visualize which bus fits your occasion, here are some typical scenarios we handle in Lehi and surrounding cities:
56-Passenger Coach: Marching band trip from Pleasant Grove High School to State Championships in St. George; corporate retreat shuttle from Thanksgiving Point to Homestead Resort; senior citizen tour of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
35-Passenger Minibus: Wedding guest transportation between ceremony at Wadley Farms and reception at Highland Gardens; employee commuter shuttle from Eagle Mountain to Adobe’s Lehi campus; youth soccer team travel to tournaments in Ogden.
18-Passenger Minibus: Bachelor party bar crawl in downtown Salt Lake; private ski trip shuttle to Deer Valley; airport transfer for visiting executives staying at Traverse Ridge.
15-Passenger Sprinter Van: Small film crew transport to shooting locations in American Fork Canyon; church volunteer outing to Primary Children’s Hospital; family reunion day trip to Bear Lake.
25-Passenger Party Bus: Sweet 16 birthday bash with stops at Topgolf, Nickel Mania, and Fat Cats; New Year’s Eve ride to Salt Lake City’s Last Hurrah celebration; friends’ night out to concerts at USANA Amphitheatre.
No matter how many seats you need, Charter Bus Rental Lehi makes it simple to find the perfect bus for your next Utah group trip. Our online quoting tool delivers prices in about 30 seconds, and our 24/7 reservation specialists are always ready to answer questions or adjust your package. With 100+ vehicles in our statewide fleet, we serve Lehi, American Fork, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Highland, Alpine, and beyond—so your group can enjoy safe, reliable transportation anywhere in Utah.
Ready to book or need help deciding on the right bus size? Call 385-746-6060 now and let Charter Bus Rental Lehi simplify your group travel logistics!
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