Know Before You Go: Charter Bus Guidelines in Houston

Houston is a pretty bus-friendly city in terms of where you can go, but there are some general rules to keep in mind while navigating through H-Town, so you don’t incur any fines or fees.

Charter buses in Houston may NOT:

• Idle for more than five minutes
• Park on a public street between 2 AM - 6 AM.
• Park on any street in a residential district (except for active loading and unloading)
• Park on a public street for more than 2 hours
• Block Houston METRO stops, red curbs, or fire lanes

For more details on these guidelines, check out the official PARKHOUSTON large/commercial vehicles parking page. These rules are subject to change, so we recommend checking to make sure you have the most up-to-date parking information before setting out on your Houston charter bus rental.     

Now that we’ve gone over some of the basics, continue reading to learn about how to take a bus rental in Houston to popular destinations in the city!

Houston Zoo

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

All Houston Zoo loading/unloading happens at Hermann Park Drive curbside, between Gates 4 and 7.

Charter Bus Parking

Buses can park on Hermann Park Drive between Gates 4 and 7, the same area as drop-off and pick-up. Parking at Hermann Park is usually free, but you can always double-check before your visit by calling the Zoo’s team at 713-533-6500.

Charter Bus Staging

No need to stage here; your bus can stay and park right where it dropped you off.

Helpful Tips

Sometimes Hermann Park Drive will be one way during heavy traffic, and vehicles will not be able to enter the park from Cambridge. In this case, continue on Cambridge until you arrive at Fannin. A right on Fannin or Main will take you to a roundabout. From the roundabout, turn right onto Hermann Park Drive and continue through the park to reach the Zoo.

Museum District

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

The Houston Museum District is made up of 21 individual institutions, all concentrated in a two mile stretch in South Central Houston. You’ll want to coordinate with your driver on which museum you’re visiting for the best possible drop-off and pick-up spots, but some that we recommend are:

• Children’s Museum Houston: Use the front entrance on 1500 Binz Street
• Institutions inside Hermann Park, including Houston Museum of Natural Science: Use Hermann Dr or Caroline Street
• Houston Museum of African American Culture: Use the front entrance on 4807 Caroline Street

Charter Bus Parking

Charter buses can park in:

• Free surface lots at Hermann Park, which is only a short drive away. These lots tend to fill up quickly, so make sure to have a back-up plan in case you’re unable to park there.
• If Hermann Park is full, paid parking lots are available near the museum district. Not all of these lots are charter bus accessible, so make sure to plan ahead and know which lots are accessible to your vehicle.

If you’re still unsure of where to park, call the museum you’re visiting to see if they have any recommendations. They help coordinate group tours every day and are usually familiar with the different parking options nearby.

Charter Bus Staging

For most museums, charter buses can stage on a street next to the building while it waits for you to come outside. However, charter buses cannot idle for more than five minutes, so make sure your group is outside and ready to go when your driver gets there.

Helpful Tips

Since the Museum District is made up of so many individual institutions, there are no “blanket regulations” for the area, so make sure to check the bus parking guidelines for each specific institution you’re visiting before you get there.

George R. Brown Convention Center & Discovery Green

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

George R. Brown Convention Center allows drop-off and pick-up at two different locations:

• One on the north side of the building outside of Hall B on Avenida de las Americas
• And another on the south side of the building outside of Hall E on Avenida de las Americas.

Charter Bus Parking

GRB’s official parking lots are not accessible to charter buses, so you’ll need to plan ahead for a nearby surface lot that’s accessible to your vehicle. This Downtown Houston interactive parking map shows where you can find nearby parking for different downtown destinations, along with how much it will cost.

Charter Bus Staging

Your Houston charter bus can stage on Avenida de las Americas, but for no longer than five minutes.

Helpful Tips

Have your group ready and waiting to board before your charter bus arrives to pick you up. There’s a lot of traffic in Downtown Houston, and it might take a long time for your bus to circle back around should it have to move due to idling restrictions.

Downtown Aquarium

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

There is no official drop-off and pick-up area at the Downtown Aquarium but many charter buses will load and unload passengers on Preston Street or Bagby Street, near the front entrance at 410 Bagby Street.

Charter Bus Parking

Downtown Aquarium’s official parking lot is not accessible to charter buses, so you’ll need to plan ahead for a nearby surface lot that’s accessible to your vehicle. This Downtown Houston interactive parking map shows where you can find nearby parking for different downtown destinations, along with how much it will cost.

Charter Bus Staging

Your Houston charter bus can stage on Preston Street, but for no longer than five minutes.

Helpful Tips

There are some other areas near the Downtown Aquarium where you can coordinate drop-off or pick-up with your driver, such as the George Bush Monument in Buffalo Bayou, but we do not recommend using Baker Common, as getting there requires you to walk along the very busy Mosbacher Bridge.  

The Galleria

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

There is no official drop-off and pick-up area at The Galleria, but many charter buses will load and unload passengers on Alabama Street, near the Banana Republic entrance at 5135 Alabama Street.

Charter Bus Parking

The Galleria’s official parking lots are not accessible to charter buses, so you’ll need to plan ahead for a nearby surface lot that’s accessible to your vehicle. There is some limited street parking available on Alabama Street, but we recommend having a backup plan in place if none is available.

Charter Bus Staging

Your Houston charter bus can stage on Alabama Street, but for no longer than five minutes.

Helpful Tips

Because there is limited charter bus parking around The Galleria, consider having your bus head back to your hotel’s parking lot until it is time to be picked up if it is convenient. You can also call The Galleria’s parking team at 713-966-3568 to double check any parking information before you arrive. 

Space Center Houston

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Visitors at Space Center Houston can be dropped off and picked up at the Space Center’s main entrance.

Charter Bus Parking

• Charter buses can park at Space Center Houston’s official parking lot, where there is lots of parking available for oversized vehicles and buses.
• The Space Center’s group visit information page recommends using this address for navigating to their parking lot: 1601 E NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058.
• Parking is typically $10 per vehicle, but this fee is waived for buses.

Charter Bus Staging

• Your Houston charter bus can remain in the parking lot until it is time for pick-up.
• Your charter bus driver can enjoy free admission to the Space Center during your visit, just tell them to present their CDL to the guest services desk upon arrival.

Helpful Tips

Many items, such as weapons (including pocketknives), oversized bags, and large camera equipment, are not allowed at Space Center Houston, and should be left at home or on your vehicle during your visit. For a full list of prohibited items, check out their official visitor information page.

Reserve a Charter Bus Rental in Houston for Your Next Group Trip

Whether your destination is nearby, far away, or somewhere in between, trust our knowledgeable team and reliable bus rentals to get you there. Call us anytime, 24/7/365, at (346) 460-5637 to learn more and receive a free, no-obligation charter bus quote when you share your itinerary!