Export to Trail Guide
Create Guidebook 
Download GPX 
Print Friendly MapIf you’re looking for a change of luck on your gambling getaway to Atlantic City, try visiting the 7.6-mile Atlantic County Bikeway. The paved trail runs straight and flat as it offers a relaxing escape from the crush of traffic around the beachfront gaming and resort town located about 10 miles away.
The bikeway got its start as the West Jersey and Atlantic Railroad, a 40-mile subsidiary of the West Jersey Railroad’s parent Pennsylvania Railroad. Completed in 1880, the tracks ran from Newfield to near Atlantic City. It later became known as the Newfield Branch of the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad, another subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and eventually became part of the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines. The railroad stopped using the western half of the line between Newfield and Mays Landing in 1958 and the remainder in 1966. A section between Shore Mall (now Harbor Square) and the Atlantic County Institute of Technology reopened as the bikeway in 2003.
The trail connects shopping and residential areas as it runs between the nexus of the heavily traveled Atlantic City Expressway and Garden State Parkway in the east through a dense forest to a government complex in the west. Numerous at-grade road intersections are well marked for pedestrians and motorists. Two-lane side roads parallel long sections.
Start at the eastern trailhead across West Jersey Avenue from Harbor Square, where trees screen the trail from adjacent streets and residential subdivisions as it heads northwest beneath power lines. The trail occasionally curves around utility poles in its path.
There are frequent benches for taking a breather, as well as informational signs about railroad history and the flora and fauna of the New Jersey Pinelands.
After 4.7 miles, the trail enters undeveloped woodland for about 2 miles to the outskirts of Mays Landing, the county seat of Atlantic County. The path ends at a vocational school on 58 acres that serves high school students and adults in the county. Although the trail ends here, historic downtown Mays Landing is about 2 miles ahead on Atlantic Avenue. Mays Landing sits on the eastern border of the 1.1-million-acre New Jersey Pinelands National Reserve, the largest open space in the Mid-Atlantic Seaboard between Boston and Richmond, Virginia.
To reach the eastern trailhead at Harbor Square in Egg Harbor Township from Atlantic City, take US 322/US 40/N. Albany Ave. west from O’Donnell Memorial Park on Ventnor Ave. Go 6.9 miles, and turn left onto Tilton Road. Go about 300 feet, and then turn at the first right into the parking lot for Harbor Square. Go 0.1 mile, and look for marked trail parking on the right as the parking lot street becomes W. Jersey Ave.
To reach the western trailhead from the Atlantic City Expy., take Exit 17, and then turn right onto NJ 50/Egg Harbor–Green Bank Road. Go 4.7 miles (the road becomes NJ 50/Cape May Road), and then turn left onto US 40/Main St. Go 1.7 miles (the road becomes US 40/Harding Hwy.), and turn right onto Atlantic Ave. Go 180 feet, and then turn left to stay on Atlantic Ave. Go 0.2 mile, and then turn right onto 19th St. Look for parking on the left.
Overall it’s a nice trail, it’s a little short but is good for beginners.
Pros: Great for bikers who just want to practice riding their bike and not having pedestrians in their way!
Cons: The scenery is okay - I biked in August in 90 degrees weather and there were dragonflies and butterflies in the air. I ALSO ran into a wild boar. I was biking and I saw a brown fluffy animal around 15 feet ahead of me, lumbering around. At first, I thought it was a baby bear but when I biked a bit closer, I saw it's white tusks from a distance. I had to turn my bike around and bike back to the starting point. I am not sure how safe it is to bike around wild animals, but there's my warning to you! Not taking any chances!
Overall experience: It could be better, but it wasn't really worth the drive up. I would bike there if I lived closer. Overall, it is a nice path to practice on - I would try again in the Fall.
Everyone who's posted a review in on the Money about what to expect on the Atlantic County Bike Way. It's a Straight Shot from the EHT Shore Mall, West to Mays Landings ACIT Atlantic County Institute of Technology. The Path itself is in Great condition that receives little use making it idea for those who require speed, fitness and Strava~Ass times ;). The Scenery isn't picturesque, unless you enjoy Pine Tree and Huckelberry Bush scenery. It feels more like a straight paved trail through the woods with traffic you can't see on either side of you. Nonetheless, if your looking for seclusion from horrific Traffic in the area and open space to ride or run, this is your Oasis. When the AC Bike Way is finally completed, it will run from EHT, NJ Shore Mall, all the way to the Buena Campground in Buena, NJ. Making the Total Distance from end to end 23.6 miles long. Not bad for all day bike excursion with several interesting stops along the way ;)
Above is my take on the Atlantic County Bike Way ~ East, I'm more concerned with the County, State and Outside Enthusists funding and building the Atlantic County Bike Way ~ West. For those who don't know, the AC Bike Way is Divide into 2 separate Bike Way's and the Middle Point is Mays Landing, NJ. The Bike Way West WILL be a very secluded Ride, but has a lot of potential in becoming a must do Day Trip/Ride. The reason I say this is because there is so much to stop and see on the AC Bike Way. Here is a short list of places you won't want to miss on your Ride ~ Tuckahoe Micro Brew, Lazy Eye Vodka Distillery, Funny Farm Animal Rescue AND the Baltic Winery. All these business are free to visit (Adult Beverage Establishment offer free Adult Beverage tasting to those of legal age and will offer discounts to Bike Way users when the Bike Way is up and running) All these business are located a 100 yards or less from the AC Bike Way ~ West.
