Here's the part most first-timers never see coming: the City of Savannah gets a version of this exact question every year — "will there be out-of-town party buses?" — and the answer sitting on the city's own FAQ page is blunt. "The City is not issuing permits to any out-of-town motorcoaches during the weekend." That single line, straight from the City of Savannah's St. Patrick's Day FAQ page, is the reason a group can't just wing it and expect a coach to circle the Historic District all afternoon.
The rest of the day is just as tightly run. Squares open for the "Land Rush" at 6 a.m., the parade route itself closes to traffic at 8 a.m., and any car still parked on the route after 12:01 a.m. gets towed at the owner's cost. A Savannah party bus rental or charter bus rental solves the logistics problem underneath all of that: get your group downtown before the closures lock in, put them somewhere they can actually stand, and have a real plan for where the vehicle waits and where it picks everyone back up.
That's what this guide walks through, using the parade committee's own published rules.
Why Rent a Bus to the Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade?
March 17 is the single busiest travel day on Savannah's calendar — bigger than any football Saturday, bigger than any cruise call. enormous numbers of people funnel into a Historic District that's roughly a square mile, and every driveway, meter, and garage downtown fills before most visitors have finished breakfast. Coordinating that on your own means someone in your group loses the morning to a parking hunt while everyone else stakes out a square.
A rented bus turns that into one decision instead of a dozen. Bachelorette groups, multigenerational family reunions, and church groups headed to the 8 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral all book a Savannah charter bus rental for the same reason: one pickup, one group, no one left circling for a spot while the Land Rush plays out without them.
If your trip starts with Mass, the Savannah church transportation page covers getting a congregation downtown together before the crowds arrive.
No Out-of-Town Motorcoach Permits During Parade Weekend
This is the fact that should shape every other decision on this page. The city's own FAQ answers the question plainly: it is not issuing permits to any out-of-town motorcoaches during St. Patrick's Day weekend. That rule exists to keep outside charter and party-bus operators from setting up shop downtown for the weekend — it isn't a ban on a group simply being dropped off and picked back up, but it does mean a coach can't treat downtown Savannah as a place to idle, loop, or stage for hours on end.
In practice, that turns "rent a bus to the parade" into a drop-and-go plan rather than a wait-around plan. Before you book, nail down three things: where the bus actually lets your group out, where it goes while you're at the parade, and where it meets you again afterward. Comparing quotes through Savannahminibuscompany.com pulls from a network of bus companies serving Savannah, and confirming that staging plan is exactly the kind of question a live agent works out with you before your date locks in — not something you discover at a closed street corner.
The city will not issue a weekend permit to an out-of-town motorcoach. Build your morning around a firm drop-off window and a pickup meet point instead of assuming a bus can simply wait downtown between Mass and the parade.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off Near the Parade Route
The parade steps off from the intersection of Gwinnett Street and Abercorn Street at 10:15 a.m., following the Celebration of Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist (222 East Harris Street), per the city's official parade page. Getting your group dropped near that corridor before the closures start beats walking in from wherever a personal car finally finds a spot — which, on parade morning, can be well outside the Historic District entirely.
Because the staging and route areas shut down early, the workable plan is a morning drop-off followed by a pickup later in the day at an agreed meet point outside the closure zone — not a curb-to-curb loop through downtown. Set that meet point before the group ever splits up. Cell service inside a crowd of a few hundred thousand people is unreliable at best, so a landmark everyone can find without a phone call matters more than it sounds like it would.
The Parade-Day Clock: When the Route, Staging Area, and Bay Street Close
Savannah runs the closures on a fixed schedule every year. The staging area closes to vehicles at 6 a.m., the parade route itself follows at 8 a.m., and Bay Street — because of the hotels and businesses that line it — gets an extra hour before it closes at 9 a.m., per the city's published parade schedule linked above. Any vehicle still sitting on the parade route after 12:01 a.m. the night before is towed at the owner's expense.
That clock is the whole reason a drop-off before 8 a.m. beats trying to arrive with the crowd. A group dropped at 7:15 a.m. still has a real shot at a spot in the squares; a group that shows up at 9 a.m. is negotiating for whatever's left, blocks from where they wanted to be.
Where Downtown Parking Actually Stands on Parade Day
If part of your group is driving rather than riding the bus, know the numbers going in. City-owned parking garages downtown open to the general public at 6 a.m. on parade day and charge a flat $25 rate, per the city's parking garages, shuttles, and ferries page — no hourly rate, no early-bird discount, just $25 the moment you pull in. The city also runs a pre-sale program that lets you lock in a specific garage space in advance rather than gambling on a spot being open when you arrive, through the pre-sale parade-day parking page; permits sell out early and are non-refundable once purchased.
For everyone not driving, the city also runs its own paid shuttle routes into downtown on parade day, with pickup points that have included the Chatham Toyota lot, Tanger Outlet, and Tybee Island running into the evening. Do the math on your group: six people driving separately means six garage passes at $25 apiece before anyone's even parked, plus six transportation providers who can't have a drink once the To-Go Cup Zone opens. One bus turns that into a single flat rate split across the group, with nobody stuck driving.
