56 Passenger Charter Bus
venturacharterbuscompany.com is a comparison and referral website, not a local company. We do NOT own or operate vehicles. Use our online quote form to view pricing and vehicle choices from independent transportation providers through a national booking platform. Read more: terms and referral details
Santa Maria Charter Bus Rentals
Planning a group trip across the Central Coast and need a reliable, easy way to find the right bus? You've come to the right place! Venturacharterbuscompany.com lets you fill out one quick form and instantly compare vehicles and prices from a large network of charter bus companies serving Santa Maria, California — so you spend less time searching and more time looking forward to the ride. Call 805-602-5140 or get your free online quote right now!
The Simple Way to Rent a Charter Bus in Santa Maria
You'll love how simple it is to find group transportation through Venturacharterbuscompany.com! This is not a local bus company — it's a quote-comparison and referral website that brings a large network of independently owned transportation companies right to your screen, so you can compare vehicles, amenities, and prices all in one place without making a single phone call. Request the amenities you want — WiFi, reclining seats, a built-in bar, onboard restrooms — and compare pictures and prices side by side in seconds.
Buses are available for local trips around Santa Maria and long-distance runs up to San Luis Obispo, down to Santa Barbara, and beyond. No account is required, and a free quote is always available online or by phone at 805-602-5140. You fill out one quick form, land on a results page showing vehicles and pricing from a network of bus companies serving the area, and book right online in minutes.
It really is that easy!
Santa Maria Charter Bus Rental Options
Planning a trip for two dozen people or two hundred? Through this website, you can find minibuses, party buses, charter buses, sprinter vans, and school buses from a network of transportation companies serving Santa Maria and the entire Central Coast. Whatever your group size or event type, there is a bus in the network ready for it!
35 Passenger Minibus
30 Passenger Minibus
28 Passenger Minibus
25 Passenger Minibus
20 Passenger Minibus
18 Passenger Minibus
15 Passenger Minibus
15-50 Passenger Party Buses
Sprinter Van with Driver
Sprinter Limo
School Bus
Vehicles shown above are NOT the exact makes and models available for every trip. We are NOT a transportation company and do not own or operate vehicles. Photos are examples only and may show stock or typical vehicles, not the exact vehicle offered for your reservation. Fill out the online quote form or call 805-602-5140 to view current vehicle options, photos, availability, and pricing. Confirm the exact vehicle details and amenities before booking.
Relax With Modern Santa Maria Charter Bus Amenities
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Reclining Seats
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Onboard Restroom
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Individual Climate Control
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Onboard Wi-Fi
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Power Outlets
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Overhead Storage
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Under-Bus Luggage Storage
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TV Monitors
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PA System
Amenities listed above are common features that MAY be available on buses. Because we are a referral website and do NOT own or operate buses, exact features vary by vehicle, provider, and availability. After you submit your quote request, you can browse vehicle options, pricing, and available details on the results page. To confirm the exact amenities included with a specific vehicle offered for your trip, call 805-602-5140 before booking.
Get Bus Quotes So Much Easier!
See Santa Maria Charter Bus Rental Prices in Under 30 Seconds
Instead of calling five different companies, waiting on callbacks, and trying to compare quotes that never quite line up, Venturacharterbuscompany.com puts pricing right in front of you in under 30 seconds. Enter your date, group size, and pickup location to land on a results page showing available vehicles, photos, and pricing from a network of bus companies serving Santa Maria — no account needed, no waiting. Pricing varies based on the type of bus, the number of hours, the day of the week, and the specific amenities your group needs.
A minibus for a wine tour along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail costs differently than a full-size 56-passenger charter bus for a corporate shuttle to Santa Barbara. Use the online tool now or call 805-602-5140 any time for a free, personalized quote!
