Frequently Asked Questions
1) Daily shuttles from Central Illinois to Chicagoland. Click "Tickets" to see times or purchase tickets.
2) Charters on motorcoaches with professional drivers. Click the "Charters" for info and fill out a quote request.
3) Full-Service Travel Agency. Click the "Tours" section to learn more about Peoria Charter Travel's vacations.
4) Private Rides, Click the "Private Ride" for info and fill out a quote request.
Navigate to the "Tickets" page to find time table PDFs for our schedule service.
Please call our 24/7 Call Center at (800) 448-0572 for available options.
Promo codes are sent out in our email newsletters and social media posts.
1) 55-56 passenger full-size motorcoaches with on-board restrooms
2) 38 passenger motorcoaches
Yes. Please read the "Customers with Disabilities" tab for more information.
Peoria, IL, Urbana, IL and Chicago
64 vehicles of various sizes, models, and makes including MCI, VanHool, Mercedes Benz and Prevost
More than 100!
December 1941
In accordance with Illinois State Law, any person or persons under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or an appointed adult to travel.
You will receive your travel documents approximately 2 weeks prior to your scheduled departure. These travel documents will include airline confirmation (if applicable), hotel information, pickup information, day by day itinerary, and general information including what to pack and wear, weather, local currency, electricity, and more.
A new passport can take up to 8 weeks for processing.
Please check with your specific airline for current baggage allowances.
Approximately two weeks prior to departure, you will receive your travel documents. The travel documents include airline tickets (if booked with trip), hotel information, pickup information, day by day itinerary, and general information including what to pack and wear, weather, local currency, electricity, and more.
You may obtain passport application forms from your local county clerk office or US Post Office. Passport application forms may also be obtained online at travel.state.gov
Some tours require a visa. You will be informed if one is needed.
If you are traveling outside the United States, you will be required to present a passport. For international travel, your passport should be valid for 6 months after your travel ends.
Most airlines have a checked luggage policy which is a limit of 50 pounds per checked bag. Please check with your specific airline for current weight and measurement requirements
Please check with your specific airline for current checked baggage fees
One checked bag per traveler and one carry on and one personal item.
A tour representative will meet you at the destination airport once you've cleared through customs. You will be directed to the transportation area and driven to the hotel. You will meet up the tour guide once arriving at the hotel.
You will meet your tour guide once you arrive at the hotel.
Passengers are responsible for arriving on time for their flights. A tour representative will meet you at the destination airport once you've cleared through customs. You will be directed to the transportation area and driven to the hotel. You will meet up the tour guide once arriving at the hotel
Just like boarding an airplane or train, we require you to stay on the vehicle once you have boarded until the vehicle arrives at your destination. If you must get off the vehicle while the vehicle is still at the pickup location, by federal law, you must be un-checked in and take your luggage and all personal belongings with you. Any articles left behind will be considered abandoned and turned over to law enforcement. You must then re-check in with the driver and have your luggage reloaded once you return to board the vehicle again. The driver will always depart on time and will not wait for you. Do this at your own risk.
It is recommended that you take care of all your needs before boarding the vehicle.
Small animals that fit in a carrier may ride on Peoria charter buses only if a ticket is purchased for the animal. The animal carrier may be placed on a seat or on the floor in front of the seat. An animal too large to fit in a carrier or too heavy for the passenger to carry unassisted may not ride the bus. Animals are not permitted to ride in luggage bays. A driver may refuse to allow an animal to board in some situations (animal is aggressive, barking, causes severe allergic reaction, etc.)
Yes. Service animals are welcome on Peoria Charter buses at no additional charge.
A service animal is defined under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not quality as service animals under the ADA.
Service animals must remain under the handler's control at all times and must not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
Animals that do not meet the ADA definition of service animal must follow our pet policy outlined above.
Children 2 years old and younger ride for free with a paying adult. One free child per paying adult. The discount is only valid if transportation is done using a bus. Discount does not apply if a shuttle van is being used. For more information or to see if a van or bus is being used for your trip, call our 24 hour call center at (800) 448-0572
Yes, bookings can be made with the 24 hour call center by calling 800-448-0572. Bookings over the phone have a $4.00 Administration Fee. Special accommodations are available for customers who are visually impaired. See "Customers with Disabilities" tab for more information.
Call the 24 hour call center at (800) 448-0572.
In ordinance with the State of Illinois law, passengers must be accompanied by an adult if they are under the age of 17.
Peoria Charter allows two (2) pieces of luggage per passenger stored under the bus for free.
Each customer may also bring one (1) small piece of baggage on the coach also known as "carry-on".