The Seven Viewing Squares and Savannah's Land Rush
Seven historic squares serve as the official viewing areas for the parade route: Taylor, Oglethorpe, Lafayette, Johnson, Wright, Madison, and Chippewa, according to the city's parks and squares page. The city opens those squares to the public at 6 a.m. on parade day, and the scramble to claim a good spot the moment they open is locally known as the Land Rush — a tradition the city describes as revelers racing "to find the best spot."
Setup can start earlier than parade morning: folding chairs may go out in the lawn areas starting at 5 p.m. the evening before, but they can't be chained to trees or fixtures, and sidewalks have to stay clear. Know what you can and can't bring before you plan your morning:
- Permitted: tables, coolers, folding lawn chairs, and pop-up tents up to 10 feet by 10 feet.
- Prohibited: grills, glass containers, styrofoam, amplified sound systems, kegs, scaffolding, stages, and personal portable toilets.
- Cleanup deadline: everything has to be cleared out of the squares by 6 p.m. on parade day, and visitors are responsible for their own trash.
A group riding together can walk straight to a claimed square instead of splitting up to search for parking first — which matters most in the exact window, 6 to 8 a.m., when both the squares and the nearby garages fill at the same time.
What You Can (and Can't) Bring to the Parade Route
Alcohol is allowed on the street, but only inside a defined boundary and only in an approved cup. The city's FAQ page confirms the To-Go Cup Zone runs south of Forsyth Park, and on parade day itself — March 17 only — that zone extends all the way out to Victory Drive. Glass is a hard no anywhere in the zone; drinks have to go into an approved cup before they leave a bar or restaurant, and anyone buying alcohol needs a valid ID showing they're 21 or older.
Outside the To-Go Cup Zone, none of that applies — carrying a drink on the sidewalk outside the boundary is treated the same as any other day in Savannah. Knowing where that line sits before your group splits up between the squares and the restaurants along Bay Street saves an awkward conversation with an officer later in the day.
What Size Party Bus or Charter Bus Fits Your Parade Day Group
Group size on parade weekend runs the full range, from a dozen college friends meeting up for the day to a 40-person office outing that flew in for the long weekend. The full vehicle lineup covers every size in between.
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sprinter van rental | Up to ~14 | Small groups, hotel-to-Mass runs, VIP pickups |
| 25-passenger minibus rental | Up to 25 | Friend groups, extended family, one hotel block |
| 35-passenger minibus rental | Up to 35 | Larger reunions, wedding parties in town for the weekend |
| Savannah party bus rental | 15–40 | Groups that want the celebration to start on the ride in |
| Savannah charter bus rental | Up to 56 | Church groups, company outings, out-of-town parties |
For a group splitting time between the Cathedral, the squares, and a restaurant reservation later on, a minibus keeps everyone together without paying for seats you don't need. For a bigger party that wants music and lighting built into the ride down, a party bus rental in Savannah turns the drive itself into part of the celebration.
Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Bus Rental Prices
There's no single number here — the quote moves with vehicle size, total hours, how far the pickup is from downtown, and how close to March 17 you're booking. Compare options on the Savannah bus rental prices page, or call 912-774-0420 for a quote shaped around your exact date.
To give you an idea: a 24-person group booking a 30-passenger minibus for a 7-hour block — morning pickup, drop before the 8 a.m. route closure, and an evening meet point once the To-Go Cup Zone crowd thins out — runs somewhere in the neighborhood of $2,000 to $2,400 for the day, or roughly $85 to $100 a person. That figure moves with your date and hours, but it's a useful anchor for comparing against six garage permits at $25 apiece plus six designated-transportation provider headaches. Fill out the quick form or call 912-774-0420 and you can have pricing for your actual date in about a minute.
Flying or Driving in for Parade Weekend
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) sits at 400 Airways Avenue, about 10 miles northwest of downtown. The airport runs a free cell phone waiting lot for arriving-passenger pickups and valet service starting at 4:30 a.m., per its parking page — useful to know if part of your group is landing early on parade morning. A bus gathering your whole party at baggage claim beats splitting a dozen people across rideshares the moment they land into a city that's about to lock its downtown streets.
The Savannah airport transportation page covers pickup coordination in more detail.
Groups basing themselves outside the Historic District — a lot of parade weekend visitors do, since downtown hotels book out a year ahead — often stage from a shuttle-friendly hub instead. Enmarket Arena, on the city's western edge, is one of the pickup points the city itself runs a paid shuttle from on parade day, with rideshare and drop-off traffic already routed through its Lot B off W. Gwinnett Street. A group meeting there and riding a private bus in together skips the shuttle line entirely.
Leaving the Historic District After the Parade
The parade itself wraps up mid-afternoon, but the crowd doesn't clear out with it — the To-Go Cup Zone stays active the rest of March 17, and Bay Street and the riverfront stay packed well into the evening. Trying to call a rideshare from inside that crowd, with cell towers overloaded and transportation providers unable to get near the curb, is the single most common complaint from first-timers.