If you have a interest in getting the AC Bike Way ~ West completed, please sign up for my Atlantic County Bike Way ~ West, Facebook Page. Thanks ;)
tl. Co. bike trail is 15 miles total, it starts at IT Trade School in Mays landing ends at Shore Mall or vice verses I ride the bike trail 5 days a week for the last 7 yrs.Even though it lacks steep hills it allows you to get some excellent sprints without any worries of traffic until you get to 3 main intersections which i've seen some terrible accidents ( now they have traffic lights).My avg. on this trail is 17 mph. if you want steeper hills continue riding pass IT trade school to the Mays Landing Post Office make a left and get ready to go up hill and around the industrial park area of Mays landing, that stretch is 3.0 miles one way from Babcock down Atlantic Ave left a Post Office and just follow around to Babcock again turn left to the bike trail againThis isn't the Heritage Rail Trail Co. Park in Maryland/Pa but for everyday work out its great
It is a pleasant ride, and I find it more engaging to ride the parallel back roads out to Mays Landing. There is not much traffic. Going east from the Pleasantville trailhead, there are signs that take you to either the westbound Somers Point trail (which ends at the Ocean City 9th St Bridge, a great ride), or eastbound to Albany Ave into Atlantic City (not for the faint-hearted!).
We liked this ride. We did this trail down to the end (ACIT) and back. It's a nice paved path, well-marked road crossings, and the local drivers are actually nice about stopping to let you cross in the crosswalks.
It's not very scenic, as pretty much all you can see is the brush on both sides (and the streets on the other side of that, but there is an interesting little park that looks like some sort of Buddhist temple (we saw a monk in his robes, but no signs).
Good ride for the exercise, or with kids (but watch the road crossings!).
I never give out one star so with that said I will give you my thoughts on this trail. I drove over from Wilmington De and did four trails in one day, just a little over 40 miles. It was not the best Weather day but I had a nice day. This trail is more like a Green Way then a Rail 2 Trail. The pavement is not the best and it is not a well used trail as I rode from the west end in the Am and came back in the Pm and did not see much traffic. You can park at Atlantic County Institute of Technology at 5080 Atlantic Ave. Mays Landing. The best part of this trail is it dose have mile markers every half mile. From the west end the first half is has power lines running over head, the second hald is more like a Rails 2 Trail. I would not go out of my way to do this trail again.
rode this one on sat. 3/22/14. due to severe injuries, it was my first ride in over a year, so my needs were short and simple. it did the trick-i surpassed my goal of 10 miles by 2, but this was the most boring trail i've ever been on, and i've been on dozens in 7 different states. all in all, it was just what the dr. ordered (no pun intended) for right now: flat, uncongested, in pretty good condition, and barely even a bend in it.
I was impressed with this 7.5 ride, doubled it for a 15 miler. It was clean and well maintained. One must abide by road rules and stop at the intersections, but it's worth it! The only place you can buy a drink is at the English Creek intersection. Enjoy a nice ride!
A great, straight trail that's very well maintained. A lot of crossroads, but only one that I'd consider "serious" with a lot of traffic, and that's at English Creek Road. Just follow the light signals and you'll be fine. The others are mostly entrance roads to housing developments. I started at the northern end. From rte 40 look for the signs for the NJDMV inspection station (19th St.). The trail is well signed and starts across the street from the Atlantic County Vo-Tech School - but be careful not to park there (parking tags needed). I parked across the street from the Vo-tech at a large lot for an office building (security said it was fine) that was a half block from the trail start. A little over an hour at a leisurely pace to do the trail to the shore mall and back. Lots of trees! Very peaceful without being in the "boondocks". Parts of the trail are right under electric lines, so radio interference can be tough in some sections if you listen while you ride! (like me)
There are many local cross streets on this trail, so keep an eye out. Some of the approaches to these streets are on a bit of an incline, so that would hope to slow you down. I do believe that the trail will gradually find its way westward little by little; the funding was already in place.
This trail is a prototypical New Jersey cyclng experience, an arrow-straight shot through pine trees and marshlands. It provides a very nice corridor of quietude in a busy region. That same quality, as noted in another review, means it's bereft of any facilities so be self sufficient if you plan on travelling the entire length and back. Hopefully, some way will be found at the eastern end to get cyclists safely through the congestion of the Shore Mall and a Garden State Parkway interchange if they want to continue to Atlantic City. Also, the abandoned rail corridor extends from the western end through Mays Landing, all the way to Newfield, NJ. Let hope that can be reclaimed with the same first-rate results as the existing trail was.
My husband and I along with our beagle, Vicki, in tow, traveled this trail on a very warm August morning. Bring along plenty of water as the trail is mostly sunny. But be warned there are no accomodations along the way. As the trail is paved, biking is quite easy (even towing a 35 lb beagle!). We plan to bike it again when we are camping in the area.
"We rode this completely paved trail in August. With very little incline, except at some road crossings, it makes for a nice family ride, although it may be a little long for the younger family members.
There are no refreshment stops unless you plan on checking out the Shore Mall (lock your bike securely). Bring your own refreshments if you would rather stick to the trail.
Some benches or picnic tables would be a nice addition to this new trail, but having another old rail right of way put to good use is a great resource in this part of southern Jersey."
TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy
(a non-profit) and we need your support!
