# What are the best group day trips from Winnipeg by bus?

Source: https://bisoncharter.ca/guides/group-day-trips-from-winnipeg/
Publisher: Bison Charter | Updated: 2026-10-14

## Quick answer

Popular group day trips from Winnipeg include Gimli and Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg (about 1–1.5 hours), Steinbach's Mennonite Heritage Village (under an hour), Lower Fort Garry and Oak Hammock Marsh (under 45 minutes), the Whiteshell (about 2 hours), Kenora and Lake of the Woods (about 2 hours), Riding Mountain National Park (about 3 hours) and cross-border shopping in Grand Forks (about 2.5–3 hours). Trips under about 3 hours each way work comfortably as a same-day charter with one driver.

## Key facts

- Under 1 hour — Lower Fort Garry, Oak Hammock Marsh, Steinbach.
- About 1–1.5 hours — Gimli and Grand Beach on Lake Winnipeg.
- About 2 hours — the Whiteshell, Kenora and Lake of the Woods, Spruce Woods.
- About 3 hours — Riding Mountain National Park (Wasagaming, Clear Lake).
- Same-day trips up to about 3 hours each way fit one driver's legal day.

Drive times below are approximate one-way times from central Winnipeg in good conditions. Add time for stops, summer cottage traffic and winter weather.

## Under an hour

| Destination | Drive | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site | ~35 min | School groups, history tours |
| Oak Hammock Marsh | ~40 min | Nature and school trips, birding in spring and fall |
| Mennonite Heritage Village, Steinbach | ~50 min | Seniors' groups, school trips, heritage tours |

## One to two hours

| Destination | Drive | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gimli | ~1 h 10 min | Lake Winnipeg beach town, Icelandic heritage, the Icelandic Festival on the August long weekend |
| Grand Beach Provincial Park | ~1 h 20 min | Beach days, youth groups |
| Morden | ~1 h 30 min | Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, fall Corn and Apple Festival |
| Whiteshell Provincial Park / Falcon Lake | ~1 h 45 min | Hiking, lakes, corporate retreats |

## Two to three hours

| Destination | Drive | Good for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kenora and Lake of the Woods | ~2 h 10 min | Lake weddings, retreats, harbourfront visits |
| Spruce Woods Provincial Park | ~2 h | Spirit Sands dunes hike |
| Brandon | ~2 h 10 min | Keystone Centre events, Royal Manitoba Winter Fair |
| Grand Forks, ND | ~2 h 45 min plus border | Shopping, UND hockey and football |
| Riding Mountain National Park (Wasagaming) | ~3 h | Clear Lake, wildlife, fall colours |

## Inside Winnipeg

Some of the best group outings don't need a highway: The Forks, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Manitoba Museum, Assiniboine Park and Zoo, FortWhyte Alive and the Royal Canadian Mint are all within the city. A school bus or mini coach for a half day is often the cheapest option.

## Planning a day trip by charter

1. **Count driving both ways plus time at the destination.** If the whole day is over about 13–14 hours, you may need a second driver.
2. **Pick one meeting point** to save pickup time.
3. **Check seasonal access**: beach and park facilities are limited in winter.
4. **Price it**: hourly charters for day trips are usually 8–10 hours garage to garage.

### Hourly charters (garage to garage, off-peak weekday, CAD)

| Vehicle | Seats | Hourly rate | Minimum | 4 hours | 6 hours | 8 hours | 10 hours |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Sprinter van | 8–14 | $120/hr | 3.0 h | $400–$600 | $600–$850 | $800–$1,150 | $1,000–$1,450 |
| Mini coach | 15–30 | $145/hr | 4.0 h | $500–$700 | $750–$1,050 | $1,000–$1,400 | $1,250–$1,750 |
| School bus | 24–72 | $110/hr | 3.0 h | $350–$550 | $550–$800 | $750–$1,050 | $950–$1,300 |
| Motorcoach | 40–56 | $165/hr | 5.0 h | $700–$1,000 | $850–$1,200 | $1,100–$1,600 | $1,400–$2,000 |
| Party bus | 14–30 | $175/hr | 4.0 h | $600–$850 | $900–$1,250 | $1,200–$1,700 | $1,500–$2,100 |

### One-way routes from Winnipeg (56-seat coach vs mini coach, CAD)

| Route | Distance | Drive time | Motorcoach | Mini coach |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Winnipeg → Gimli | 90 km | ~1 h 10 min | $700–$1,000 | $500–$700 |
| Winnipeg → Grand Beach | 100 km | ~1 h 20 min | $700–$1,000 | $500–$700 |
| Winnipeg → Kenora | 210 km | ~2 h 05 min | $700–$1,000 | $600–$800 |
| Winnipeg → Brandon | 215 km | ~2 h 10 min | $700–$1,000 | $600–$850 |
| Winnipeg → Grand Forks | 233 km | ~2 h 45 min | $850–$1,200 | $750–$1,050 |
| Winnipeg → Wasagaming (Clear Lake) | 265 km | ~3 h | $900–$1,300 | $800–$1,150 |
| Winnipeg → Fargo | 355 km | ~3 h 40 min | $1,100–$1,550 | $950–$1,350 |
| Winnipeg → Regina | 570 km | ~5 h 45 min | $1,700–$2,400 | $1,500–$2,100 |
| Winnipeg → Thunder Bay | 700 km | ~7 h | $2,050–$2,850 | $1,800–$2,500 |
| Winnipeg → Minneapolis | 745 km | ~7 h 45 min | $2,250–$3,150 | $1,950–$2,800 |
| Winnipeg → Saskatoon | 780 km | ~8 h 30 min | $2,450–$3,450 | $2,150–$3,050 |

Peak periods (summer wedding season, winter holidays) on weekends can run up to about 32% higher. Multi-day trips add roughly $150 per night for the driver's hotel and meals.

## Frequently asked questions

### What's a good day trip from Winnipeg for a big group?

Gimli, Grand Beach and Steinbach's Mennonite Heritage Village are all close enough for a relaxed same-day trip and handle large groups well. Riding Mountain is a longer but very rewarding day.

### How much does a day trip charter from Winnipeg cost?

An 8–10 hour day in a motorcoach typically costs about $1,100–$2,000 before tax, depending on the date and distance. See the table above.