TLDR: Charter buses and party buses load and unload at the lower-level terminal curb on Herb Kelleher Way at Dallas Love Field — no nine-minute walk to a rideshare lot, no circling a parking garage. At roughly 10 miles from Irving, Love Field is usually the closer, simpler airport for Dallas-Fort Worth groups who don't need DFW's five terminals. Fill out the quick form or call 945-455-4460 and you can compare vehicles and pricing for your Love Field pickup in about a minute.
If your group is flying Southwest out of Dallas, there's a good chance it's departing from Dallas Love Field (8008 Herb Kelleher Way, Dallas, TX 75235) instead of DFW — and that's actually good news for anyone based in Irving or the surrounding cities. Love Field runs a single 20-gate terminal, sits about 10 miles from Irving, and keeps its commercial vehicle curb right at the bottom of the terminal. The question that actually matters for a group trip is simple: where does the bus load, where do rideshares end up walking from instead, and what does it cost to park if part of your crew is driving in to meet everyone?
This guide breaks all of that down using Love Field's own published pickup rules, current parking rates, and real drive times from Irving and the neighboring cities most groups start from. For the rest of your Irving trip planning, see the Irving airport transportation page or the Irving group transportation services page.
Charter Bus & Party Bus Drop-Off at Dallas Love Field
Dallas Love Field routes all buses to the lower-level terminal curb along Herb Kelleher Way, the same curb baggage claim empties out onto, per the airport's own ground transportation page. That means a charter bus or party bus pulls up right where your group is already standing with luggage — no separate lot, no shuttle connection, no walk across a parking structure.
The catch is timing. Love Field only allows active loading and unloading at that curb — idling and staging there is not permitted. A vehicle that arrives early to wait for a delayed flight is directed to the designated staging area on Aubrey Avenue near the airport entrance and comes back to the curb once your group is at the door with bags in hand.
That's a detail worth knowing before you land, because it means someone in your group should be ready to call for pickup the moment everyone's off the plane, not five minutes before.
Dallas City Code also requires charter and intercity buses to register as a transportation service provider with the city's Transportation Regulation office before they can load at Love Field. It's a paperwork step, not a curb-side one — worth sorting out well ahead of your travel date rather than discovering it the morning of a flight.
The whole advantage of a charter bus at Love Field is the curb itself. Rideshares and most taxis don't get that close anymore — they walk. A charter bus or party bus loads exactly where your group already is.
Where Rideshares and Taxis Pick Up at Love Field Instead
Dallas Love Field moved its Uber and Lyft pickup point to the valet pavilion near Garage C and ticketing on the terminal's southeast side in January 2025, replacing the old Garage B pickup spot. According to CBS News Texas' coverage of the move, the change cut the average walk from about 10 minutes down to roughly 6 minutes — still a real hike for a group hauling bags after a flight, especially in a Texas summer. Taxi and other on-demand rides now stage at Garage C, level one, a separate walk in a different direction.
That's the gap a bus closes. Instead of your group splitting across three or four rideshares, each one walking a different direction to a different pickup point, one charter bus or party bus meets everyone together at the lower-level curb and the whole crew leaves in one vehicle. For a wedding party, a sports team, or a group of ten-plus flying in for a weekend, that alone is worth the call.
Dallas Love Field or DFW Airport: Which Is Closer for an Irving Group?
Irving sits almost exactly between Dallas's two commercial airports, so the choice of which one your group flies into (or which terminal your team is dropping off at) actually changes the trip. Here's how the two compare for a group coordinating one pickup point:
| Detail | Dallas Love Field (DAL) | DFW International (DFW) |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from Irving | ~10 miles | ~10–12 miles |
| Terminal layout | One terminal, 20 gates | Five terminals (A–E), connected by the Skylink train |
| Primary carrier | Southwest Airlines (about 18 of 20 gates) | American Airlines hub, plus most other major carriers |
| Bus/charter curb | Lower-level curb, Herb Kelleher Way | Curb varies by terminal |
| Best fit | Domestic Southwest connections, closer-in Dallas groups | International flights, groups flying carriers other than Southwest |
The single-terminal setup is the real difference for a group. At DFW's five terminals, connected by a free Skylink train that runs continuously with trains arriving every couple of minutes, passengers who land in one terminal and passengers who land in another still need that train ride just to reach each other before your bus can even load everyone at once. At Love Field, every gate feeds the same baggage claim and the same lower-level curb — so a group flying in on separate Southwest flights still ends up walking out the same set of doors.
If your group is scattered across DFW's terminals instead, the DFW International Airport shuttle guide breaks down that airport's terminal-by-terminal pickup rules.
