# How do I plan bus travel for a sports team tournament?

Source: https://bisoncharter.ca/guides/sports-team-tournament-travel-guide/
Publisher: Bison Charter | Updated: 2026-10-14

## Quick answer

Book a coach or mini coach as soon as the tournament schedule is out, size it for players, coaches and gear (hockey bags need luggage bays or empty seats), and build winter driving time into the schedule. For weekend tournaments the bus usually drops the team off and returns for the trip home, which is cheaper than keeping it on site. Multi-day out-of-province trips need a driver hotel.

## Key facts

- Book as soon as the schedule is released; tournament weekends compete with each other for buses.
- Hockey bags need under-floor bays or several empty seats.
- Drop-off and return is usually cheaper than keeping the bus all weekend.
- Add winter travel buffer before the first game.
- Cross-border tournaments need passports or other documents, and consent letters for minors.

Sports travel is year-round in Manitoba: hockey and ringette in winter, volleyball and basketball through the school year, baseball and soccer in summer. Teams that travel by charter arrive together, rested and on time.

## Choosing the vehicle

| Team size (players + staff) | Gear | Vehicle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Up to 14 | Light | Sprinter van |
| 15–25 | Hockey bags | Mini coach (leave seats for bags) or motorcoach |
| 25–50 | Hockey bags | Motorcoach with luggage bays |
| Two teams together | Mixed | Motorcoach, and split the cost |

## Weekend tournament patterns

- **Drop and return:** the bus takes the team out Friday and comes back Sunday. You pay two shorter trips plus deadhead, usually the cheapest option for in-province tournaments.
- **Stay with the team:** the bus and driver stay all weekend for rink-to-hotel shuttles. You pay for driver hours and the driver's hotel, which is convenient if venues are spread out.

## Schedule tips

- Arrive **at least 90 minutes** before the first game, plus winter buffer.
- Share the **game schedule** with the operator so the driver knows the plan.
- For cross-border tournaments in Grand Forks or Fargo, plan border time and collect documents early.

## The checklist

1. Roster with emergency contacts (for the coach, not the operator).
2. Passports or birth certificates and consent letters (cross-border).
3. Bag count and stick count for the operator.
4. Hotel address and rink addresses.
5. A rule on food on the bus (ask the operator).

### 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

### How much does a bus for a hockey tournament cost?

It depends on distance and whether the bus stays all weekend. See our price tables for hourly and route rates, then divide by the number of riders. Full coaches often come to $20–$30 per person per day.

### Should the bus stay with the team all weekend?

Only if venues are spread out or there's no other transport. Otherwise, a drop-off and pickup is usually cheaper.