Rent a Bus to Eppley Airfield: The Complete Transportation Guide

If you are moving 15, 30, or 56 people through Omaha's Eppley Airfield (OMA), the question that keeps a group organizer up at night is deceptively simple: where exactly will the bus be when everyone rolls off the escalator with luggage? It is the one detail most airport transportation pages skim past — and the one that decides whether your group glides out of baggage claim together or scatters across two different terminals looking for each other.

This guide answers it plainly, using the airport's own published procedures, and then walks through everything else a group trip needs: which vehicle fits your party, how the 2025 terminal split changes the pickup process, and how long the ride is to downtown Omaha, the Old Market, the Hilton Omaha, and the major event venues nearby. At Party Bus In Omaha, OMA is our home airport — we operate these pickups constantly, so the advice below comes from actually doing it, not from a brochure. For the full picture of how we handle group airport transfers across the metro, see our Omaha airport transportation service.

What Is Eppley Airfield and Why Groups Need a Plan

Eppley Airfield sits three miles northeast of downtown Omaha, right along the Missouri River, and it is the busiest airport in Nebraska by a wide margin. Seven airlines — Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United — operate roughly 70 departures daily to 35 nonstop destinations from here, with Southwest holding the largest share at 37% of passengers. The airport handled over 5.2 million passengers in 2025, setting records for the second straight year.

It is also in the middle of a major transformation. The Build OMA program — a $950 million terminal modernization project — split the airport into two physically separated terminals beginning in early 2025. That split stays in place until a unified terminal opens in 2027.

For a group of 25 people trying to find each other after landing on different flights or at different concourses, this is the single most important operational fact at OMA right now. Know it before you book, and your group stays together. Miss it, and someone ends up standing outside the wrong baggage carousel.

The 2025 Terminal Split: What Your Group Needs to Know

Starting February 17, 2025, the central portion of Eppley's terminal closed for construction. The airport now operates as two distinct, physically separated facilities with no interior walkway between them.

South Terminal (Concourse A, Gates A1–A10) serves Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Frontier Airlines. Baggage claims 1 through 3 are in the South Terminal.

North Terminal (Concourse B, Gates B11–B19) serves Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. Baggage claims 4 through 6 are in the North Terminal.

To move between the two terminals, passengers must exit the building and walk across Terminal Drive using designated crosswalks. There is no indoor connection. For a group where half the party flies Southwest and the other half flies American, that means two separate baggage claims, two separate exit points, and a real coordination problem at curbside — unless everyone knows exactly where to regroup.

A charter bus with a pre-confirmed meet point solves this: one location, everyone heads there, no one wanders.

Where Your Bus Picks Up and Drops Off at OMA

Here is the part most rental guides leave fuzzy. So let's go straight to the source.

According to the Omaha Airport Authority's official passenger pickup and drop-off guidance, the primary pick-up area has relocated to Level 1 of the South Garage due to the ongoing Terminal Drive & Canopy Project construction. Vehicles entering Level 1 of the South Garage are not charged parking rates during this phase. The South Garage connects to the terminal via open crosswalks and skywalks on multiple levels.

A critical rule the airport makes explicit: your traveler must be waiting outside the terminal before you enter the pick-up area. Parking your vehicle in the pick-up area while you wait for passengers to emerge is not permitted. That rule is why coordinating your meet point in advance — and having a clear signal system for when everyone has bags in hand — is so important for a large group.

For rideshare pickups specifically, the official Ride App Pickup area is in Section D3 on the Ground Floor of the South Garage, accessible via terminal skywalks or any open crosswalk. That zone has designated vehicle stalls and a passenger waiting area with benches.

For commercial vehicles — including charter buses — the airport designates a commercial vehicle curbside lane. Passengers with disabilities using commercial vehicles are specifically directed to use this commercial curbside for pickup and drop-off. If any operational or permitting questions come up on arrival day, the Airport Communications Center can be reached at (402) 661-8100.