| Type of Vehicle | Cost Per Hour Weekdays | Cost Per Hour Weekends | Cost Per Day | Cost Per Mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 Passenger Charter Bus | $205 – $385+ | $225 – $410+ | $1,650 – $2,950+ | $6.20 – $8.95+ |
| 35 Passenger Minibus | $225 – $370+ | $255 – $385+ | $1,815 – $2,415+ | $6.20 – $8.95+ |
| 30 Passenger Minibus | $205 – $365+ | $240 – $380+ | $1,670 – $2,335+ | $5.90 – $8.60+ |
| 28 Passenger Minibus | $190 – $355+ | $220 – $370+ | $1,540 – $2,255+ | $5.65 – $8.25+ |
| 25 Passenger Minibus | $190 – $350+ | $195 – $365+ | $1,420 – $2,180+ | $5.40 – $7.90+ |
| 20 Passenger Minibus | $190 – $340+ | $190 – $355+ | $1,300 – $2,080+ | $5.15 – $7.50+ |
| 18 Passenger Minibus | $190 – $330+ | $190 – $350+ | $1,210 – $1,990+ | $5.00 – $7.25+ |
| 15 Passenger Minibus | $180 – $310+ | $180 – $330+ | $1,150 – $1,880+ | $4.75 – $6.95+ |
| 15-50 Passenger Party Bus | $248 – $426+ | $265 – $460+ | $1,827 – $2,954+ | $6.75 – $9.95+ |
| Sprinter Van with Driver | $190 – $373+ | $218 – $466+ | $1,395 – $2,848+ | $5.00 – $6.95+ |
| Sprinter Limo | $190 – $340+ | $190 – $355+ | $1,300 – $2,080+ | $5.15 – $7.50+ |
| School Bus | $205 – $365+ | $240 – $380+ | $1,670 – $2,335+ | $5.00 – $7.60+ |
| ABOVE PRICES ARE JUST EXAMPLES. Your final price and vehicle options depend entirely on your specific trip details. To get an instant price quote for your trip, request an online quote or call 805-602-5140. | ||||
Find and Compare Options From Providers Serving Santa Maria
Get Santa Maria Charter Bus Quotes in Minutes, Not Days
We help you compare more options and more packages than any single bus company could ever offer, because Venturacharterbuscompany.com pulls from a large network of independently owned transportation providers serving Santa Maria and the surrounding Central Coast. That means you are never stuck with whatever one fleet happens to have available on your date. You fill out one form — your pickup location, your date, your group size, and any special requests — and you land on a results page where you can browse vehicles, see photos, and compare pricing side by side.
If the results page doesn't show exactly what you need, a support team is available every day of the year at 805-602-5140 to build a custom package around your specific itinerary. Whether you need a compact sprinter van for an executive airport transfer to Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) (3249 Terminal Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93455) or a full-size motorcoach for a group heading down US-101 to Santa Barbara, the right bus is in the network. Find it in seconds!
Bus Rentals Available For Any Event
See the Santa Maria Charter Bus Services You Can Book Right Now
With Venturacharterbuscompany.com, you get access to a wide range of group transportation services for every occasion in Santa Maria and across the Central Coast. From airport transfers and wine tours to corporate shuttles and school field trips, one quick form connects you to the bus and the package that fits your group perfectly. Here is a look at everything you can find and book right here!
santa maria airport transportation Santa Maria Airport Shuttle Bus Rentals
Through a network of independently owned transportation companies serving Santa Maria, Venturacharterbuscompany.com makes it easy to find airport transportation for any group size. Whether your group is flying in or out of Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX), heading south on US-101 to Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) (500 Fowler Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93117) for a wider flight selection, or making the run north to San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) (903 Airport Dr, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401), one bus keeps everyone together and on schedule. No splitting the group into multiple cars, no hunting for parking, and no surge-priced rideshares at the terminal curb.
Gather everyone and all luggage before calling for pickup — that keeps the bus from circling and boarding takes minutes instead of half an hour. Compare available vehicles and pricing in seconds using the online quote tool, or call 805-602-5140 to set up a custom airport package today!
santa maria concert transportation Book Group Transportation to Santa Maria Concerts
Whatever your group has on the calendar — a show at the Santa Maria Fairpark (937 S Thornburg St, Santa Maria, CA 93458), a night out at the Solvang Festival Theater (420 Second St, Solvang, CA 93463) about 25 miles southeast on CA-246, or a major arena concert down US-101 in Santa Barbara — Venturacharterbuscompany.com makes finding the right bus fast and easy! Instead of juggling carpools and worrying about who is driving home, one bus picks up the whole group, drops everyone at the venue entrance, and is waiting when the show ends. A party bus with a built-in bar, LED lighting, and a Bluetooth sound system keeps the energy going from the first pickup through the last drop-off.
