15 Creative Converted School Buses

School buses are nostalgic for many people. They’re the wild and wonderful social scene that bookmarks the school day. They’re iconic in shape and color, and they have a certain smell that takes former schoolchildren back. But they eventually become too old or outdated to carry kids safely.

What happens to all those retired school buses? They’re the guest room out behind Grandpa’s house. They’re a more colorful element of the street food scene. They’re mobile houses for wanderers who don’t actually want to leave home.

We picked out a few good ones, but there are many more. Let us know in the comments what you’d do with a retired school bus if you had one.

1. Rustic Bus

Photo courtesy Flickr user Johnny Vintage

This 1978 school bus is heated by a wood stove.

2. Cheesy Goodness

Photo courtesy of Flickr user CamKnows

A school bus in Oregon serves grilled cheese.

3. Art Bus

Photo courtesy of Flickr user 3CENT

An artist used this bus as a temporary studio.

4. Home Sweet Bus

Photo courtesy Justin Evidon

An architecture student made an amazingly efficient living space in an old school bus this past summer.

5. Party Bus

Photo Courtesy of Flickr user Manuel W.

Why tailgate when you can roof deck?

6. Lofty Ambitions

Photo courtesy of Tiny House Listings

This school bus from Dallas has a loft made out of cedar.

7. Steampunk Bus

Photo courtesy Jake von Slatt

A Victorian sensibility works well in this converted bus.

8. Oil Change

Photo courtesy of Tiny Home Listings

The headline on this one says it’s veggie oil ready. Well, then!

9. Literally

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Farrell Link

This school bus is now a mobile classroom for adult learners.

10. Cool Bus

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Bret and Robin

The owners of this bus can beat the heat with an air conditioner during the day, then hang out on the roof deck in the cool of the evening.

11. A Very Little Bus

Photo courtesy of Tiny House Listings

If you don’t want to drive a great behemoth of a bus, this one is barely bigger than an SUV.

12. Here Comes the Sun

Photo courtesy of Flickr user 350.org

This bus carried California schoolchildren until 2003. Now it’s used to educate the public about renewable energy.

13. Big as a Boat

Photo courtesy of Flickr user Larry Myhre

Bob Waldmire’s Road Yacht is now on display at the Route 66 Association’s Hall of Fame and Museum.

14. A New Spin on Food Trucks

Photo courtesy Flickr user Origimadon

This school bus in Vermont has become a restaurant-on-wheels.

15. Double Decker

Photo courtesy of Tiny House Listings

If you can’t decide between a Volkswagen camper van and a school bus, why not stick a couple Volkswagens on top of the school bus?