The Cell Phone Lots: Where to Wait While You Wait for Your Group

OMA provides two free cell phone waiting lots on the east side of Abbott Drive — one north and one south of the terminal building. These are the waiting areas for anyone whose passenger is not yet at the curb. A bus can wait here while your group collects luggage and assembles, then pull into the South Garage Level 1 pickup area the moment everyone is ready.

No circling, no timer running on a paid parking spot. Call 402-973-1398 when your group is assembled and moving toward the exit — that is the signal to pull in.

Confirm the Meet Point When You Book — Here Is Why It Matters Now

The Build OMA project is actively changing traffic patterns, crosswalk routes, and pickup zones. As of March 2026, the project is more than 50% complete and on schedule, but phases continue to open and shift through the projected 2027 unified-terminal opening. Any guide that quotes a fixed "pull up to Door X" instruction may be describing a configuration that has already changed.

When you book with Party Bus In Omaha, our team confirms your group's current meet point for your specific travel date — because we operate these pickups regularly and track the construction phases. That is the difference between a static page and a live service. We always recommend checking the OMA construction navigation maps before you travel to see the current layout.

Which Vehicle Fits Your Group?

The right vehicle is the one that seats everyone comfortably and handles the luggage. For airport runs, luggage capacity matters just as much as headcount — a group of 20 with a week's worth of checked bags in a Nebraska winter needs different geometry than 20 people headed to an afternoon game with carry-ons. Here is how the fleet breaks down for OMA runs.

A full-size charter bus seats up to 56 passengers with deep undercarriage bays — the right choice when your whole group lands on the same flight and everyone has a week's worth of checked bags. For smaller transfers, a minibus with powerful A/C and plush reclining seats handles mid-size groups without making anyone pay for seats they do not need. Need wheelchair-accessible seating or space for sporting equipment?

Mention it when you request a quote and the booking gets matched to the right vehicle for the job.

What a Group Airport Transfer Costs at OMA

Group bus pricing is quote-based, not a sticker number. Your quote is shaped by a few straightforward factors:

• Vehicle size — a 56-passenger charter bus and a 14-passenger Sprinter limo are different rates.
• Distance and destination — OMA to downtown Omaha is a short hop; OMA to Lincoln on I-80 is a longer run that factors into the rate.
• Total hours — how long the vehicle is dedicated to your group, including any hold time while flights land.
• One-way vs. round-trip — many airport jobs are one-way; others need a return pickup after the event.

For real ranges: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–35 passenger minibuses run $150–$300/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. Here is the value point: once a group grows past a handful of people, coordinating rideshares or rental cars starts to cost more in fares, more in time, and far more in coordination headaches. A single bus with deep undercarriage storage handles everyone's bags in one move and delivers the whole group to the same door — not scattered across several different rideshare drop points.

Call 402-973-1398 for an all-inclusive quote, or use our online tool for instant pricing in under 30 seconds.

Drive Times From OMA to Omaha Destinations

One of OMA's real advantages for groups is how close it sits to the city center. The airport is just three miles northeast of downtown, and in normal traffic the drive to most Omaha hotels and venues takes 10 to 20 minutes. For groups coming from Lincoln or Council Bluffs, the math shifts a bit, but the airport is still the most convenient gateway for everyone traveling to the metro area.

These are normal-traffic estimates. During the College World Series in June, Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Weekend in May, and major Creighton or UNO games, downtown congestion can add 10 to 20 minutes to the trip. A charter bus navigates those conditions so your group arrives at the hotel — not circling a parking garage at 10 p.m. with four suitcases each.

Bus vs. Rideshare vs. Rental Cars: The Honest Comparison for Groups

OMA offers solid ground transportation options: rideshare in Section D3, on-airport rental cars, taxis, and a handful of shared shuttle services. They each have a place. Here is the honest comparison for a group.

The math is simple: as soon as your party outgrows two or three cars — or when any member of the group has oversized luggage, mobility needs, or a tight connection to make — the coordination cost of separate vehicles outweighs the convenience. One bus turns a logistics problem into a non-event. There is also a terminal-split argument: with two baggage claims now operating at OMA, a single chartered vehicle with one confirmed pickup point prevents the scenario where half the group ends up at South Terminal and half at North Terminal waiting for each other in the cold.

