Beat Beach Traffic: Alternate Routes to the Shore
By LAUREN HEPBURN
Updated 3:33 PM EST, Wed, Jul 22, 2009
Heading down the shore for the Fourth of July is a loved tradition. The hours spent stuck in traffic on the other hand is a hated tradition.
So instead of spending hours stuck on the Atlantic City Expressway or Route 55 you can try some alternate routes that may be less congested. No promises though, after all it is the Fourth of July. But, print out this page for a helpful guide. Note: The following routes were mapped out by Google Maps.
There are a number of routes you can take to get to Atlantic City for that fabulous fireworks display. All directions are from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, N.J.
- If you take the Black Horse Pike/US-322/US-40 it will completely avoid tolls and highways and take about two hours and 13 minutes to get to Atlantic City from Philadelphia. The total distance is 74.1 miles:
- From Philadelphia head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft.)
- Turn left at S Juniper St./PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft.)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St—signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave—Continue to follow N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge (0.6mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (1.4 mi)
- Slight right toward Hylton Rd (0.1 mi)
- Turn right at Hylton Rd (0.9mi)
- Slight right at N Crescent Blvd/US-130 (5.4 mi)
- At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto Crescent Blvd/US-130 (1.1 mi)
- Slight left toward Black Horse Pike/NJ-168 (0.2 mi)
- Slight left at Black Horse Pike/NJ-168 (9.8 mi)
- Continue on NJ-42/Rte-42 --Continue to follow NJ-42 (7.5 mi)
- Continue on S Black Horse Pike (24.4 mi)
- Slight right at Black Horse Pike/US-322 --Continue to follow US-322 (12.5 mi)
- If you take US-30/White Horse Pike avoids highways and tolls. The trip from Philadelphia to Atlantic City is about one hour and 54 minutes with a total distance of 69.1 miles:
- From Philadelphia head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St. (285 ft.)
- Turn left at S Juniper St./PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft.)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St. (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St—signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave—Continue to follow N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge (0.6mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (17.4 mi)
- Turn right at Washington Ave (0.2 mi)
- Turn right to stay on Washington Ave (0.2 mi)
- Turn left at US-30/S White Horse Pike --Continue to follow US-30 (40.4 mi)
- If you take the Black Horse Pike/US-322 and want to avoid tolls it will take you about one hour and 31 minutes to get from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. The total distance is about 62.4 miles:
- From Philadelphia head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St. (285 ft.)
- Turn left at S Juniper St./PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft.)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St. (0.3 mi)
- Take the ramp onto I-676 E/US-30 E and continue to follow I-676 E, you will be entering New Jersey (5.6 mi)
- Merge onto I-76 E (1.7 mi)
- Continue on NJ-42 S (7.9 mi)
- Exit onto NJ-42/Rte-42 toward Washington Twp/WILLIAMSTOWN—Continue to follow NJ-42 (7.9 mi)
- Continue on S Black Horse Pike (24.4 mi)
- Slight right at Black Horse Pike/US-322 and continue to follow US-322 (12.5 mi)
- Taking Harding Highway/US-40 allows you to avoid tolls to the shore. The trip will take you about one hour and 32 minutes from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. The total distance is 71.3 miles:
- From Philadelphia head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St. (285 ft.)
- Turn left at S Juniper St./PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft.)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St. (0.3 mi)
- Take the ramp onto I-676 E/US-30 E and continue to follow I-676 E, you will be entering New Jersey (5.6 mi)
- Merge onto I-76 E (1.7 mi)
- Continue on NJ-42 S (1.5 mi)
- Take exit 13 to merge onto NJ-55 S toward Glassboro/VINELAND (21.2 mi)
- Take exit 39A to merge onto Harding Hwy/US-40 toward Malaga (1.5 mi)
- Turn left at Delsea Dr/Harding Hwy/NJ-47/US-40--Continue to follow Harding Hwy/US-40 (20.1 mi)
- Turn right at Absecon Rd/River Dr/Rte-617 (0.4 mi)
- Slight right at Harding Hwy/Main St/US-40--Continue to follow Harding Hwy/US-40 (4.3 mi)
- Slight right toward Black Horse Pike/US-322/US-40 (0.2 mi)
- Slight right at Black Horse Pike/US-322/US-40--Continue to follow US-322/US-40 (12.3 mi)
- US-30/White Horse Pike will completely avoid tolls and take about one hour and 39 minutes to get from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. The distance is about 63.4 miles.
- From Philadelphia head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St. (285 ft.)
- Turn left at S Juniper St./PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft.)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St. (0.3 mi)
- Take the ramp onto I-676 E/US-30 E and continue to follow I-676 E, you will be entering New Jersey (5.6 mi)
- Merge onto I-76 E (1.7 mi)
- Continue on NJ-42 S (5.6 mi)
- Take exit 8 for County Hwy-534 toward CLEMENTON (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at E Church St/County Rd-534--Continue to follow County Rd-534 (6.5 mi)
- Slight right at US-30/W White Horse Pike--Continue to follow US-30 (41.4 mi)
- If you take the Black Horse Pike/US 322 and want to avoid highways it will take you about one hour and 57 minutes. The total distance is about 71.8 miles.