The fix is the same one that got your group in that morning: a preset meet point away from the densest blocks, agreed on before anyone's had a drink, at a time everyone can actually keep. Since the city isn't issuing a downtown-idling permit for an out-of-town coach, plan on the vehicle meeting your group at that same outer landmark rather than trying to nose back into the closure zone once the parade's over.
Building the Rest of Parade Weekend Around Your Bus
The parade itself is one day, but Savannah runs a full slate of events around it — the Greening of the Fountain at Forsyth Park, a Celtic Cross Ceremony at Emmet Park, and the Sgt. William Jasper Parade the evening before the big one, per the parade committee's own schedule of weekend events. A group flying or driving in for more than just the Tuesday parade often books a bus for the whole run, with the same vehicle handling the fountain-greening crowd on the weekend and the parade morning a few days later.
If your trip also lines up with a Savannah Bananas homestand once the season opens back up at Grayson Stadium, that guide covers its own drop-off and parking, separate from anything on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Bus Rentals
Can an out-of-town charter bus or party bus get a permit to operate in downtown Savannah during parade weekend?
No. The city's own FAQ states plainly that it is not issuing permits to any out-of-town motorcoaches during the weekend. That rule is aimed at outside operators trying to run their own attraction downtown, but it means any bus your group books should have a clear drop-off, staging, and pickup plan confirmed ahead of time rather than an assumption it can wait downtown between stops.
Where does a bus drop off for the parade?
The parade steps off from Gwinnett Street and Abercorn Street at 10:15 a.m. Getting your group dropped near that corridor before the 6 a.m. staging closure and 8 a.m. route closure beats arriving after the streets are already locked down.
What time do the parade route and Bay Street close on parade day?
The staging area closes to vehicles at 6 a.m., the route itself closes at 8 a.m., and Bay Street closes an hour later at 9 a.m. Any vehicle left on the route after 12:01 a.m. the night before is towed at the owner's expense.
When do the viewing squares open, and what's the Land Rush?
The seven official viewing squares — Taylor, Oglethorpe, Lafayette, Johnson, Wright, Madison, and Chippewa — open to the public at 6 a.m. on parade day. The rush to claim a spot the moment they open is known locally as the Land Rush; folding chairs can go out in the lawn areas starting at 5 p.m. the evening before.
What can we bring into the squares?
Tables, coolers, folding lawn chairs, and pop-up tents up to 10 by 10 feet are allowed. Grills, glass containers, styrofoam, amplified sound, kegs, scaffolding, and personal portable toilets are not. Everything has to be cleared out by 6 p.m. on parade day.
Is drinking on the street allowed?
Yes, inside the To-Go Cup Zone, which normally runs south of Forsyth Park but extends out to Victory Drive on March 17 only. Drinks must be in an approved cup, never glass, and anyone purchasing alcohol needs valid ID showing they're 21 or older.
Where can we park downtown if part of our group is driving?
City parking garages open to the public at 6 a.m. on parade day and charge a flat $25 rate. A pre-sale program lets you lock in a specific garage space in advance rather than arriving and hoping for an open spot, though permits are non-refundable once purchased.
What size bus fits our group?
A Sprinter van rental covers up to about 14 people for a small group or VIP pickup, a 25- or 35-passenger minibus rental fits mid-size friend and family groups, and a Savannah charter bus rental or party bus rental scales up to 56 for larger church, company, or out-of-town parties.
How much does it cost to rent a bus for the parade?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours, and how far your pickup is from downtown. To give you an idea, a 24-person group on a 30-passenger minibus for a 7-hour day has run around $2,000 to $2,400. Call 912-774-0420 or use the online tool for a quote on your date.
What's the closest airport for a group flying in?
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), about 10 miles from downtown. It runs a free cell phone waiting lot and valet service starting at 4:30 a.m., useful for groups landing early on parade morning.
How does pickup work once the parade is over?
Set a meet point away from the densest blocks before your group splits up, since cell service inside the crowd is unreliable and the city isn't issuing a downtown-idling permit for an out-of-town coach. The bus meets your group at that landmark rather than trying to re-enter the closure zone.
How far in advance should we book?
As early as your date is set. Downtown hotels book out roughly a year ahead for parade weekend, and vehicles for the surrounding days — the Greening of the Fountain, the Jasper Parade, and parade day itself — go the same way.
Book Your Savannah St. Patrick's Day Parade Bus Today
The city has already told you the one rule that matters most: no weekend permits for an out-of-town motorcoach, no idling downtown between Mass and the parade. Everything else — the 6 a.m. Land Rush, the 8 a.m. route closure, the $25 garages, the To-Go Cup Zone — is just timing.
Compare a Savannah party bus rental or charter bus rental through Savannahminibuscompany.com, lock in a real drop-off and pickup plan, and let the rest of the group worry about which square to claim. Call 912-774-0420 or use the online tool any time for a quote on your date.