Carry-on baggage would include items such as a backpack, small duffel bag, computer bag, shopping bag, any bag larger than a Tablet.
Pillows, Laptops, sensitive musical instruments would not count as carry on and may be brought on board for no additional cost.
Suitcases or any baggage with wheels are not considered as "carry-on” items and must be stored under the bus.
Any additional baggage or carry-on will be $10.00 per item if extra luggage space is available.
If the driver deems that there is insufficient space available on the coach to safely store the extra baggage, then any extra baggage may be refused.
The maximum allowable weight for checked baggage is 70 pounds per individual piece of baggage.
Baggage must not exceed 63 inches when adding the total exterior dimensions of the piece (length + width + height).
If these quantities are exceeded, there will be a $10.00 charge for each additional checked piece, paid to the driver, if space is available.
All tickets are non-refundable. Tickets can be transferred up to two hours past the departure date and time specified on the ticket. We understand that sometimes it can be difficult to make a phone call whether your stuck on a plane or your phone is low on battery. For this reason we allow a grace period after a ticket departure time has elapsed. There is a two hour grace period for transfers applies to all stops. A transfer fee will be charged; please see our Terms and Conditions on Transfer Fee pricing and available options. Tickets can be transferred by calling the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 or online from your original boarding pass.
Please call the 24 hour call center and explain the situation to the customer service representative.
Call the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572. If space is available, you can use your credit card over the phone to purchase a ticket.
Yes. Please call the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 at least 48 hours before the departure time.
ADA Passengers who are able to board the coach without using the wheel chair lift and wishes to stow the chair under the coach as luggage must also call in 48 hours prior as Peoria Charter uses a variety of different size vehicles, some may not have the luggage space to store a collapsible or non collapsible wheel chair. In these situations, the passenger may be required to board a different run (without a transfer fee) or find a different method to transport the wheel chair in order to comply with Federal DOT safety regulations.
See "Customers with Disabilities" tab for more information.
Customers can show the ticket on their smart phone or tablet to the driver. Call our 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 if you need another ticket sent to your email.
Yes. We recommend calling the 24 hour call center (800) 448-0572 to ensure there will be seats available to purchase.
The use of electronic cigarettes is not allowed.
Per Department of Transportation, anything containing a lithium battery - such as but not limited to a motorized wheelchair/scooter, motorized bicycle, laptop, etc. - cannot be stored in the luggage bay below the vehicle. If the lithium battery can be removed from the device and brought into the cabin of your motorcoach where temperatures are more regulated, then the device can be stored in the luggage bay below.
Per DOT, you may not bring a loaded firearm into the vehicle; however you may transport an unloaded firearm if it is placed in a locked case to be stored in the luggage bay. Inside the case, the firearm must be in its safety position, unloaded, and all magazines must be unloaded and ammunition must be separate from the weapon.
No, we are not allowed to transport items without a customer riding on the bus.
The first step is to get a price quote. Visit the Charter page on our website, find the link: QUICK QUOTE, click that and complete the requested information. It will be emailed to our Charter department and someone will respond to you within 24 business hours. You will receive a price quote in your email. If you want to accept the quote and have the charter booked, just reply to the quote telling the sales representative to book the charter.
Bookings are based on availability; many of our busy days sell out months in advance. However, if available, Peoria Charter's will meet your needs with just 24 hour notice. All trips must be paid in full prior to departure. Only cash, credit cards, cashier’s checks and money orders are accepted
We ask for the trip itineraries to be emailed to us at least 10 days prior to the trip leave date. It can be emailed to your Charter Sales Representative.
We have always made an effort to work with our clients. If you can’t get a final itinerary done 10 days in advance, we ask that you at least send us the information including times for the first and last day of the trip.
We have always made an effort to work with our clients. If you can’t get a final itinerary done 10 days in advance, we ask that you at least send us the information including times for the first and last day of the trip.
Peoria Charter operates more than 60 vehicles and drivers at multiple locations. Our Dispatch Department must have time to analyze each trip. Trips fit together like a puzzle. Drivers are under strict DOT driving rules that only allow them to drive a set amount of hours in a day. If you send your itinerary late and your plans won’t allow for a driver to remain legal we must make changes, we need time to do this. If we don’t have the time, we may have to cancel the trip.
Yes. Your start and end times must be known by us in advance so that plans can be made and any conflicts can be addressed. We must also be able to know if the times are different than what you indicated in the first quote request.
Charter Bus Drivers are not the same as Uber Drivers, there is more that goes into taking a bus to places, planning has to be done to look for obstacles to a route including bridge height and weight limits. A bus can’t easily make adjustments if put in a “tight spot”. The Dispatch team and drivers need time to plan the best routes.
