Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Atlantic City?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Atlantic City?

Most visitors spend one to three days in Atlantic City when visiting. The flashy city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the nightlife, the beaches, the food, and shopping.

Atlantic City is a top gambling and party destination on the East Coast. This New Jersey beach town has casinos, hotels, and nightclubs that line the sandy beach and boardwalk. You'll also find comedy acts and music concerts in town.

Do you have one or two days to visit Atlantic City? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Atlantic City?

One day is generally not enough time to experience the beach and other activities of Atlantic City. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy the most popular activities such as the nightlife, the beaches, the food, and shopping. To genuinely appreciate the flashy city, a longer visit is recommended so that you can have more time to relax at the beach. Many tourists opt for one to three days here, after all. After all, Atlantic City enjoys immense popularity among tourists because of its many sights and attractions. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

How to spend a day in Atlantic City

Don't miss Steel Pier and the Boardwalk during your trip to Atlantic City, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. This is a city that is all about its nightlife scene. Many visitors come here just to party, and you'll find clubs with DJs or bands playing from sunset to sunrise. There are glitzy lounges and dive bars with everything in between. As a gambling town, there are casinos and all-night activities that keep the energy going round the clock.

Atlantic City is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. Many of the hotels are walkable and located near the boardwalk.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Atlantic City?

Atlantic City holds a significant allure for tourists because of its many sights and attractions. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to see pretty much everything in Atlantic City while also relaxing at the beach. Most visitors prefer to spend one to three days here, and we have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting. Also, Atlantic City is popular with which enjoy visiting because the city offers fun activities for them.

Atlantic City, NJ Atlantic City, NJ

How to spend 2 days in Atlantic City

If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Atlantic City, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.

The beautiful beaches await you in Atlantic City, so spend the day (or several, if you can) relaxing on the sand or swimming in the water. There's a Boardwalk that runs along the beach and is lined with piers and hotels. The Downtown Beach is the most accessible, and where most tourists hang out. If you're willing to travel a little further, there are some nice beaches nearby such as Margate Beach and Brigantine Beach.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • OC Bay Hopper - Assateague Island Cruise (Departs 118th) ($45)
  • Sea Rocket Speed Boat & Dolphin Cruise in Ocean City, MD ($25)
  • OC Bay Hopper - Ice Cream Cruise ($40)

You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. There are budget buffets around town as well as seafood restaurants and even some fine dining. Salt water taffy is a local specialty that you should pick up while you're in the area.

Public transit in Atlantic City is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The Jitney are shuttle buses that runs from one end of the city to the other. They pass by most of the hotels and casinos along Pacific Avenue.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Atlantic City, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.