Dallas Love Field Parking, Cell Phone Lot & Waiting Options
If part of your group is driving in to meet others at Love Field, or you need a vehicle to wait during a short layover, it helps to know what parking actually costs here. Per the airport's garages and valet page, current daily rates run $24/day in Garage A (the closest to the ticketing hall), $21/day covered or $18/day on the uncovered roof in Garage B, and $21–$30/day in Garage C depending on level, with contactless valet running $35/day. Those are per-car rates, so a group of five cars easily runs $100–$150 a day just to sit in a garage.
For anyone simply picking someone up, Love Field's cell phone waiting lot is free and sits at the northeast corner of Hawes Street and Herb Kelleher Way, per the cell phone lot page. It works fine for one car meeting one flight — but it isn't built for a bus holding a group's worth of luggage, which is exactly why charter buses instead stage on Aubrey Avenue and roll to the curb once your group calls.
Groups without a car at all can also reach Love Field on DART's Love Link 55, a free shuttle connecting the terminal to the Inwood/Love Field rail station seven days a week. It's a solid option for one or two travelers connecting to DART's Green or Orange Line — but it isn't built for a group with matching luggage and a tight schedule, which is where a private bus takes over.
Party Bus & Charter Bus Rental Sizes for a Dallas Love Field Pickup
How many people are actually on the flight, and how much luggage is coming with them, decides which vehicle makes sense for a Love Field run. Here's how the sizes break down:
| Vehicle | Typical seats | Luggage room | Best fit for a Love Field trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-passenger Sprinter limo / Sprinter Van Rental with Driver | Up to ~14 | Moderate — carry-ons plus a few checked bags | Small business groups, wedding parties, families flying in together |
| 15–25-passenger party bus | ~15–25 | Onboard storage, lighter loads | Bachelorette or birthday groups arriving together on one flight |
| 15-35 passenger minibus | ~15–35 | Overhead plus underfloor bays | Mid-size teams and church or school groups |
| 40-56 passenger charter bus | Up to 56 | Deep undercarriage bays | Sports teams, conventions, and large wedding or corporate groups |
For a single flight's worth of passengers who all checked bags, the undercarriage bays on a 40-56 passenger charter bus or a 15-35 passenger minibus hold far more luggage than trunk space ever will. Larger groups landing on separate flights — a 30-passenger or 50-passenger party bus, for example — can also hold at the curb for a second wave of arrivals instead of splitting into rideshares while everyone waits. See the full vehicle lineup to compare every size side by side.
Dallas Love Field Airport Shuttle & Bus Rental Prices
There's no flat number for a Love Field run, since the price depends on vehicle size, how many hours the vehicle is reserved, and where your group is headed once everyone's off the plane. To give you an idea: 14-passenger Sprinter vans and limos typically run $130–$275/hour; 15–20 passenger party buses run $140–$300/hour; 20–30 passenger party buses run $170–$350/hour; 35–50 passenger party buses and minibuses run $250–$420/hour; and 40-56 passenger charter buses run $140–$260/hour or $1,100–$2,100/day. Real pricing always moves with the date, the vehicle, and how many hours you need — so the fastest way to see an accurate number is to fill out the quick form or call 945-455-4460, and you can have pricing for your specific trip in about a minute.
Split across a group, one bus from Love Field routinely beats a handful of separate rideshares once surge pricing and multiple pickup points enter the picture — and it beats paying $18–$30 a day per car if several members of your group were going to park and drive in separately. Check the Irving party bus prices page for a fuller breakdown of what shapes the rate.
Drive Times to Dallas Love Field from Irving and Nearby Cities
Love Field's location just northwest of downtown Dallas makes it a manageable drive from most of the western Metroplex. Approximate distances and drive times, off-peak, before flight-time traffic:
| From… | Approx. distance | Typical drive time (off-peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Irving | ~10 miles | 15–20 minutes |
| Downtown Dallas | ~6 miles | 10–15 minutes |
| Carrollton | ~14 miles | 20–25 minutes |
| Grapevine | ~18 miles | 25–30 minutes |
| Plano | ~20 miles | 25–30 minutes |
| DFW International Airport | ~14–17 miles | 20–25 minutes |
Those numbers stretch out fast around morning and evening rush on I-35E and the Dallas North Tollway corridor, the two main routes most western-suburb groups use to reach Love Field. Build in extra time for an early-morning flight departure, and remember the curb only allows active loading — so a bus arriving in heavy traffic still needs to find your group standing curbside and ready, not circling back for a second pass.
Groups coming from farther out get the same benefit regardless of distance: one bus from Grapevine, Carrollton, Plano, Arlington, or Grand Prairie means the whole group shows up together at the curb instead of trickling in across separate cars and separate parking receipts.
Who Rents a Bus for a Dallas Love Field Airport Run
A Love Field pickup or drop-off shows up for a wide range of trips through this site, not just business travel. Common requests include:
- Corporate teams. Flying staff or clients in for a meeting or conference and needing one coordinated ride from the curb to a downtown hotel — see corporate event transportation.