Compare available concert buses and pricing from a network of companies serving Santa Maria in under 30 seconds — or call 805-602-5140 any time!
santa maria corporate transportation Santa Maria Corporate Bus Rentals for Meetings and Conferences
These days, coordinating a team across the Central Coast is complicated enough without worrying about who is driving and where to park. Venturacharterbuscompany.com makes corporate transportation the easy part! Whether you need a shuttle between Santa Maria hotels and a conference venue, a transfer down US-101 to a client meeting in Santa Barbara, or a recurring route for employees commuting to a facility near Vandenberg Space Force Base (Vandenberg SFB, CA 93437), the network has the right vehicle. Full-size charter buses come with reclining seats, WiFi, power outlets, and climate control — so your team arrives ready to work, not worn out from the drive.
Compare available corporate buses and packages from a network of companies serving Santa Maria, and call 805-602-5140 to build a custom itinerary around your schedule!
santa maria employee transportation Book Shuttle Buses for Employees in Santa Maria
On any given workday, getting your team from point A to point B across the Santa Maria Valley costs more time and money than it should. A dedicated employee shuttle solves that. Whether you need a daily commuter route from Orcutt or Nipomo into central Santa Maria, a shuttle between the hospital district and outlying office parks near Marian Regional Medical Center (1400 E Church St, Santa Maria, CA 93454), or temporary transportation while a facility is under construction, Venturacharterbuscompany.com helps you find the right bus for the route you actually run.
Compare minibuses and charter buses from a network of transportation providers serving Santa Maria, set your pickup points and timing, and get your team moving on a schedule that works for everyone. Call 805-602-5140 to set up a recurring employee shuttle today!
santa maria government military transportation Bus Rental Services to Santa Maria Area Installations
With Venturacharterbuscompany.com, you can find and compare government and military group transportation for any mission or event across the Central Coast. Moving personnel to and from Vandenberg Space Force Base (Vandenberg SFB, CA 93437) requires advance coordination with base access control — civilian charter buses need visitor passes arranged ahead of time. Venturacharterbuscompany.com connects you to a network of transportation providers experienced in government and military logistics, so you can compare available vehicles, headcounts, and packages in one place. Need an ADA-accessible bus?
Just mention it when you request your quote. Whether you are coordinating a personnel transfer, a training event, or a multi-day mission requiring a full-size motorcoach, the network has the vehicle. Call 805-602-5140 or use the online tool to get started!
santa maria long distance transportation Keep Your Group Together with Santa Maria Long-Distance Charter Bus Rentals
Look no further for long-distance group transportation from Santa Maria! US-101 connects the city to San Luis Obispo about 40 miles north and Santa Barbara about 60 miles south, and the network reaches well beyond both. Whether your group is heading to Los Angeles for a conference, Las Vegas for a celebration, or the Bay Area for a multi-day trip, a full-size 56-passenger charter bus with reclining seats, onboard restrooms, WiFi, power outlets, and undercarriage luggage bays makes the long haul a whole lot easier.
Compare available long-distance buses and pricing from a network of companies serving Santa Maria in under 30 seconds — or call 805-602-5140 to build a custom long-distance package around your itinerary and timeline!
santa maria event transportation Seamless Transportation to Santa Maria Private Events
Bringing a group together for a birthday, anniversary, family reunion, or any private celebration in Santa Maria? Venturacharterbuscompany.com makes finding the right bus for your event fast and simple! Whether you are planning a dinner out on Broadway, a day trip to the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (accessed via Oso Flaco Lake Rd, Nipomo, CA 93444) about 12 miles west, or a weekend gathering that spans multiple venues across the Santa Maria Valley, one bus keeps the whole group together on your schedule. Compare party buses, minibuses, and charter buses from a network of transportation providers serving Santa Maria — and find the size, amenities, and price that fit your event perfectly.
Call 805-602-5140 or use the online tool to get started today!
santa maria prom transportation Prom Night Bus Rentals Across Santa Maria
Venturacharterbuscompany.com can help you find the perfect prom night bus for your group at Pioneer Valley High School (675 Panther Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454), Santa Maria High School (901 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454), Ernest Righetti High School (1490 E Foster Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93455), or any other school on the Central Coast! A party bus with LED lighting, a premium sound system, and perimeter seating is the ultimate way to arrive — and everyone stays together from the first pickup through the last drop-off. Prom season fills up fast across Santa Barbara County, so the earlier you compare and book, the better your options and the better your price.
