Atlantic City, on New Jersey’s southern shore, is about 125 miles from Manhattan — roughly two to two and a half hours by car via the Garden State Parkway or Atlantic City Expressway. It’s home to America’s first boardwalk (1870), a strip of casino resorts (casinos were legalized in 1976 and the first opened in 1978), beaches, concerts and restaurants. As a day trip, it’s ideal for birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties and group outings — especially with a chauffeur so no one has to drive home.

At a glance
Distance from Midtown About 125 miles
Typical drive 2–2.5 hours off-peak
Routes Garden State Parkway; NJ Turnpike and Atlantic City Expressway
Highlights Boardwalk, casinos, beaches, Steel Pier, shows
Also nearby Ocean City, Margate’s Lucy the Elephant

History in brief

Atlantic City built its boardwalk in 1870 to keep sand out of hotels and railroad cars. It became a Gilded Age resort, gave its street names to the board game Monopoly, and hosted the first Miss America pageant in 1921. Legalized gambling in the 1970s transformed it into a casino destination.

Things to do

  • Walk the Boardwalk, stopping at Steel Pier’s rides and arcades.
  • Casinos and shows, from concerts to comedy.
  • Beaches in summer.
  • Lucy the Elephant in nearby Margate, a six-story elephant-shaped building.
  • Dining, from celebrity-chef restaurants to classic saltwater taffy.

Timing

Summer weekends and holiday Mondays bring heavy shore traffic. Evenings and weekdays are easier. Read Garden State Parkway history.

Group trips

A Sprinter or SUV keeps a group together and gets everyone home safely. Read bachelor party transportation and group transportation.