What exit for Atlantic City, eh? That’s a classic question. I remember folks asking this all the time, especially before everyone had a little robot voice in their car telling them where to turn.
So, I found myself needing to get down there a while back. Had to meet some people, you know, the usual stuff. And the first thing that popped into my head was, “Alright, which darn exit is it?” Because you hear things, people say different stuff, and if you’re on a long drive, you don’t want to miss it and end up halfway to somewhere else.
I did a bit of digging. Not super old school, didn’t bust out a paper map or anything. But I definitely looked into the main routes. You got a few ways to skin that cat, depending on where you’re rolling in from, of course.
The Main Artery
The big one, the one most people are probably thinking about when they ask, is the Atlantic City Expressway. That’s the direct shot, pretty much. And if you’re on that road, the magic number you’re looking for is Exit 1. Yeah, Exit 1. Sounds simple, right?
And for the most part, it is. That exit will get you right into the thick of Atlantic City. It’s designed to funnel you in. I’ve taken it plenty of times. Once you see the signs for the Expressway, you just keep an eye out for the exit countdown.
But Wait, There’s More (Sort Of)
Now, here’s where some of the confusion might come in. It’s not like the city only has one single road leading to it from the entire universe.
- If you’re coming from a different direction, say, not using the main Expressway, you might be looking at different road names or local turns.
- Sometimes people get mixed up with exits on the Garden State Parkway that lead to the Expressway. That’s a whole other set of numbers you gotta watch for first, to even get onto the Expressway.
I recall one time, years ago, I was with a buddy, and he was convinced it was some other exit number for AC itself. We ended up taking a slightly longer route, saw some parts of South Jersey I hadn’t planned on. Not a disaster, mind you, but it taught me to just focus on the main highway you’re actually on. If it’s the AC Expressway, it’s Exit 1 for the main Atlantic City access point.
So, my process, when I first really nailed this down, was basically:
- Figure out the main highway most people use to get right into AC – that’s the Atlantic City Expressway.
- Confirm the exit number for Atlantic City on that specific highway.
- Ignore the noise about other local roads or exits on other parkways unless I was specifically taking one of those as my primary route in.
It’s usually straightforward if you stick to that main path. The Expressway is pretty well-marked as you get close. Just keep your eyes peeled. They make it pretty obvious, can’t miss it if you’re looking for it. That’s my two cents on it, based on actually driving it and figuring it out over time. Hope that clears it up for anyone wondering!