Peoria Charter drivers are instructed to stay on main highways and interstates. Only when necessary, to reach destinations, can they access smaller, two-lane roads. We will not use rural routes as the main route for travel for many factors including; safety, slowdowns from slower moving vehicles/farm equipment, railroad crossings, low underpasses, and small town speed limit reductions.
The legal limit for a driver in a single day is 15 hours of on-duty time.If a driver is taking your group, for instance, to a baseball game and will sit and wait for 6-8 hours, they can go off-duty, the hours they wait don’t count towards the on-duty time. During these times, the driver can not be utilized or access to the bus is not available to the group or the driver is required to go on-duty. The time it takes for the driver to get from our garage to the pickup/drop-off location does count towards the 15 hours.
A single driver can legally drive up to 10 hours, this is all electronically monitored. When planning a trip, figure the actual hours to be 8 to account for any unforeseen circumstances or slowdowns. If you have a destination 10 hours away, one driver can not do that. If a driver were to reach the 10 hour mark while still driving, they are legally required to pull over and turn off the bus. You are stranded. The time it takes for the driver to get from our garage to the pickup/drop off location counts towards the 10 hours.
A bus travels at a slower speed than a car, which is what Google is basing its drive time on. To estimate the drive time for a bus, divide the total miles traveled by 58 mph. At Peoria Charter we use specific routing software that looks for the best routes for a bus for longer-distance trips, these may not always match Google. You can use Google, but please don’t plan your stops on the way before talking with your Sales Agent as your route may differ from ours.
Cancellations by Customer: Cancellations made at least 30 days prior to departure will be refunded in full. 1-29 days prior to departure will be charged the deposit amount. If a charter is canceled the day of departure, any expense incurred by Peoria Charter will be charged to the customer. Cancellations by Peoria Charter: Peoria Charter reserves the right to cancel or sub out any charter up until the departure date.
Yes. Fuel surcharges are based on the following sliding scale. Surcharges will be added to the net rate of the charter (less driver gratuity). While a percentage based surcharge does not always correspond perfectly to the actual fuel cost of a specific trip, it is quickly becoming a standard in our industry and we believe it is the best and most effective way of assessing the additional costs of fuel. Surcharges are based on the U.S. Energy Information Administration weekly U.S. On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices for the Midwest region. Price of Diesel (per Gallon) Fuel Surcharge Under <$3.50 = 0% (No Surcharge) $3.50 - $3.84 = 1.5% $3.85 - $4.19 = 3% $4.20 - $4.54 = 4.5 % $4.55 - $5.49 = 6% $5.50 - $5.99 = 8% $6.00+ = 10% *If necessary, surcharges above these rates will be determined as needed. Deposit is 15% of total charter amount.
Customer is responsible for the driver(s) overnight room accommodations, unless you and the company have agreed in advance that the company will provide the driver’s room and bill you for the charges. To ensure proper rest, each driver must have a private room with private restroom/shower accommodations. Expect to spend $125-$175 per night for each driver room. Should the room not be acceptable to the driver, Peoria Charter will place driver in another hotel and bill customer for the cost.
Deposits apply to non-contracted customers of Peoria Charter. A minimum of $200 or 15% of total charter amount, whichever is greater will be required to hold a reservation. Deposit amount(s) are listed in the confirmation letter and are due along with a signed copy of the contract seven (7) days after booking. Charter(s) are subject to cancellation without notice if deposit(s) are not received within this time. Last-minute charter contracts must be paid in-full immediately.
Times are very important to us. Having your trip’s times in advance, we are better able to offer you an accurate price quote, and if contracted, are able to plan in advance how to use the bus/driver most efficiently. If you send your final itinerary to us and there are large variations in the times from what you first sent us, it can cause us to have to adjust the pricing of the trip or even cancel the charter due to our inability to cover the change, the latter is a rare occurrence, but it can happen.
Yes. Some of our coaches do offer a wheelchair lift. If you require this, you will need to let your Charter Sales representative know when you initially reach out to us. Since not every bus has a wheelchair lift, we can not guarantee one, unless it was reserved at the time of booking.
Yes. One wheelchair will reduce the number of available seats on the bus by 6.
Yes. 2 is the maximum number of wheelchairs that can fit.
Yes. Our coaches do offer WIFI service
Small animals that fit in a carrier may ride on Peoria charter buses only if a ticket is purchased for the animal. The animal carrier may be placed on a seat or on the floor in front of the seat. An animal too large to fit in a carrier or too heavy for the passenger to carry unassisted may not ride the bus. Animals are not permitted to ride in luggage bays. A driver may refuse to allow an animal to board in some situations (animal is aggressive, barking, causes severe allergic reaction, etc.)