- From Philadelphia head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St. (285 ft.)
- Turn left at S Juniper St./PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft.)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St. (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St—signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave—Continue to follow N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge (0.6mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S--Continue to follow NJ-73 (32.0 mi)
- Turn right at 12th St/NJ-54 (0.9 mi)
- Slight right to merge onto Black Horse Pike/US-322 (15.5 mi)
- Slight right to stay on Black Horse Pike/US-322--Continue to follow US-322 (12.5 mi)
- If you take US-30/White Horse Pike the ride will be about one hour and 54 minutes and as a bonus you avoid highways. The distance is about 69.1 miles.
- From Philadelphia head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St. (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St. (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St. (signs for I-95) (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave --Continue to follow N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St. (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St. (1.3 mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge (0.6 mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (17.4 mi)
- Turn right at Washington Ave (0.2 mi)
- Turn right to stay on Washington Ave (0.2 mi)
- Turn left at US-30/S White Horse Pike (40.4 mi)
If you are spending your holiday in Ocean City, N.J. you can try the below routes. All directions are from Philadelphia to Ocean City, N.J.
- If you take NJ-50/Rte. 50 it will take you about two hours and 15 minutes to get to Ocean City and a total of 82.6 miles. By taking this route you completely avoid tolls and highways:
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St and look for signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3 mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge. You will be entering New Jersey (0.6 mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (32.0 mi)
- Turn right at 12th St/NJ-54 (0.9 mi)
- Slight right to merge onto Black Horse Pike/US-322 (11.4 mi)
- Take the exit toward NJ-50/Rte-50 (0.2 mi)
- Turn right at NJ-50/Rte-50 (2.4 mi)
- Turn left at Boulevard Route 50/NJ-50/Rte-50 (18.4 mi)
- If you take Rte 206/US-206 you will not have to pay tolls or go on any highways. The trip will take about two hours and 29 minutes with a total distance of 93.0 miles:
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St—look for signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3 mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge. You will be entering New Jersey (0.6 mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (10.2 mi)
- Slight right toward Marlton Pike/NJ-70/W Rte-70 (0.1 mi)
- Slight left at Marlton Pike/NJ-70/W Rte-70 (115 ft)
- Slight left to stay on Marlton Pike/NJ-70/W Rte-70 (10.2 mi)
- At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Rte-206/US-206 (17.7 mi)
- Turn left at US-30/S White Horse Pike (11.6 mi)
- Turn right at NJ-50/Philadelphia Ave (7.5 mi)
- Turn left at Boulevard Route 50/NJ-50/Rte-50 (18.4 mi)
- If you want to avoid tolls only and do not mind travelling on highways you can take NJ-50/Rte-50 and the drive will be an hour and 49 minutes with a total distance of 73.2 miles.
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Take the ramp onto I-676 E/US-30 E (5.6 mi)
- Merge onto I-76 E (1.7 mi)
- 7Continue on NJ-42 S (7.9 mi)
- Exit onto NJ-42/Rte-42 toward Washington Twp/WILLIAMSTOWN (7.9 mi)
- Continue on S Black Horse Pike (20.2 mi)
- Take the exit toward NJ-50/Rte-50 (0.2 mi)
- Turn right at NJ-50/Rte-50 (2.4 mi)
- Turn left at Boulevard Route 50/NJ-50/Rte-50 (18.4 mi)
- If you take the Black Horse Pike/US 322 you will avoid tolls. The trip will be an hour and 59 minutes long with a distance of 75.1 miles.
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St 285 ft
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 269 ft
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 0.7 mi
- Turn left at N 5th St 0.3 mi
- Take the ramp onto I-676 E/US-30 E (5.6 mi)
- Merge onto I-76 E (1.7 mi)
- Continue on NJ-42 S (7.8 mi)
- Take exit 7 to merge onto Black Horse Pike/NJ-168/Rte-168 (0.3 mi)
- Sharp right at Sicklerville Rd (7.7 mi)
- Continue on Cedarbrook Rd (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Blue Anchor Rd (2.4 mi)
- Turn right at Mays Landing Rd/NJ-73/S Rte-73 (6.7 mi)
- Turn right at 12th St/NJ-54 (0.9 mi)
- Slight right to merge onto Black Horse Pike/US-322 (11.4 mi)
- Take the exit toward NJ-50/Rte-50 (0.2 mi)
- Turn right at NJ-50/Rte-50 (2.4 mi)
- Turn left at Boulevard Route 50/NJ-50/Rte-50 (18.4 mi)
- Continue straight onto NJ-50/Rte-50 (0.1 mi)
- Turn left at Rte-9/Shore Rd/US-9 (5.0 mi)
- If you want to avoid the highways take the Black Horse Pike/US-322. It will take about two hours and five minutes to get to Ocean City and 75.8 miles.
