Best Day Trips from Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is the hub of the Jersey Shore. Surrounding it are quieter beach towns, nature preserves, historic villages, and the Pinelands wilderness. Within an hour, you can escape the boardwalk energy and find authentic coastal culture.
Cape May — 45 Miles / 1.5 Hours
The southern tip of New Jersey. A Victorian seaside resort with gingerbread architecture, boutiques, galleries, and a working fishing village aesthetic. The entire downtown is a National Historic Landmark.
Why go: This is the Jersey Shore as it looked in the 1800s. The Victorian homes are stunning—ornate railings, turrets, and painted details. The ferry dock connects to Lewes, Delaware if you want to extend the trip. Restaurants are excellent without being pretentious.
Must-see: The Washington Street Mall (the main shopping street), the Cape May Point Lighthouse, and Sunset Beach where the Delaware River meets the Atlantic. Victorian home tours are available.
Cost: Most attractions are free to walk and view. Lighthouse tours are $5. Home tours run $10-15.
Ocean City — 10 Miles / 20 Minutes
A classic boardwalk beach town. 2.5-mile wooden boardwalk, amusement piers, restaurants, and a genuine resort-town feel without Atlantic City’s casino scale.
Why go: Smaller than Atlantic City, more vibrant than Cape May. The boardwalk is the focus—restaurants with ocean views, shops, and the Wonderland Pier amusement park. The beach is wide and clean. Good for families who want boardwalk culture without casino atmosphere.
Must-do: The boardwalk at sunset. James’ Seafood Restaurant (Boardwalk) for dinner. The amusement piers.
Cost: Boardwalk and beach access is free. Rides and attractions run $1-3 per ticket. Meals range from $10-40 depending on restaurant.
Long Beach Island — 35 Miles / 1 Hour
A barrier island stretching 18 miles with several distinct towns. Ship Bottom, Beach Haven, and Barnegat Light each have different character.
Why go: More developed than Cape May but less hectic than Ocean City. The island has legitimate beach culture—strong swimming, surfing, fishing. The lighthouse at Barnegat Light is the most photographed in New Jersey. The southern towns (Beach Haven, Holgate) are quieter.
Must-see: Barnegat Light and the lighthouse. Beach Haven’s historic district. Island-wide bike path for riding the length of the island.
Cost: Free to explore. Lighthouse admission is $3. Restaurants and activities typical shore prices.
Philadelphia — 60 Miles / 1.5 Hours
America’s first capital. Historic district with Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and centuries of colonial architecture. World-class museums and food scene.
Why go: If you want serious history and culture, Philadelphia is an hour away. The Independence Hall tour ($15) shows where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Reading Terminal Market is one of America’s best food markets (lunch here is outstanding). The museums rival any East Coast city.
Must-see: Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal Market, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (the Rocky steps are a thing).
Smithville — 15 Miles / 25 Minutes
A reconstructed 18th-century village with shops, restaurants, and a lake. More theme-parked than historic Cape May but atmospheric and close.
Why go: Easier visit than Cape May for those pressed for time. The village has authentic restaurants, local artisan shops, and a peaceful lake. Kayak rentals are available on the water.
Must-do: Walk the village, eat at one of the restaurants (Smithville Inn is the anchor), and consider a short kayak excursion if time allows.
Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge — 10 Miles / 20 Minutes
An 47,000-acre refuge protecting coastal marshes, forests, and open water. Excellent for birdwatching, especially during migration seasons (spring and fall). A 8-mile auto loop drives through the refuge with pullouts at viewing areas.
Why go: Complete contrast to the shore culture. Quiet, natural, and genuinely peaceful. You don’t need to be a birder to enjoy it—just peaceful. Spring and fall migrations bring thousands of shorebirds.
Cost: Free. Parking is $4 per vehicle.
Margate & Lucy the Elephant — 5 Miles / 10 Minutes
A quirky beach town famous for a single attraction: Lucy, a six-story wooden elephant built in 1881. The elephant is a National Historic Landmark and one of the most bizarre structures in America.
Why go: Lucy is ridiculous and oddly compelling. Tours show the interior (stairs, rooms, views from the howdah). The town of Margate itself is a quieter alternative to Atlantic City boardwalk life.
Must-see: Lucy the Elephant tours ($5-8 per person). The surrounding beach and town.