Call 805-602-5140 or use the online quote tool to lock in your date before it's gone!
santa maria church transportation Easy Santa Maria Church & Religious Group Charter Bus Rentals
Get a bus for your congregation, youth group, retreat, or faith-based event with ease through Venturacharterbuscompany.com! Whether you are organizing weekly transportation for a church in central Santa Maria, planning a multi-day retreat to the mountains east of the valley, or coordinating a large group for a regional conference, the network has the right vehicle. Compare minibuses and full-size charter buses from a network of transportation providers serving Santa Maria and the surrounding area.
ADA-accessible buses are available through the network — just mention it when you request your quote. One form, instant pricing, and a support team at 805-602-5140 available every day of the year to help you build the right package for your group!
santa maria field trip transportation Travel Together with Santa Maria School Field Trip Charter Bus Rentals
Venturacharterbuscompany.com connects you to a network of bus companies ready to handle school field trips and events across the Central Coast! Skip the stress of organizing parent carpools and put the whole class on one comfortable bus. A trip to the Santa Maria Museum of Flight (3015 Airpark Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93455, 805-922-8758) — located right next to the airport and packed with aviation history and aircraft exhibits — is a natural fit for a 56-passenger charter bus that drops students at the entrance and parks nearby.
Compare school buses, minibuses, and full-size charter buses from a network of companies serving Santa Maria, match the vehicle to your student and chaperone headcount, and keep every field trip on schedule. ADA-accessible buses are available — just mention it in your quote request. Call 805-602-5140 to get started!
santa maria sporting event transportation Comfortable Charter Bus Rentals for Santa Maria Sports Teams and Fan Groups
You and your whole group deserve a better game-day plan than splitting into five separate cars and hoping everyone finds parking. Whether you are cheering on the Allan Hancock College Bulldogs (800 S College Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93454) at a home game, heading to the Santa Maria Fairpark for the annual Elks Rodeo, or making the run down US-101 to a major sporting event in Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo, Venturacharterbuscompany.com makes finding a sporting event bus rental fast and easy. Compare party buses, minibuses, and charter buses from a network of companies serving Santa Maria — and let the bus handle the route while your group handles the tailgate.
Call 805-602-5140 or use the online tool to get your quote in seconds!
santa maria wedding transportation Get Your Guests to Every Wedding Event with a Santa Maria Charter Bus
Find the perfect wedding shuttle bus for your big day through Venturacharterbuscompany.com! Whether you are shuttling guests between the Santa Maria Inn (801 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454) and your ceremony venue, looping between a hotel block and a winery reception along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, or arranging transportation for a destination wedding in the Santa Ynez Valley near Solvang, one bus keeps every guest together and on your timeline. You can even request available white, black, or silver vehicles to match your wedding colors.
Compare minibuses and charter buses from a network of transportation providers serving Santa Maria — and call 805-602-5140 to lock in your date before wedding season fills the calendar!
santa maria wine tour transportation Group Winery Tour Bus Rentals in Santa Maria
With one search, you can find the perfect wine tour bus for a day on the Santa Maria Valley Wine Trail or the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail — two of the most celebrated wine routes on the California Central Coast. Stop at Presqu'ile Winery (5391 Presqu'ile Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93455, 805-937-8110) for estate Pinot Noir and cave tours, swing by Foxen Winery & Vineyard (7600 Foxen Canyon Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454, 805-937-4251), and keep the afternoon going at Cambria Estate Winery (5475 Chardonnay Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93454, 805-938-7318) — all without anyone worrying about who is driving. You set the stops.
You set the timing. And your whole group rides together from the first tasting to the last pour. Compare available wine tour buses from a network of companies serving Santa Maria in seconds, or call 805-602-5140 to build your custom itinerary today!
Fast, Free Quotes
3 Steps Is All It Takes to Book a Charter Bus in Santa Maria
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01
Submit Your Request
Use the online quote tool to share your trip details, including the date, passenger count, and pickup/drop-off locations. It only takes a minute to fill out.
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02
Compare The Options
Your request goes to a national booking platform, where you compare pricing and vehicle photos of available buses to find the right fit for your group.
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Lock In Your Bus
Pick the vehicle that fits your group and complete your booking right on the platform. Now you can relax!
