Atlantic City Boardwalk: A Complete Tourist’s Guide

The Atlantic City Boardwalk stretches roughly four miles along the New Jersey shore, making it the oldest boardwalk in the United States. Established in 1870, it was originally built to keep sand out of the railroad cars and hotel lobbies. Today it remains one of the most recognized landmarks on the East Coast, drawing millions of visitors each year for its mix of casino resorts, beach access, street food, and entertainment venues.

Atlantic City sits in the heart of the Jersey Shore, about 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia and 130 miles from New York City. The surrounding region, Atlantic County, offers marshlands, wildlife refuges, and the barrier islands of the Jersey Shore, giving the area a distinct character beyond the casino district.

The Boardwalk Itself

Walking the full length of the boardwalk gives you a sense of how Atlantic City has evolved over time. The central stretch, running through the casino district, is lined with resort hotels, souvenir shops, and food stalls. Boardwalk rolling chairs, a tradition dating back to 1887, are still available for hire if you prefer a slower pace.

The southern end near the Inlet is quieter, with older neighborhood blocks transitioning to the beach. The northern stretches toward the Ventnor border are more residential. Most visitors concentrate on the stretch between New York Avenue and Arkansas Avenue, where the major casino resorts front the boards.

Sightseeing Highlights

Steel Pier has stood at the end of Virginia Avenue since 1898 and is one of the boardwalk’s most enduring landmarks. It has hosted everything from big band performances and diving horses in earlier decades to its current incarnation as an amusement pier. Today Steel Pier features carnival rides, a Ferris wheel with views over the ocean and city skyline, midway games, and seasonal live entertainment. Admission to the pier itself is free, with rides priced individually or by wristband.

Absecon Lighthouse, located a few blocks from the boardwalk at Pacific and Rhode Island Avenues, is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey and the third tallest in the United States. Built in 1857, it stands 171 feet tall and requires climbing 228 steps to reach the top. The view from the lantern room takes in the Atlantic City skyline, the surrounding marshlands, and the open ocean. The lighthouse and its keeper’s house are open to the public as a museum.

Boardwalk Hall at Mississippi Avenue is a National Historic Landmark that opened in 1929. It was the original home of the Miss America Pageant and has hosted concerts, championship boxing, the circus, and major sporting events throughout its history. The hall contains one of the largest pipe organs ever built, the Midmer-Losh organ, which has over 33,000 pipes. Check the venue calendar for current events during your visit.

The Atlantic City Historical Museum, located at Garden Pier on the boardwalk at New Jersey Avenue, documents the city’s history from its railroad resort origins through the casino era. Exhibits cover the boardwalk’s construction, the Miss America Pageant, and the transformation of the city’s economy.

Casino Resorts

Atlantic City was the first jurisdiction outside Nevada to legalize casino gambling in the United States, with Resorts Casino Hotel opening in 1978. The casino industry reshaped the city and today several major resort properties front the boardwalk.

Caesars Atlantic City at Arkansas Avenue is one of the larger boardwalk properties, with a Roman-themed interior, multiple hotel towers, a spa, and a range of dining and entertainment options.

Bally’s Atlantic City sits adjacent to Caesars and shares amenities with it following a merger of the two properties. It offers a more mid-range price point while still providing access to a full casino floor, multiple restaurants, and live entertainment.

Resorts Casino Hotel at the northern end of the boardwalk near North Carolina Avenue holds the distinction of being the first legal casino outside Nevada. The Jimmy Buffett-themed Margaritaville restaurant within the property is a draw in its own right.

Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, located off the boardwalk on the marina district rather than the beach, is one of the larger non-boardwalk properties. It features a large convention center, waterfront setting on the back bay, spa facilities, and the Coastal Craft Kitchen restaurant.

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, also in the marina district, is generally considered the most upscale property in Atlantic City. It has hosted major poker tournaments and concerts, and its restaurant lineup includes Old Homestead Steakhouse and American Cut.

Dining

Beyond the casino buffets and steakhouses, Atlantic City has a range of dining worth seeking out.

The Irish Pub on St. James Place near the boardwalk has been operating since 1972 and serves traditional pub food alongside a wide beer selection. It is one of the more authentic and long-standing bars in the city.

White House Sub Shop on Arctic Avenue, a few blocks from the boardwalk, has been making submarines since 1946. The shop has served celebrities and presidents and is an Atlantic City institution. The bread is made locally and the sandwiches are large; arrive ready to share or take half back to your hotel.

Tony’s Baltimore Grill on Atlantic Avenue has been open since 1927 and serves straightforward Italian-American food late into the night. It is a good option after a late casino session.

For seafood, the back bay restaurants along the marina and in the Absecon Inlet area offer crab, clam chowder, and fresh fish in settings less formal than the casino dining rooms.

Accommodations

The major casino resorts provide the bulk of hotel rooms in Atlantic City, but there are also smaller independent options.

Resorts Casino Hotel offers rooms in its Ocean Tower at competitive rates, particularly on weekdays when the casino floor is quieter.

The Chelsea on South Chelsea Avenue near the Tropicana is a boutique hotel that operates independently from the casino resorts and has a rooftop bar with ocean views.

The Water Club at Borgata is the non-gaming tower of the Borgata complex and is marketed as a quieter, spa-focused option within the larger resort.

For budget travelers, motels along Atlantic and Pacific Avenues offer basic accommodations within walking distance of the boardwalk, with prices significantly lower than the casino hotels, particularly midweek.

Activities and Tips

Beach access is free along the entire Atlantic City shoreline. The central beach in front of the casino district has lifeguard coverage during summer months. The beaches extend south into Ventnor City and Margate, which are quieter and family-oriented.

Lucy the Elephant in Margate, about four miles south of the boardwalk, is a six-story elephant-shaped building constructed in 1881 and is a National Historic Landmark. Tours of the interior are available and it is worth the short drive or bike ride from Atlantic City.

Fishing is available from the Steel Pier, from charter boats that depart from the marina, and from the beach. The back bay offers opportunities for crabbing from docks and bridges.

The Premium Outlets mall, located a few blocks from the boardwalk near the convention center on Michigan Avenue, carries designer and name-brand retail at reduced prices and is a useful stop for rainy days.

Getting there: Atlantic City is accessible by NJ Transit from Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station in about an hour, and casino-operated buses run from New York City. Driving and parking at the casino garages is straightforward, with many properties offering parking validation for guests.

Best time to visit: Summer weekends are the most crowded and most expensive. Late spring and early fall offer good weather with smaller crowds. The boardwalk is open year-round, and the casinos operate 24 hours daily regardless of season.

Safety: Stick to the boardwalk and the main commercial streets. Some blocks inland from the boardwalk are not tourist areas. The casino district itself has visible security presence, but it is worth being aware of your surroundings when walking to and from parking areas at night.

Atlantic City rewards visitors who look beyond the casino floors. The history embedded in its architecture, the wide Atlantic beach, and the enduring street-level character of the boardwalk make it a destination with more layers than its reputation sometimes suggests.