Is there a direct train from New York to Atlantic City?

No. The last direct service, the Atlantic City Express Service, stopped running in September 2011. A train today means Amtrak into Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, then the separate NJ Transit Atlantic City Rail Line onward — a journey of roughly 3.5 to 4-plus hours.

What's the cheapest way from New York to Atlantic City?

The bus. NJ Transit route 319, Greyhound and Academy Bus/megabus all run the corridor in around 2.5 hours for one-way fares typically in the $15-26 range, and NJ Transit sells an advance-purchase round-trip excursion fare of $49.75.

How far is the airport from Atlantic City?

Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) is roughly 9-10 miles northwest of the city. A taxi in takes somewhere between 18 and 30 minutes depending on traffic and route.

Can I just get a taxi at ACY without booking ahead?

Yes. Taxis and rideshare (Uber and Lyft) queue curbside near baggage claim, reportedly alongside a Turo car-share pickup point, so there's no need to prebook if you're comfortable paying at the counter or in-app.

Is it worth booking a private transfer instead?

Only in specific cases — arriving at Newark or Philadelphia rather than ACY, travelling with a family or heavy luggage, landing late at night, or simply wanting a fixed price agreed before you fly. For a straightforward New York-to-Atlantic-City trip, the bus is cheaper and just as fast.

Trip Guides

Getting to Atlantic City: Every Route In, and Which One to Actually Book

Atlantic City International Airport is small and mostly serves Florida routes, so most visitors actually arrive via Philadelphia, Newark or a bus from New York. Here's every route in, what each one costs and takes, and the one case where a prebooked transfer beats a bus ticket.

Booked & Beyond Research Team31 August 2026 · 8 min read

Atlantic City skyline and beach viewed from the ocean under clear blue sky — Photo by Drones Flown on Pexels

We earn a commission if you book through some of the links here. It never costs you more, and never decides what we recommend. See how we make money.

The honest starting point

Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) exists, but it isn't how most people get here. It's served mainly by Spirit Airlines, and reportedly its direct routes cluster on Florida rather than the rest of the country. In practice, most visitors fly into Philadelphia International or Newark Liberty and cover the last stretch by road or rail, or skip flying entirely and take a bus from New York. Whichever gateway applies to you, the routing below is different — so start by working out which one you're actually using, not which one has 'Atlantic City' in its marketing.

Landing at ACY itself

ACY sits roughly 9-10 miles northwest of the city, near Egg Harbor Township. There's no rail station at the airport. Ground transport is limited to curbside taxis, Uber and Lyft, and the Turo car-share pickup point, with the taxi desk reportedly positioned between baggage claim and the terminal exit. A taxi into Atlantic City takes somewhere in the region of 18 to 30 minutes depending on the source consulted, and reportedly costs in the region of $40-55 — treat that figure as a rough guide rather than a quote. A 'Jitney' shuttle has reportedly met arriving flights with a flat $10 fare to any Atlantic City hotel or casino, and a free shuttle reportedly connects to Egg Harbor City train station for onward NJ Transit bus service into town. Both of those come from a single, undated source, so confirm current pricing and operation before relying on either.

Coming from New York City

There is no direct train from New York to Atlantic City. The one service that ran that route, the Atlantic City Express Service, was discontinued in September 2011, and any train today means changing in Philadelphia — a routing that stretches to roughly 3.5 to 4-plus hours and can cost anywhere from about $15 to several hundred dollars depending on which Amtrak leg you book. Skip it. The bus is faster and simpler: NJ Transit's route 319 runs express from Port Authority with only two stops (Newark Penn Station and Journal Square), Greyhound's fastest service covers the same corridor in around 2 hours 30 minutes, and Academy Bus/megabus has run a similar timing on weekends. One-way fares across these options generally sit in the $15-26 range, with NJ Transit also selling a $49.75 advance-purchase round-trip excursion fare valid for 10 days — book that ahead through the app or at the terminal, since drivers can't sell round-trip tickets on board. Recent rider comments on the Greyhound route repeatedly mention on-time arrival and helpful drivers; the recurring complaint, even from otherwise satisfied riders, is legroom. Driving takes a comparable 2 hours 28-30 minutes and runs $21-35 in tolls and fuel, so it doesn't buy you meaningfully more speed than the bus.

Coming from Philadelphia

This is the one leg where rail is clearly the right call. The direct NJ Transit Atlantic City Rail Line runs from 30th Street Station to Atlantic City Rail Terminal in roughly 1 hour 26 minutes to just under 2 hours depending on the specific service — one schedule source puts it closer to 1 hour 34-37 minutes with only one daily departure, so check current timetables rather than assuming frequent service. Driving via the Atlantic City Expressway covers the shorter 61-62 mile distance in about 1 hour 5-6 minutes, only marginally faster than the train once you factor in parking. NJ Transit's bus route 551 is the budget alternative, running via Camden's Walter Rand Transportation Center with its own $23.65 advance-purchase round-trip excursion fare.

When a private transfer earns its cost

None of the above needs booking through a third party — the bus and train are cheaper bought directly, and ACY's curbside taxis and rideshare are there whether you plan ahead or not. A prebooked private transfer makes sense in a narrower set of cases: landing at Newark or Philadelphia late at night with a family and luggage and no interest in working out a shuttle-and-bus connection, or wanting a fixed price agreed before you fly rather than surge pricing at the curb. Kiwitaxi's Atlantic City transfer product covers pickups from ACY, Philadelphia and Newark, at a price fixed in advance, and the operator's stated policy builds in up to 90 minutes of driver waiting time and flight monitoring for delays over 30 minutes. That's a genuine convenience for the right traveler; it's not a substitute for the bus if you're simply going NYC-to-AC on a budget.

Before you book anything

NJ Transit's own Atlantic City page flags a network-wide fare adjustment taking effect 1 July 2026, alongside additional summer departures on the New York route (319) starting 20 June 2026. Check current fares and timetables directly with NJ Transit before relying on any of the prices above — they were accurate at the time of research but this is a corridor that changes on a schedule.

Plan the practical bits in Atlantic City

The three things almost every trip needs sorting, and where to sort them. We earn a commission on some of these; it never costs you more.

Researched by

Booked & Beyond Research Team

We compare guest reviews, current prices and location data across booking platforms so you do not have to. How we choose. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.

Share this guide

Keep reading

Bali Airport to City Centre: Every Route Compared, and When to Skip Booking Entirely

There's no train from Bali's airport, and there won't be one soon. Here's what actually gets you from Ngurah Rai to Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu or Ubud — what each option costs, how long it takes, and the two or three cases where booking ahead is worth the extra money.

21 August 20269 min read

Trip Guides

Car Hire in Bali: What It Actually Costs, and Why a Driver Often Beats Renting

South Bali's traffic makes self-drive rental a harder sell than the daily rate suggests. Here's what car hire in Bali costs once fuel, insurance and one-way fees are added, the International Driving Permit rules enforcement now checks at the roadside, and when a driver, transfer or scooter is the better call.

30 August 20269 min read

Trip Guides

Where to Leave Your Bags in London: Lockers, Apps and Left-Luggage Counters

London's mainline stations don't actually have coin lockers — only staffed counters that cost more than the app-based network that has largely replaced them. Here's what's genuinely cheapest, what to do on a Wembley event day, and where the gaps are.

30 August 20269 min read