Charter Bus Rentals Beyond Santa Maria
From Lompoc and Guadalupe to Orcutt, Nipomo, Solvang, Buellton, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara, Venturacharterbuscompany.com helps you find bus rentals across the entire Central Coast region. You are never limited to Santa Maria city limits — the network serves the whole area, so wherever your group is headed, there is a bus ready for the trip. Fill out one quick form to compare vehicles and pricing from companies serving every nearby city!
Nearby Cities You Can Get Bus Rentals To
Not Sure What You Need? We're Here to Help!
Frequently Asked Questions About Santa Maria Charter Bus Rentals
Venturacharterbuscompany.com helps you compare buses rental options; it is not a transportation company and does not rent, own, or operate vehicles. When you submit the quote form, your trip details go through a booking company so you can review pricing and available vehicles for your date. You compare the options and book through the process shown with your quote.
Venturacharterbuscompany.com is an advertising and quote-comparison website. It is not a local bus company or motor carrier — it is a website that makes it easy for anyone who needs group transportation to find, compare, and book bus rentals in Santa Maria, California. You fill out one quick form, and the site connects you to a results page showing vehicles and pricing from a large network of independently owned transportation companies serving the area.
Transportation is provided by those independent operators, and booking is completed through a national booking platform.
Santa Maria Public Airport (SMX) is the closest airport, with United Airlines service to LAX and SFO. For a wider range of flights, Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) is about 60 miles south on US-101, and San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) is about 40 miles north. A charter bus handles all three — enter your airport, date, and group size in the quote tool to compare available vehicles and pricing in seconds.
The Santa Maria Valley is a federally designated American Viticultural Area (AVA) known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with more than 20 wineries along the Santa Maria Valley Wine Trail and the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. Properties like Presqu'ile Winery (5391 Presqu'ile Dr), Foxen Winery & Vineyard (7600 Foxen Canyon Rd), and Cambria Estate Winery (5475 Chardonnay Ln) are spread across rural roads with no public transit and limited parking for large groups. A charter bus or minibus keeps the whole group together, handles the driving between stops, and means nobody has to skip a tasting to stay sober behind the wheel.
Yes, but advance coordination is required. Civilian charter buses entering Vandenberg Space Force Base (Vandenberg SFB, CA 93437) need visitor passes arranged ahead of time through the base's access control process. Passenger lists and vehicle information are typically submitted in advance.
If you are planning government or military group transportation to Vandenberg, mention it when you request your quote — the network includes providers experienced in base-access logistics. Call 805-602-5140 early so there is enough lead time to handle the coordination.
The Santa Barbara County Fair, held annually in early-to-mid July at the Santa Maria Fairpark (937 S Thornburg St) — check the fair's official site for current dates — is the single busiest event in the region for group transportation. The Elks Rodeo and Parade, also held at the fairgrounds, is another high-demand date. Prom season across Santa Barbara County school districts runs April through May and fills party buses and minibuses across the Central Coast.
Book at least three to six months out for any of these dates — waiting means higher prices and fewer vehicles to choose from.
Santa Maria is approximately 60 miles south of San Luis Obispo and 60 miles north of Santa Barbara, both via US-101. Off-peak, each leg takes about an hour by charter bus. During summer weekends, agricultural harvest season (July–October), or major event days on the Central Coast, US-101 through the Santa Maria Valley and the corridor approaching Santa Barbara can slow noticeably — build in a 15- to 30-minute buffer on those dates.
A charter bus handles the drive while your group relaxes, arrives together, and skips the parking scramble at either end.
Absolutely. Solvang is about 25 miles southeast of Santa Maria via CA-246 — roughly 30 to 40 minutes by charter bus. The Solvang Festival Theater and the surrounding Danish village make it a popular day-trip destination for groups.
Buses can drop off along Mission Drive near the village center, with large-vehicle parking available near Solvang Park. The Santa Ynez Valley wine country — including stops in Los Olivos and Ballard — is easily combined into the same day trip. Enter your date and group size in the quote tool to compare available vehicles for a Solvang or Santa Ynez Valley run.
Book three to six months in advance for most Santa Maria trips to get the best price and the widest vehicle selection. For the Santa Barbara County Fair in July, the Elks Rodeo, and prom season in April and May, six months or more is the safer window — those dates pull demand across all of Santa Barbara County at once. Summer weekends on the Central Coast fill faster than you would expect.
Waiting until the last minute almost always means higher rates, fewer vehicles, or both. Call 805-602-5140 right now to lock in your date!