- Wedding parties. Out-of-town guests landing together and heading straight to a rehearsal dinner or hotel block — see wedding party bus rental.
- Bachelorette and bachelor groups. A crew flying in for a weekend who wants the celebration to start the moment the bus pulls away from the curb — see bachelor and bachelorette party bus rental.
- Sports fans and traveling teams. Groups flying in for a Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium or a Mavericks or Stars game at American Airlines Center, going straight from baggage claim to the venue — see sporting event transportation.
- Concert and tour groups. Bands, crews, or fan groups arriving for a show at Toyota Music Factory — see concert bus rental.
Whatever the occasion, the same logic applies: one bus meets your whole group at the same curb, no matter how many separate flights everyone's on.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas Love Field Bus Rentals
Where do charter buses and party buses pick up at Dallas Love Field?
Charter buses and party buses load and unload at the lower-level terminal curb along Herb Kelleher Way, the same curb baggage claim opens onto. Only active loading and unloading is allowed at that curb; a vehicle waiting on a delayed flight stages instead in the designated area on Aubrey Avenue near the airport entrance and returns to the curb once your group is ready.
How is that different from where Uber and Lyft pick up?
Rideshare pickup moved to the valet pavilion near Garage C and ticketing on the terminal's southeast side in January 2025 — about a six-minute walk from baggage claim, down from roughly ten minutes at the old Garage B location. Taxis and other on-demand rides pick up separately at Garage C, level one. A charter bus meets your group at the curb instead, with no walk to either location.
Is Dallas Love Field or DFW closer to Irving?
They're close to a wash on raw distance — Love Field runs about 10 miles from Irving and DFW runs roughly 10 to 12 miles, depending on which DFW terminal. The bigger difference is layout: Love Field is one terminal with 20 gates, while DFW spreads across five terminals connected by the free Skylink train, which matters if your group is landing on flights that arrive at different terminals.
How much does it cost to rent a bus to Dallas Love Field?
Pricing depends on vehicle size, hours reserved, and your destination once the group is off the plane. To give you an idea: Sprinter vans and limos run $130–$275/hour, 15–20 passenger party buses run $140–$300/hour, and full-size charter buses run $140–$260/hour or $1,100–$2,100/day. Fill out the quick form or call 945-455-4460 for pricing on your exact trip in about a minute.
Is there free parking at Dallas Love Field for someone picking up my group?
Yes — the cell phone waiting lot at the corner of Hawes Street and Herb Kelleher Way is free for anyone waiting on an arriving flight. It works well for a single car, but it isn't set up to hold a group's worth of luggage, which is why buses stage separately on Aubrey Avenue instead.
What does parking cost at Love Field if part of my group is driving?
Garage A runs about $24/day, Garage B runs $21/day covered or $18/day on the uncovered roof, and Garage C runs $21–$30/day depending on level, with contactless valet at $35/day. Multiply that by a handful of cars for a multi-day trip and it adds up fast compared to one bus.
Can I get to Dallas Love Field without a car?
Yes — DART's free Love Link 55 shuttle connects the terminal to the Inwood/Love Field rail station seven days a week, with access to DART's Green and Orange Lines. It's a fine option for one or two travelers but isn't built for a group traveling with matching luggage on a schedule.
Which airlines fly out of Dallas Love Field?
Southwest Airlines operates the large majority of flights out of Love Field, using about 18 of the terminal's 20 gates, since the airport is Southwest's home base. A handful of other carriers use the remaining gates on a rotating basis.
Do I need to share my flight number when booking?
It's a good idea to share your flight details when you request pricing so the pickup can be timed to when your group actually reaches the curb with luggage, especially since the curb only allows active loading and no waiting.
How far in advance should I request a bus for a Love Field trip?
The earlier the better, especially around Southwest's busiest travel windows — spring break, the December holidays, and any weekend tied to a Cowboys, Mavericks, or Stars home game downtown. For most other dates, a couple of weeks of lead time keeps your options open.
Book Your Dallas Love Field Airport Shuttle Today
Whether your group is landing together on one Southwest flight or trickling in across a few, getting everyone from the Love Field curb to your hotel, the venue, or straight back to Irving is easiest with one bus instead of a handful of separate rides. Also flying a team into DFW instead? The DFW International Airport shuttle guide covers that airport's terminal-by-terminal drop-off, and groups headed straight to a game or show can check the AT&T Stadium or Toyota Music Factory guides for that leg of the trip.
Fill out the quick form or call 945-455-4460 any time to compare vehicles and all-inclusive pricing for your Dallas Love Field pickup — no account needed, and you get a free quote in about a minute.
