Atlantic City Boardwalk

State: New Jersey. Type: oceanfront boardwalk/entertainment district in Atlantic City, Atlantic County. Opened June 26, 1870, making it the world's oldest boardwalk; at 5.5-5.75 miles long it is also billed as the world's longest. The structure is 60 feet wide at its widest point and sits about 12 feet above sea level. Lined by several oceanfront casino-hotels (Ocean, Hard Rock, Resorts, Bally's, Caesars, Tropicana) plus Steel Pier and Boardwalk Hall.

The Atlantic City Boardwalk is a wooden promenade running along the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and is generally credited as the first boardwalk of its kind in the world. It began in 1870 as a temporary summer structure meant to keep sand out of hotel lobbies and rail cars, and grew over the following decades into a permanent, mile-spanning landmark lined with piers, hotels and amusements. Today the Boardwalk fronts a row of large casino-hotels, along with historic entertainment venues such as Steel Pier (an amusement pier dating to 1898) and Boardwalk Hall, a landmark arena. Rolling wicker chairs, pushed by attendants, and small tram cars still carry visitors along the promenade in a nod to the Boardwalk's 19th- and early-20th-century heyday. Shops, arcades, salt-water-taffy stands and oceanfront dining line much of its length, and it remains the organizing spine of a visit to Atlantic City, whether the draw is the casinos, the beach, or simply a walk along the water.

The Boardwalk runs along the Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic City, Atlantic County, New Jersey, on Absecon Island at the Jersey Shore. It stretches roughly 5.5 to 5.75 miles, from the Absecon Inlet area in the north through the city's casino corridor to the south.

As part of the Jersey Shore, Atlantic City has a humid subtropical/temperate coastal climate with warm, humid summers moderated somewhat by sea breezes and cool winters. The area lies within the Atlantic hurricane season window (June-November); Hurricane Sandy in 2012 caused severe damage to the Boardwalk's northern section near Absecon Inlet, though the casino-front sections held up with comparatively minimal damage.

Late spring through early fall (roughly May-September) is the classic season for beach and Boardwalk visits, when the ocean is warm enough for swimming and the piers, shops and events calendar are in full swing. Shoulder-season visits (spring and fall) offer milder crowds while still being walkable and mild, though casinos and indoor attractions operate year-round regardless of season.

The Boardwalk opened on June 26, 1870, built as a temporary seasonal structure to stop beach sand from being tracked into hotel lobbies and train cars; it proved so popular that it was rebuilt as a permanent fixture in the following years. The first permanent pier, Applegate's Pier, opened in 1884, and further piers followed, including Young's Ocean Pier (badly damaged by fire in 1912 and rebuilt as Central Pier in 1922) and Steeplechase Pier (1899-1986, which later suffered a 1988 fire). Steel Pier, opened in 1898 and rebuilt in the late 1980s, remains one of the Boardwalk's best-known amusement piers. Casino gambling arrived in Atlantic City in the late 1970s, reshaping the Boardwalk's economy around large oceanfront casino-hotels. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy destroyed the Boardwalk's northern stretch near Absecon Inlet, which was subsequently rebuilt.

Walking the full length of the Boardwalk past its casinos, shops and historic piers is the core activity, with Steel Pier offering classic amusement-park rides and games directly over the water. Visitors can rent a rolling wicker chair (pushed by an attendant) or ride the small tram cars that run along the promenade rather than walking the whole stretch. Boardwalk Hall hosts concerts and events, and Ripley's Believe It or Not! and the Atlantic City Historical Museum give indoor options. The casinos themselves offer gaming, shows and dining, and the beach runs alongside the Boardwalk for swimming and sunbathing in season.

Steel Pier is the signature amusement pier, dating to 1898. Boardwalk Hall is a landmark arena used for concerts and events. The Absecon Lighthouse is a historic landmark near the Boardwalk's northern end. Several large casino-hotels (Ocean, Hard Rock, Resorts, Bally's, Caesars, Tropicana) front the Boardwalk directly, and the Atlantic City Historical Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not! sit along the promenade as well.

Atlantic City is reached by car via the Atlantic City Expressway or the Garden State Parkway; Atlantic City International Airport is the closest regional airport, with Philadelphia International Airport a larger option roughly an hour's drive away. NJ Transit operates bus and rail service into Atlantic City from Philadelphia and other parts of New Jersey. Once downtown, the Boardwalk itself is walkable end to end, supplemented by rolling chairs and tram cars.

The Boardwalk itself, as an outdoor public promenade, is generally accessible at all hours, though individual attractions, casinos, Steel Pier rides and shops each keep their own hours that vary by season. Confirm specific attraction hours directly, since sources fetched for this entry did not list a single unified Boardwalk operating schedule.

There is no admission fee to walk the Boardwalk itself. Individual attractions along it, such as Steel Pier rides, museums and casino entertainment, set their own separate pricing; specific current figures were not available from the sources used here and should be checked directly with each venue.

A focused stroll along a section of the Boardwalk can take an hour or two, while a fuller day that includes Steel Pier, a casino, dining and some beach time typically fills most of a day; many visitors extend a Boardwalk visit into a multi-day Atlantic City trip.

Lodging along the Boardwalk itself is dominated by the large oceanfront casino-hotels (Ocean, Hard Rock, Resorts, Bally's, Caesars, Tropicana, and nearby Borgata and Golden Nugget), which offer the most direct access to the promenade. Additional hotels and motels are available a short drive inland in Atlantic City and neighboring shore towns for visitors seeking non-casino lodging.

The Boardwalk itself hosts a mix of casual shore-town food (saltwater taffy, pizza, seafood shacks) alongside full-service restaurants inside the fronting casino-hotels, which range from buffets to upscale dining rooms. Additional restaurant variety is concentrated a short walk or drive inland in Atlantic City's broader downtown.

Absecon Lighthouse sits near the Boardwalk's northern end. The wider Jersey Shore, including towns such as Ocean City and Cape May, is reachable by car for visitors extending an Atlantic City trip along the coast. Atlantic City's Marina District, a short drive from the Boardwalk casinos, adds further casino and dining options.

Atlantic City International Airport is the closest regional airport; Philadelphia International Airport, roughly an hour's drive away, offers a larger range of flights. NJ Transit rail and bus service connects Atlantic City to Philadelphia and other New Jersey points, and the Atlantic City Expressway and Garden State Parkway are the main driving routes in.

As with any busy waterfront tourist strip, keep valuables secured and be aware of surroundings, especially at night. Follow posted beach-safety flags and lifeguard instructions if swimming, and be mindful of moving tram cars and rolling chairs while walking the promenade. For any emergency, dial 911.

Comfortable walking shoes for covering the Boardwalk's length, sunscreen and a hat for exposed oceanfront sun, and a light jacket for evening sea breezes are worth packing. Cash or a card for Boardwalk vendors, rolling-chair rides and casino incidentals is also useful.

Renting a rolling wicker chair or riding the tram is a good option if you don't want to walk the Boardwalk's full 5.5-plus miles in one go. Visiting on a weekday or outside major summer weekends can mean lighter crowds. Because casinos anchor much of the Boardwalk's economy, checking individual casino-hotel websites for current shows, dining and parking details is worthwhile before a visit.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For general tourism questions, the Atlantic City visitor information line, per the official tourism site, is 1-844-855-6338.

Visit Atlantic City (official tourism site) - https://www.visitatlanticcity.com

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.