Williamsburg is a two-for-one trip, with Busch Gardens for the coasters and Colonial Williamsburg for the history, and both are about three hours from Alexandria. That distance is exactly why a group should bus it rather than caravan, since a string of cars on I-64 loses each other and arrives in pieces. A charter bus rental carries everyone together, drops at the gates, and brings the group home as a unit after a long day. Charter Bus Alexandria books and dispatches these trips out of Alexandria every week.
This guide is for the schools, youth groups, family crews, and clubs heading to Busch Gardens or Colonial Williamsburg from the Alexandria area. It covers the drive and drop-off, pairing the two attractions, choosing a vehicle, and what the trip costs. Call 703-705-7785 to set a date, or request a free quote for a price.
The Drive and the Drop-Off
Williamsburg sits about 150 miles and two and a half to three hours south of Old Town Alexandria down I-95 and I-64. On a run that long the comfort of a single vehicle matters, and the parking at Busch Gardens and the Colonial Williamsburg visitor center is far from where the group needs to be. A bus drops at the gates, stages nearby, and returns to the same spot, so the group walks straight in and meets in one place at the end.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg
1 Busch Gardens Blvd, Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757) 229-4386
buschgardens.com
Colonial Williamsburg
101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185
(888) 965-7254
colonialwilliamsburg.org
Pairing the Two Attractions
Because the drive is long, most groups pick one main attraction per day rather than trying to do both in a few hours. Busch Gardens is a full day of coasters and shows, while Colonial Williamsburg is a full day of living history. School groups often build the trip around one, with the bus handling the drive and the parking. If you have an overnight, the two pair naturally across two days, and we can plan the transportation around either model.
Best Times to Visit
Busch Gardens runs big seasonal events that change the feel of a visit. Summer is full operation with every coaster and show, fall brings the after-dark Howl-O-Scream along with a family-friendly daytime version, and the winter Christmas Town lights up the park late in the year. Colonial Williamsburg keeps its own calendar of reenactments and seasonal programs. Picking the date around the event you want is half the planning, and once the date is set the bus is the easy part. Tell us the day and the group size and we work the pickup back from your gate time.
Which Bus Fits the Group
The long drive points toward a full-size coach for any sizable group, with the restroom and reclining seats a three-hour run rewards.
| Vehicle | Seats | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 20-passenger minibus | Up to 20 | A small group or a single class |
| 35-passenger minibus | 15 to 35 | A class with chaperones or a club |
| 56-passenger charter bus | 50 to 56 | A grade level or a big group, restroom for the drive |
| school bus | Varies | Budget-friendly for a local school trip |
For the highway run the onboard restroom earns its keep. Compare every size on our buses page, and our school trip transportation page covers school-organized trips.
What It Costs and When to Book
How much a Williamsburg charter bus rental costs comes down to the vehicle size, the hours, and the round-trip distance, which is real on a three-hour run. Expect it to price above a closer trip simply because of the miles. As a rough guide, a minibus generally starts around $150 per hour and a full-size coach runs about $180 to $500 per hour, so a full day commonly lands in the range of roughly $1,500 to $3,800 depending on the size, the hours, and the distance. Our charter bus prices page shows ballpark ranges. Book early for spring and summer dates, and the fastest way to a real number is a quick 30-second quote.
Book Your Williamsburg Charter Bus
Get the group to Williamsburg together and turn a long drive into one easy ride, coasters or colonial history. For a closer park day, see our guide to Kings Dominion, or our roundup of things to do near Alexandria.
Call Charter Bus Alexandria at 703-705-7785 or request a free quote for your group. Our charter bus service team is available seven days a week to plan your trip.
