Chicago takes St. Patrick's Day seriously — the river turns green, the streets shut down, and the beer starts flowing at 8 AM. You need a party bus.
The River Dyeing and Parade Route
The Chicago River gets dyed green at 9:00 AM near Columbus Drive and Wacker. The downtown parade runs on Columbus from Balbo to Monroe starting at noon. Separately, the South Side Irish Parade on Western Avenue is a neighborhood tradition. A party bus lets you hit both — watch the river dyeing from Wacker Drive, cruise to the South Side for the parade, then head to the bars.
Irish Pub Crawl Party Bus Itinerary
10 AM: Pickup. 10:30 AM: The Kerryman (River North) for the first pint. 12 PM: Watch the downtown parade from the bus, parked on Michigan Avenue. 1:30 PM: Fado Irish Pub (River North). 3 PM: The Galway Arms (Lincoln Park). 5 PM: Chief O'Neill's (Avondale). 7 PM: Drop-off or continue to dinner. 8-9 hours covers the full St. Patrick's Day experience.
Pricing and Availability (Book in January)
St. Patrick's Day is our #3 busiest day after NYE and Halloween. Party bus rates on March 17: $250-300/hour. Most groups book 6-8 hours. Book by late January — by March 1, most buses are reserved. Saturday celebrations (if March 17 falls on a weekday) are equally busy.
What to Bring and What to Leave Behind
Bring: green everything, beer (BYOB allowed), water, snacks, a Bluetooth speaker backup. Leave behind: glass bottles (cans only on the bus), glitter (it's impossible to clean), and any attitude that isn't celebratory. Wear layers — March in Chicago means 30-50 degrees and you'll be getting on and off the bus all day.
Book Your St. Paddy's Bus
Call (224) 801-3090 or reserve at /book. Green bus decorations included at no extra charge for March 17 bookings.
From the Driver's Seat
Chauffeur notes — Viktor, 5 years with Royal Carriage
For Wrigleyville bar crawls I stage the party bus on Seminary between Addison and Waveland because Sheffield gets closed off on game days. I coordinate with the group leader by text so we're not blocking a bike lane with 28 people boarding.
Last updated: 2026-04-05. Route tested spring 2026.
Key Points
- Flat-rate pricing, no surge charges
- 24/7 dispatch, live Chicago-based staff
- Call (224) 801-3090 or book online at /book
- Licensed, insured, and background-checked chauffeurs
Transparent Pricing for Chicago Service
| Vehicle | Capacity | Hourly | Airport Transfer (one-way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Sedan (Cadillac XTS / Lincoln Continental) | 1-3 | $95/hr | $125-165 |
| Luxury SUV (Cadillac Escalade / Chevy Suburban) | 1-6 | $125/hr | $165-225 |
| Stretch Limousine (10-pax) | 8-10 | $165/hr | Quote |
| Mercedes Sprinter Van | 10-14 | $175/hr | $245-325 |
| Party Bus (20-pax) | 16-20 | $245/hr | Quote |
All rates include chauffeur, fuel, bottled water, and standard wait time. 20% gratuity customary. No hidden surge pricing — ever. Quoted rates valid 2026.
Vehicle Selection Guidance
Royal Carriage maintains a late-model fleet of sedans, SUVs, stretch limos, Sprinter vans, and party buses. Every vehicle carries commercial insurance well above the Illinois minimum, undergoes monthly safety inspections, and is detailed between runs. Chauffeurs complete a 40-hour training program covering Chicago geography, defensive driving, and concierge etiquette before their first solo run.
- Business attire standard: Chauffeurs arrive in suit and tie with a printed name placard if you request one.
- Child seats: Available at no charge with 24-hour notice — infant, convertible, and booster.
- Accessibility: Several SUVs are wheelchair-accessible with rear-entry ramps; request at booking.
- Flight tracking: We monitor every pickup against your flight number and adjust automatically for delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people fit on your party buses?
Our fleet includes 16-, 20-, 25-, and 30-passenger party buses. For groups over 30, we'll dispatch multiple buses and coordinate arrival/departure together.
What's on board?
Leather wraparound seating, LED color-changing lights, premium sound system with Bluetooth/AUX, laser lights, dance pole on select units, fiber-optic ceilings, mini-bars stocked with ice and mixers, and privacy tinted windows.
Can we bring our own alcohol?
Yes, 21+ passengers only. We provide ice, cups, bottled water, and soda. No glass bottles for safety reasons — cans and plastic only.
Is there a minimum rental time?
4-hour minimum on Friday and Saturday nights, 3-hour minimum weekdays. Most bar crawls and bachelor/ette parties book 5-6 hours to cover multiple stops.
Do you handle the route and stops?
You give us the stops, we handle logistics. Our chauffeurs know which bars have good curb space, where to park a party bus without a ticket, and the fastest routes between neighborhoods.
What's the deposit?
25% deposit to confirm, balance due 72 hours before the event. All major credit cards accepted — no cash required.
Why Chicago Riders Choose Royal Carriage
We've been moving Chicagoans since 2009. Unlike rideshare, every Royal Carriage chauffeur is a W-2 employee, not a gig contractor — meaning consistent training, background-checked drivers, and accountability on every ride. Our dispatch runs 24/7 out of a staffed Chicago office (not an overseas call center), and the person who books your ride is the same person who'll answer if your flight gets rerouted to Milwaukee at 2 a.m.
We serve the entire Chicagoland area: downtown Loop, River North, West Loop, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park, and every North Shore and West Suburban community, plus O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) with full flight tracking.
Book Your Chicago Limo
Ready to ride? Reserve online in under 60 seconds or call our 24/7 dispatch.
- Book online: royalcarriagelimo.com/book
- Call/text: (224) 801-3090
- Email: dispatch@royalcarriagelimo.com
We confirm every reservation by text within 15 minutes and send your chauffeur's name, photo, and live location 30 minutes before pickup.
Last updated: 2026-04-07. Pricing subject to change. Book online or call (224) 801-3090 for a current quote.