Trip Types We Operate Through OMA

Different groups, same goal: everyone arrives together, relaxed, and on time. A few of the runs we coordinate most often through Eppley Airfield:

• Wedding parties. Out-of-town guests flying in from five different cities — one bus collects them from baggage claim, delivers them to the hotel block, and runs return transfers to the reception venue later that weekend. No rental car caravan, no guest getting lost on I-480 after dark.
• Corporate and convention groups. Executives and attendees landing for a conference at the Hilton Omaha or the CHI Health Center convention space. One coordinated transfer puts everyone at the same door at the same time, without the awkward rideshare scramble when flights arrive five minutes apart.
• College World Series fan groups. Groups flying into OMA specifically for the tournament at Charles Schwab Field, just 3.5 miles from the airport. The June booking window fills fast — early reservation matters.
• Sports teams and athletic programs. Rosters, coaches, and gear all need to land in one vehicle. A full-size charter bus with deep undercarriage bays handles duffel bags, equipment trunks, and a full team in one coordinated move.
• Family reunions. Grandparents to grandkids in a single comfortable ride to the hotel, no rental car required and no one left figuring out Omaha's one-way downtown streets for the first time.
• Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Weekend groups. Every May, tens of thousands of investors and delegations fly into OMA. The airport and the hotels around the Hilton Omaha book up. A pre-arranged charter bus transfer is how larger delegations arrive on schedule without competing for surge-priced rideshares.

Multi-Stop Airport Transfers and Picking Up Guests at Multiple Hotels

Your airport transfer rarely ends at a single curb. A single charter bus can stop at several hotels to pick up guests on the way out for a departure run, or make a loop of the hotels on arrival night so every guest lands at the right property without anyone driving. For corporate events at the CHI Health Center or conventions using multiple downtown hotels, a shuttle loop running between OMA, the Hilton Omaha (1001 Cass Street), and the Marriott blocks on Harney Street keeps the whole delegation moving together without coordinating a fleet of rideshares.

For Berkshire Hathaway weekend, where dozens of delegations arrive over a 48-hour window, a pre-planned shuttle schedule with a single phone number to call is the cleanest answer to what is otherwise an impossible logistics problem. Tell us your arrival times, your hotel, and how many people are in each wave — the rest is coordinated from there. Call 402-973-1398 and we will build the itinerary around your flight schedule.

Departure Runs: Getting Your Group to OMA on Time

Outbound runs have their own set of friction points. OMA recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before a domestic departure — and with a group of 20 checking bags at multiple kiosks and moving through a security checkpoint that currently handles two terminal populations, budgeting two hours is a better call during peak travel windows.

The current terminal configuration adds one important step: confirm which terminal your group is departing from before the bus leaves the hotel. South Terminal flights (Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier) and North Terminal flights (Southwest, United) each drop off at a different point. The bus drops your group curbside at their specific terminal so everyone walks straight to check-in — no last-minute sprint across Terminal Drive with bags.

For a departure run during the College World Series week, Berkshire Hathaway weekend, or any Sunday morning in summer, factor in extra time for I-480 and Abbott Drive traffic.

The official OMA security and travel tips page has the current TSA checkpoint procedures and any construction-related security routing updates — worth a quick check the day before a big group departure.

When OMA Gets Busy: Omaha's Biggest Group Travel Moments

Five events consistently drive the highest demand for airport group transportation in Omaha. Know these windows, and book ahead of them.

College World Series (June). The NCAA Men's Division I Baseball Tournament brings tens of thousands of fans from across the country into OMA every June. Charles Schwab Field sits 3.5 miles from the airport.

The 10-day run is the single busiest stretch of the year for group airport transfers in Omaha — rideshare demand spikes, downtown hotels fill weeks out, and vehicle availability at bus rental companies follows the same pattern. Book your OMA group transfer for College World Series week by April at the latest.

Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting Weekend (May). Warren Buffett's shareholder weekend draws 40,000+ investors to Omaha every May, concentrated almost entirely around the CHI Health Center and the downtown hotel district. Every major airline into OMA fills up, and the ground transportation crunch at the airport on Thursday and Friday of that weekend is significant.

Delegations booking airport transfers in January are doing it right.

Big Ten and Creighton Basketball Tournaments (March). When Creighton hosts high-profile opponents at CHI Health Center, or when groups travel for tournament games, the midweek and weekend spikes are real. Groups flying in for game-day travel find the combination of a basketball crowd and a busy airport — about 70 departures daily — makes coordinated ground transport worth every dollar.

Maha Festival (August). Omaha's two-day outdoor music festival at Stinson Park draws 20,000+ attendees each August. Festival groups flying in from Kansas City, Denver, or Chicago often book an OMA pickup directly to the festival grounds or to Old Market accommodations.

Holiday Travel (Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year's). OMA averages its heaviest passenger loads during the holiday stretch from late November through early January. Families flying in for Thanksgiving or coordinating Christmas gatherings are the most common holiday group transfer.

The airport handles it efficiently, but rideshare and taxi wait times at baggage claim on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving are notoriously long. A pre-arranged charter bus or minibus waiting in the cell phone lot has you out in minutes.

Booking, Flight Delays, and Timing

Booking an Omaha airport bus rental through Party Bus In Omaha is straightforward, and a little planning makes it seamless:

1. Request a quote with your group size, pickup and drop-off locations, travel date, and flight details.
2. Confirm the vehicle and meet point. We verify the current OMA pickup configuration for your specific travel date and lock in the right vehicle for your headcount and luggage.
3. Share your flight numbers. We track arrivals so the bus is in position when you actually land — not when you were scheduled to. A delayed flight is not your problem to manage on the curb.

A few questions we hear constantly before every OMA run:

• What if our flight is delayed? We monitor your flight and adjust the pickup timing. The bus is there when your group reaches the South Garage Level 1 pickup area, not 40 minutes before because the schedule said so.
• Can one bus do multiple hotel pickups for a departure? Yes — a single charter bus can sweep two or three hotel blocks and consolidate the group before the airport run.
• How far ahead should we book? As soon as the travel date is confirmed. For peak periods like the College World Series or Berkshire Hathaway weekend, vehicles fill months out. For standard travel dates, two to four weeks of lead time is a solid minimum.
• What if the group splits between South and North Terminal? We confirm the terminal for each airline in your party and coordinate the drop sequence so everyone goes to the right door without the bus making two separate loops.

Ready to lock in your date? Call 402-973-1398 or use our online quote tool — all-inclusive pricing in under 30 seconds, no commitment required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus or minibus pick up at Eppley Airfield?

The primary passenger pickup area at OMA has relocated to Level 1 of the South Garage due to ongoing Build OMA construction. Rideshare vehicles specifically use Section D3 on the Ground Floor of the South Garage. Commercial vehicles use a designated curbside commercial lane.

Because pickup zone details are actively shifting with construction phases, we confirm your group's exact meet location for your travel date when you book. The official OMA passenger pickup page reflects the current configuration.

Which terminal do I use at OMA right now?

Through 2027, Eppley Airfield operates as two physically separated terminals. The South Terminal (Concourse A) serves Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, and Frontier. The North Terminal (Concourse B) serves Southwest and United.

To get between them, you exit the building and cross Terminal Drive. There is no interior connection. Check your airline before traveling — the OMA Find Your Way page has the current assignments.

How much does it cost to rent a bus for an Omaha airport group transfer?

Omaha airport bus rental prices vary based on vehicle size, distance, and how long the vehicle is needed. As a guide: 14-passenger Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–35 passenger minibuses run $150–$300/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. Because OMA is close to downtown, most group airport transfers are among the shorter, more affordable runs we do.

Call 402-973-1398 or use our online tool for an all-inclusive quote in under 30 seconds — no hidden costs, no surprises.

What airlines fly into OMA, and what are the most popular routes?

