People around Philadelphia ask us about this more often than you’d expect, usually right before a shore weekend or a convention they’d rather not drive to. There isn’t one right answer. There are three pretty good ones.
The train. NJ Transit’s Atlantic City line leaves from 30th Street Station and brings you into a terminal near the convention center, a short walk from the boardwalk. It’s a comfortable, easy ride. Trains don’t run all day long, though, so we’d look at the schedule before planning around it, especially the last train home. NJ Transit has also offered free casino shuttles for train riders, which is a nice perk if that’s where you’re headed.
The bus. The NJ Transit 551 picks up at several stops around Center City and heads down the expressway to the Atlantic City bus terminal. It tends to take a little longer than the train, but for plenty of people it’s simply closer to home. Sorting out tickets ahead of time in the NJ Transit app makes boarding easier.
The casino buses. Charter companies run casino trips from around Philly and the nearby suburbs, and some include a little bonus play when you arrive. If the casino is the whole plan, it’s a fun, low-effort day. You’re on the bus’s schedule rather than your own, which is really the only catch.
A few things we’d keep in mind
If you’re heading down for a trade show or to meet clients, it helps to treat the trip like any other workday. Lots of the small business owners we talk with would rather ride and catch up on email than sit in shore traffic. It also leaves a little breathing room if a meeting runs long.
Once you’re in town, getting around is usually simple. The boardwalk is easy to walk, local buses run from the bus terminal to nearby towns like Ventnor and Margate, and taxis and private car services aren’t hard to find near the terminals and casinos.
And if you do miss that last train, you’re spending the night in Atlantic City. There are worse places to be stuck.