If you want to use public transportation to AC, forget the train -- too long a trip and no cash back.

No for the Academy buses from JC or Bayonne -- too many stops, too many locals.

Go into NYC and take an Academy bus from Port Authority. There are more frequent buses throughout the day (one every half-hour), only one stop on the way to AC (Cheesequake rest stop on the GSP -- length of trip about 2.5 hours from NYC PA to AC, including the one stop), cash back from the casino, and you are delivered to the door of the casino.

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I used to drive for Academy, and unless they've radically changed their schedules, not all of the buses that pick up in J.C. and Bayonne pick up in Staten Island. I've done the J.C.-Bayonne-A.C. route many times, and I had to pick up in Staten Island depending only on which casino (I forget which one) I was going to.

Then again, I stopped driving for them several years ago and I haven't kept up with the goings-on there, so it's certainly possible that they could have radically changed their schedules so that all of the J.C.-Bayonne-A.C. buses--as opposed to just a select few--now stop in S.I.

You're right, though, about the number of stops in J.C. and Bayonne. God, I hated making all of those damn stops! And yes, many of the people on the A.C. routes, but especially the J.C. and Bayonne riders, tend to be regulars, and quite a few are indeed elderly.

And if I may, just one word to all of you who take the Academy buses to A.C. (or any charter bus, for that matter): Those drivers make shit money (at least at Academy; word on the streets was that other companies paid better, which is why many of my colleagues were on the waiting list at the MTA). You'd think that they'd be paid relatively decently to drive 20-ton, 45-foot-long buses and be responsible for the safety of upwards of 58 passengers, but they aren't (if memory serves correctly, I was paid in the area of $20-something for each one-way A.C. trip), so please, please tip them a little something when you get off of the bus. Take it from this former driver: if every passenger tipped just $1.00, it would make a difference in the driver's day, and the drivers would definitely appreciate it; I know that I did.

As missmags probably witnessed, on some routes, the regulars pass a bag around and take up a collection for the driver (drivers at Academy aren't allowed to solicit tips themselves), but that doesn't always happen. Nowadays, when I travel and take a charter bus (which is rare) or those car rental courtesy buses at airports (which is much more often), I always make sure to tip the drivers a couple of bucks, and I can tell by their reactions that they very rarely get tips. So...yeah, if you could, please tip the bus drivers.

Thanks.

Considering it takes 2-2 1/2 hours to drive there, the train isn't a terrible deal. I'd still rather save my $ and go to Vegas :)

try megabus.com

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THe reason it takes 3 hrs is the train has to go to Phillly first then to AC, there is no rail line that goes all the way down the coast. I actually throughly enjoyed ACES, AC on the other hand sucked...

I realized I never gave an update on my trip to AC via public. I have some advice for anyone who might think this is a good idea.... DON'T DO IT!!!!!!

I got on the bus in front of White Castle in Journal Square at 1:15 or so and did not get off the bus in Atlantic City until close to 5PM. The bus stops at almost every other street corner throughout all of Jersey City then does the same thing in Bayonne. The bus even makes a trip over the Goethals Bridge and picks up more passengers at two stops in Staten Island, then back to NJ for the trip to AC.

The bus seemed to have a lot of regulars and was filled with mostly old people. Once you get to AC you have to wait for the casino staff to come out and give you vouchers for food or gambling. It did not take very long but it just delayed my gambling a bit more.

It was fairly inexpensive to get down there but I dont think I would go again even if it was free.

I guess if I was completely desperate and needed to make the trip again I would have someone drop me at the last stop in Bayonne to shave about an hour off the trip.

Next time I will be sure to drive. Oh and I definetly did not come back a winner either :(

I looked at the schedules for the ACES train...and that thing takes way too long for not making any stops. Why in the heck would it take almost 3 hours????????????????????????????????????????????

That's not convenient at all. So you're not getting home until 5am? Why not just stay overnight, and park for free. So long as you're not going alone, and you can split on gas/tolls. Does this train drive 25 miles per hour?

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Please report back on how the trip is to & from JC. I've only taken Academy from Port Authority, so obviously they run a lot more frequently than the JC buses. I'm curious how your trip will turn out!

Also does anyone know if it's possible to take a bus from Port Authority down and use the return ticket to take a Jersey City Bus (Academy) back home?

Have fun & Good Luck!

Thanks everyone. I found that Academy bus is the best way to go. They actually have a stop on the corner of where I live so that is perfect.

Its $35 plus $20 back in casino $. When I win big I will let you all know :) :)

I've done Academy to AC for several years, and I still use it on occasion. Round-trip is $35, which includes vouchers from the casinos usually in the $20 range. If you buy your ticket at Port Authority, you have four days to make the return trip. They also have a frequent rider program -- after ten trips, your eleventh is free.

Just a few caveats:
(1) Check to see if the daily buses that pick up at local stops in Jersey have the same 4-day return option (if you are planning on staying overnight) and if they offer the frequent rider program.

(2) Summer weekends, the buses fill up quickly on the routes. Buying a ticket does not ensure that you will be able to get on a particular bus. Get to the pick-up point -- at the beginning and the end of your trip -- early. The lines to come back in particular can get pretty long, and it's not unusual to have to run to another casino to see if you can hop the next bus out.