Yes. There is no charge for a service animal to accompany its owner on a Peoria Charter vehicle.
Please note: Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA read more click here. In order to ride, these animals must follow the guidelines for pets listed above.
Customer who are visually impaired or have a disability that prevents purchasing of tickets through PeoriaCharter.com can call the 24 hour call center at 800-448-0572 to book a ticket. Please let the call center employee know that the website cannot be used due to a disability. The Administration Fee for booking over the phone will be waived.
Peoria Charter is committed to providing accessible transportation for customers with disabilities. Wheelchair lift-equipped vehicles are available across our network.
To ensure the best possible travel experience, passengers who anticipate needing a wheelchair lift or traveling with a mobility devices are strongly encouraged to contact our 24-hour call center at (800) 448-0572 at least 48 hours before departure. Advance notice allows our team to prepare the vehicle for safe boarding.
Passengers traveling with mobility devices, including those who may not require the lift but need storage space, are also highly encourage to call ahead so we can help coordinate accommodations.
All drivers are trained in the safe operation of accessibility equipment. Mobility devices must be secured while the vehicle is in motion to ensure the safety of all passengers. The wheelchair lift rated maximum capacity is 400 lbs (wheelchair + passenger).
Customers chartering a bus who anticipate traveling with a wheelchair or other mobility devices should inform their charter representative at the time of booking so we can provide the appropriate accessible vehicle and ensure proper safety accomodations.
Lift-equipped coaches are designed to accomodate up to two passengers traveling in wheeled mobility devices. Because accessible configurations may affect overall seating capacity, your charter representative can provide vehicle-specific capacity details during the booking process.
All Peoria Charter drivers are trained in the safe operation of wheelchair lifts. The lift capacity is rated at a maximum of 400 lbs (passenger + mobility device).
For the safety and comfort of everyone on board, wheeled mobility devices must be properly secured to the coach floor while the vehicle is in motion. Peoria Charter will make every reasonable effort to meet accessibility needs while operating in accordance with safety requirements.
Peoria Charter personnel are available to assist passengers with boarding and deboarding, luggage handling, and the storage and retrieval of wheeled mobility devices. Passengers needing assistance are encouraged to inform their driver or speak with a customer service representative at the terminal so our team and help coordinate support throughout the trip.
Peoria Charter will make every reasonable effort to accomodate assistance requests in a manner that is safe for both passengers and employees.
Passengers who choose not to remain in the wheeled mobility device during travel may have the device stored onboard, provided it can be safely accommodated. Devices that cannot be safely stowed inside the coach may be placed in the baggage compartment when space and safety considerations allow.
For safety reasons, drivers are limited in the amount they may manually lift. Mobility devices exceeding safe lifting limits will require the use of a wheelchair lift-equipped vehicle.
Passengers are encouraged to contact our 24-hour call center at (800) 448-0572 at least 48 hours before departure if traveling with a mobility device. Advance notice helps us prepare the vehicle and minimize delays during boarding.
Please allow additional time for boarding and securement so we can ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers.
Passengers are welcome to travel independently; however, Peoria Charter personnel are not able to provide personal care services such as assistance in restrooms, administering medication, or continuous supervision during travel. Passengers who anticipate needing this type of support are encouraged to make arrangements with a personal care attendant (PCA) to accompany them throughout the trip.
Our team is happy to provide transportation-related assistance, including boarding support and mobility device securement, in accordance with safety guidelines.
Portable oxygen and respirators may accompany you on Peoria Charter Coach. A maximum of four (4) canisters may travel with the customer - two (2) aboard the bus and two (2) in the baggage compartment. The maximum dimension for each container may not exceed 4.5" H x 26" L. Customers are responsible for ensuring that they have enough oxygen to complete their travel and are responsible for making arrangements for refills while en route. Oxygen canisters stored in the baggage compartment must be in protective cases with safety caps on the valves.
A Private Ride is just that, Private, you and up to 3 others can board a standard minivan to go to virtually any destination.
A Standard Trip utilizing our regular scheduled stops ( https://peoriacharter.com/findmystop ) Would Cost $350 , a Custom address would be an hourly rate of $130.
All requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance, should that request be less then 24 hours please call us , in some cases we can make it work.
Per Illinois State Law anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
The Standard minivan utilized for private rides do require a Car/Booster seat Per the Law. Car / Booster seats are not provided by Peoria Charter.