Seven airlines serve Eppley Airfield: Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. The airport operates approximately 70 departures daily to 35 nonstop destinations, with the busiest routes connecting Omaha to Denver, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and Phoenix. Southwest carries the largest share of passengers at roughly 37%.

For the current route map, visit the OMA nonstop destinations page.

How far is Eppley Airfield from downtown Omaha?

Eppley Airfield is approximately 3 to 4 miles northeast of downtown Omaha — a 10- to 15-minute drive in normal traffic via Dodge Street or Abbott Drive to I-480. Charles Schwab Field (home of the College World Series) is about 3.5 miles from the airport. CHI Health Center is roughly 5 miles out.

These are genuinely short hops, which is why group airport transfers in Omaha are among the most cost-effective bus rentals in the region.

What if some of my group flies Southwest and others fly American?

That is the exact challenge the 2025 terminal split creates. Southwest lands in the North Terminal (Concourse B) and American lands in the South Terminal (Concourse A) — separate baggage claims, separate exits, and no indoor walkway between them. The cleanest solution is to designate one terminal as the consolidation point and have the first group to land wait there.

When you book with us, we coordinate the meet sequence so the bus arrives after both groups are assembled at the agreed-upon pickup point, not while they are still scattered across Terminal Drive.

How far in advance should I book an OMA group airport transfer?

We recommend booking at least three to six months in advance for peak periods: College World Series week in June, Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Weekend in May, and major holiday travel windows (Thanksgiving week, the week before Christmas). For standard dates outside those windows, two to four weeks of lead time is workable — but the earlier you call, the better your vehicle selection and the smoother the coordination. Call 402-973-1398 as soon as your travel dates are confirmed.

Can a charter bus handle a group with a lot of luggage?

Yes — full-size charter buses have large undercarriage luggage bays built for checked bags, equipment cases, and oversized gear. A 56-passenger coach can swallow the luggage for a full group with room to spare. For sports teams with equipment or conference delegations with presentation materials, the undercarriage bays handle it all in one load.

Smaller minibuses have overhead storage and some underfloor capacity. Tell us your luggage situation when you request a quote and we will match the vehicle accordingly.

Does Party Bus In Omaha run airport transfers to Lincoln or other Nebraska cities from OMA?

Yes. OMA is the entry point for groups headed to destinations across the region, not just downtown Omaha. Lincoln is roughly 55 miles from OMA down I-80 — about an hour in normal conditions.

We coordinate charter bus and minibus runs to Lincoln, Council Bluffs, and other metro and regional destinations from Eppley Airfield. Just provide your destination and headcount when you request a quote and we will build the itinerary from there.

Book Your Eppley Airfield Group Transfer Today

Skip the rideshare scramble and the rental-car caravan. Whether your group is flying in for the College World Series, a wedding weekend, a corporate conference at the CHI Health Center, or Berkshire Hathaway week, Party Bus In Omaha has a fleet of charter buses, minibuses, and Sprinter vans sized for any Omaha airport run. Tell us your group size, your travel date, and where you are headed — we will confirm a transparent quote and lock in the exact meet point for your specific terminal and travel date.

Give us a call any time at 402-973-1398, or use our online tool for instant availability.

Sources & Last Verified

Eppley Airfield's terminal layout, pickup zones, and construction phases change on an active schedule through the 2027 unified terminal opening. Details in this guide were verified against official airport sources in June 2026. Confirm current configurations against the official pages below before your travel date.

• OMA — Passenger Pickup & Drop-Off (South Garage Level 1, current configuration)
• OMA — Ride App Pickup (Section D3, South Garage Ground Floor)
• OMA — Find Your Way at OMA (current terminal and airline assignments)
• OMA — Construction Navigation Maps (current Build OMA phase layouts)
• OMA — Airport Facts & Stats (passenger numbers, airline info, nonstop destinations)
• Build OMA — Terminal Split Guide (two-terminal operations, 2025–2027)
• Wikipedia — Eppley Airfield (terminal layout, airline market share, concourse assignments)