Go As Far As You Want!
Travel to Popular Santa Maria Destinations by Charter Bus
Ready to explore everything the Santa Maria Valley and the Central Coast have to offer? A charter bus, minibus, or party bus makes it easy to bring the whole group to the best destinations in and around Santa Maria — without splitting into multiple cars or stressing about parking. Here are six great places your group can visit by bus!
Use the previous and next buttons, the left and right arrow keys, or swipe to browse six destinations.
Presqu'ile Winery
Presqu'ile Winery (5391 Presqu'ile Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93455, 805-937-8110) is one of the flagship estates of the Santa Maria Valley AVA, set on 240 acres along Foxen Canyon Road. The winery specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a tasting room, cave tours, and a dedicated event space for private groups. Access is via rural Foxen Canyon Road — no public transit reaches the property, and on-site parking for large vehicles is limited.
A charter bus or minibus drops your group at the tasting room entrance and stages on the property or nearby while you explore. Group visits are available; contact the winery in advance to confirm availability and any group reservation requirements before your visit.
Santa Maria Fairpark (Santa Barbara County Fairgrounds)
Santa Maria Fairpark (937 S Thornburg St, Santa Maria, CA 93458, 805-925-8824) is the Central Coast's premier event venue and home of the annual Santa Barbara County Fair each July — check the fair's official site for current dates — the Elks Rodeo and Parade, and year-round concerts, swap meets, and private events. The fairgrounds can accommodate large vehicles in the main lots along Thornburg Street, with the north lot entrance off Thornburg being the most practical for buses. During the County Fair, the fairgrounds see some of the region's heaviest attendance of the year — a charter bus skips the parking scramble entirely and drops your group at the gate.
Check the Santa Maria Fairpark events calendar for current event dates and any event-specific access information before your visit.
Foxen Canyon Wine Trail
The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail runs north from Santa Maria through Los Olivos along Foxen Canyon Road and is one of the most celebrated wine routes on the California Central Coast. Highlights include Foxen Winery & Vineyard (7600 Foxen Canyon Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454, 805-937-4251), Cambria Estate Winery (5475 Chardonnay Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93454, 805-938-7318), and Byron Winery (5230 Tepusquet Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454). The trail runs along rural two-lane roads with no public transit and limited parking at individual properties.
A dedicated wine tour bus is the standard for this route — your group rides together between stops, nobody skips a tasting to drive, and the bus stages at each property while you pour. Contact individual wineries in advance to confirm group reservation availability.
Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Santa Maria Museum of Flight (3015 Airpark Dr, Santa Maria, CA 93455, 805-922-8758) sits adjacent to Santa Maria Public Airport and houses a growing collection of historic aircraft and aviation exhibits focused on Central Coast and military aviation history. It is a popular destination for school field trips, veteran groups, and aviation enthusiasts. The museum is located in an industrial airpark area with surface parking available nearby; a charter bus drops your group at the entrance and parks in the adjacent lot.
Hours and admission vary — check the museum's website or call ahead to confirm current hours and any group reservation requirements before your visit, especially for school field trips with large headcounts.
Solvang & the Santa Ynez Valley
Solvang (Mission Dr, Solvang, CA 93463) is a Danish-themed village about 25 miles southeast of Santa Maria via CA-246 — roughly 30 to 40 minutes by charter bus. The village is packed with bakeries, tasting rooms, boutiques, and the outdoor Solvang Festival Theater. Buses can drop groups along Mission Drive near the village center, with large-vehicle parking available near Solvang Park off Second Street.
The surrounding Santa Ynez Valley adds Los Olivos wine country, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians casino resort, and the historic town of Santa Ynez to a full-day itinerary. A minibus or charter bus handles the CA-246 run and keeps the group together across every stop.
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes / Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes make up one of the largest coastal dune complexes in the United States, stretching along the Pacific Coast about 12 miles west of Santa Maria. The primary public access point is Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area (Oso Flaco Lake Rd, Nipomo, CA 93444), managed by California State Parks. The parking area at Oso Flaco is small and fills quickly on weekends; large bus groups should coordinate with California State Parks in advance to confirm access and any group permit requirements before arrival.
A charter bus or minibus handles the rural road from Santa Maria to the trailhead and stages nearby while your group walks the boardwalk trail through the dunes to the Pacific. Day-use fees apply; confirm current rates with California State Parks before your visit.