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St—look for signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave (1.4mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3 mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge. You will be entering New Jersey (0.6 mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (32.0 mi)
- Turn right at 12th St/NJ-54 (0.9 mi)
- Slight right to merge onto Black Horse Pike/US-322 (15.5 mi)
- By taking US-30/White Horse Pike you will be avoiding the highways and make it to Ocean City in two hours and nine minutes with a total distance of 74.0 miles.
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St—look for signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3 mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge. You will now be entering New Jersey (0.6 mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (17.4 mi)
- Turn right at Washington Ave (0.2 mi)
- Turn right to stay on Washington Ave (0.2 mi)
- Turn left at US-30/S White Horse Pike (27.2 mi)
- If you take S Black Horse Pike/US-322 you will avoid the highways and make it to Ocean City in two hours and 21 minutes. The total distance is 78.1 miles.
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St—look for signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3 mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge. You will be entering New Jersey (0.6 mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (1.4 mi)
- Slight right toward Hylton Rd (0.1 mi)
- Turn right at Hylton Rd (0.9 mi)
- Slight right at N Crescent Blvd/US-130 (5.4 mi)
- At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto Crescent Blvd/US-130 (1.1 mi)
- Slight left toward Black Horse Pike/NJ-168 (0.2 mi)
- Slight left at Black Horse Pike/NJ-168 (9.8 mi)
- Continue on NJ-42/Rte-42 (7.5 mi)
- Continue on S Black Horse Pike (24.4 mi)
To get to the Southern most Jersey beaches like Sea Isle, Avalon, Stone Harbor, and the Wildwoods try these routes. All directions are from Philadelphia to South Jersey:
- To get to Sea Isle City take NJ-50/Rte. 50. It is about a two hour and 14 minute trip with a total distance of 80.7 miles. Taking this you will avoid tolls and highways.
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St- follow signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3 mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge. You will now be entering New Jersey (0.6 mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (32.0 mi)
- Turn right at 12th St/NJ-54 (0.9 mi)
- Slight right to merge onto Black Horse Pike/US-322 (11.4 mi)
- Take the exit toward NJ-50/Rte-50 (0.2 mi)
- Turn right at NJ-50/Rte-50 (2.4 mi)
- Turn left at Boulevard Route 50/NJ-50/Rte-50 (18.4 mi)
- Slight right at Shore Rd/US-9 (2.7 mi)
- To get to Avalon taking NJ-50/Rte-50 follow the above steps to Sea Isle City until number 18. At 18 follow the instructions below. The trip should be two hours and 22 minutes with a total distance of 86.0 miles.
- Slight right at Shore Rd/US-9 (6.9 mi)
- To get to Stone Harbor, the Wildwoods, and Cape May follow Shore Road farther down.
- If you want to take Rte-206/US-206 you will avoid highways and tolls to Sea Isle City. It will take about two hours and 28 minutes with a total distance of 91.1 miles.
- Head east on PA-3/PA-611/S Penn Square toward S Juniper St (285 ft)
- Turn left at S Juniper St/PA-3/PA-611 (269 ft)
- Turn right at Market St/PA-3 (0.7 mi)
- Turn left at N 5th St (0.3 mi)
- Turn right at Race St—follow signs for I-95 (0.4 mi)
- Turn left at N Columbus Blvd/N Delaware Ave (1.4 mi)
- Slight right to stay on N Delaware Ave (0.2 mi)
- Continue on Richmond St (3.8 mi)
- Turn left at Bridge St (0.5 mi)
- Turn right at Tacony St (1.3 mi)
- Continue on PA-73/Tacony Palmyra Bridge. You will now be entering New Jersey (0.6 mi)
- Continue on NJ-73/Rte-73 S (10.2 mi)
- Slight right toward Marlton Pike/NJ-70/W Rte-70 (0.1 mi)
- Slight left at Marlton Pike/NJ-70/W Rte-70 (115 ft)
- Slight left to stay on Marlton Pike/NJ-70/W Rte-70 (10.2 mi)
- At the traffic circle, take the 1st exit onto Rte-206/US-206 (17.7 mi)
- Turn left at US-30/S White Horse Pike (11.6 mi)
- Turn right at NJ-50/Philadelphia Ave (7.5 mi)
- Turn left at Boulevard Route 50/NJ-50/Rte-50 (18.4 mi)
- Slight right at Shore Rd/US-9 (2.7 mi)
- To get to Avalon, New Jersey by taking Rte.-206/US 206 follow the Sea Isle City steps until number 20 at 20 follow the step below. It should take you two hours and 36 minutes with a total distance of 96.4 miles.
- Slight right at Shore Rd/US-9 (6.9 mi)--again, for the southern most beaches continue to travel down Shore Road.
If you are heading down to the Delaware beaches you are going to have to take Route 1 or Route 13. However, if you want to get around the Wilmington, Del. area you can take I-495, according to NBC 10 Traffic Pulse.
First Published: Jun 30, 2009 9:36 AM EST
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