(3) Because of the crowding and the heat, tempers can easily flare in the confined space of these buses. Be sure to pack your sense of humor, or you'll go crazy -- particularly when the second batch of riders jams on at Cheasequake.

(4) You'll see on the Academy website that the time you leave determines at which casino you'll be dropped off. You can hop a jitney or a cab from the drop-off point to another casino if you wish. But summer weekends in AC often mean the jitneys are jammed and you can wait a while for one that's not filled to capacity.

Have a good time -- and good luck!

Here are the ones listed on Academy's website.

Garden State News - 366 Central Ave - 201-659-5403
Grove News - 119 Newark Ave - 201-432-0423
Binny's Food Market - 310 Newark Ave - 201-798-8842
M & R News - 667 Newark Ave - 201-459-9369
Kenny's Market - 3563 Kennedy Blvd - 201-798-3131
City Grocery - 3418 Kennedy Blvd - 201-656-6020
J&M Grocery - 3244 Kennedy Blvd. - 201-656-7004
Happy Kid Stationary - 757 Bergen Ave - 201-432-6406
Bergen Bread & Butter - 529 Bergen Ave - 201-435-5071
National News - 3000 Kennedy Blvd - 201-653-1818
National News II - 2801 Kennedy Blvd - 201-656-7985
Ferrara Drugs - 2533 Kennedy Blvd - 201-434-0888
Gary's Sweet Shop - 444 Westside Ave - 201-433-0301
Corner Coffee - 129 Sterling Ave - 201-433-7311
Peppy's Deli - 1689 Kennedy Blvd - 201-433-2312
Global (McCorys) - 2 Garfield Ave - 201-433-7877

The timetable is here: http://www.academybus.com/Upload/PDFs/route_34.pdf

...But who knows if that is up to date...

I used to catch the bus in Jersey City on the corner of Sip & Kennedy. Theres a newstand on that corner that used to sell the tickets, I haven't been there in a few years but it has the same type of deal with money back in chips & a restaurant coupon. And, you don't have to commute home from Port Authority after your day at AC.

Check around at news stands. There are usually handwritten signs that say bus tickets to AC. Or you can ask inside and they may know where you can go.

Have fun!!

i used to take greyhound from port authority in nyc. i want to try one of those ones that gives you a voucher next time. i usually just drive down for the day when i do go but on occasion i am feeling tired/lazy and take the bus which will drop you off at different casinos based on the bus you take.

ive never taken the bus to AC, although i did take the equivalent academy bus to mohegan sun once. the trip was easy and you do get a voucher that you can trade in for casino chips. i know that the AC ones have a similar deal, so you wind up paying something like $10 net after all is said and done - a really good deal considering the tolls and gas you'd have to pay for the turnpike + parkway + AC expressway.

if you do take the bus to AC, and you want to mobilize once there, you can take the jitneys up and down for $2ish each way - or a cab if youre going with a lot of people.

I've done Academy too and liked it a lot. When I went last summer it was $35 for a roundtrip seat and it dropped me at the Tropicana which gave $20 cash and a discount voucher for some restaurant. As you'll see the incentive varies per casino, but I will never drive to AC again.

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Is there and monetary incentive to take the train? I.e. do they give you like $20 match-bet or $20 cash when you get down there? My guess is that there's probably nothing given that it's such a nice way to travel than the bus...

In response to the OP's question - Other options are Port Authority using Academy bus tours or greyhound. Here are all their schedules: http://www.academybus.com/casinos_PDF_shedules.asp

You can also drive to the Cheesequake rest area on the GS parkway, park your car there, and take the bus the rest of the way. The Academy schedule is great b/c they literally run all the time, leaving every half hour/hour from the casinos. The most active route is obviously to Manhattan, but it looks like they have service to places in hudson county as well...

There's also the super-low-budget way to go, the China Town Bus - which used to be free ($20 for ticket, and then you get a $20 coupon, + Free noodle lunch, etc). The schedule getting back kinda sucks though.

Academy has always been my preferred way, you always end up with some funny bus stories. A very interesting cross section of people ride the bus to & from AC.

i just took this train today. It was a great experience. first and foremost, you dont have to worry about traffic. The train is brand new, and looks like a lounge. there is waitress service and a bar in every other car. pretty cool. I would definitely take it again. especially in the summer so that i dont have to deal with shore traffic! Also they have a 2:30am late night train as well which is great for those day trips. its also very easy to get to. just hop on the path train to Newark Penn Station!

Check out Atlantic City Express Service via AcesTrain.com.

I've never used this particular train service myself, but I recently saw it advertised.

It is operated by NJ Transit from NYC to Newark to Atlantic City.

Coach fares are $29 each way from now through July 5, 2009.

Their toll-free number is 877.326.7428.

Good luck with your trip!

I am trying to figure out the best way to get to Atlantic City on Saturday via public. I live in Jersey City. Anyone know of the easiest way to get there? I would be going in the afternoon / early evening.

Let me know.

Thanks.