You’re cruising down the road, salt air starting to hit your vents, and suddenly you’re fumbling for change or praying your E-ZPass transponder doesn't pull a disappearing act. It happens to everyone heading toward the shore. The Atlantic City Expressway, or the ACE as the locals call it, is basically the gateway to the glitz of the casinos and the boardwalk, but it’s also one of the most specific tolling experiences in New Jersey. If you haven't driven it lately, things have changed quite a bit. Gone are the days when you could rely on every booth having a friendly human to hand you a receipt.
It’s a 44-mile stretch of asphalt. That's it. But those miles connect the Delaware Valley to the Atlantic Ocean, and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) keeps a tight grip on how you pay for the privilege of using it.
The Reality of Atlantic City Expressway Tolls
Most people think a toll road is just a toll road. They're wrong. The ACE is a different beast compared to the Garden State Parkway or the NJ Turnpike. For starters, it’s remarkably linear, but the pricing feels a bit steep if you aren't prepared for the jump in rates that hit over the last couple of years.
As of right now, if you’re driving a standard two-axle car, you’re looking at two main toll plazas: Egg Harbor and Pleasantville. The Egg Harbor plaza is the big one. It’s the gatekeeper. Then you’ve got the Pleasantville plaza right before you hit the city limits. Honestly, it feels like a "welcome to the party" tax. There are also several ramp tolls. If you’re hopping on or off at certain exits, like the ones for the Hamilton Mall area or the airport, you're going to get hit with a smaller fee.
The SJTA implemented a significant rate hike back in 2020, and since then, the prices have been indexed. This means they can creep up. Currently, the main plaza at Egg Harbor sits at $4.70 for cash/toll-by-plate users, while E-ZPass users get a slight break. It’s not a massive discount, but over a summer of shore trips, it adds up to a couple of free boardwalk slices.
Why Cash is Basically Dead
Don't show up with a $50 bill. Seriously. While some lanes might still have a body in the booth during peak summer hours, the system has moved aggressively toward All-Electronic Tolling (AET).
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If you don't have E-ZPass, they just snap a photo of your license plate. Then, a few weeks later, a bill shows up in your mailbox. It sounds convenient until you realize that "toll-by-plate" often carries administrative fees that make the actual toll look like pocket change. I've seen people get hit with $50 "administrative" penalties because they ignored a $4 mail-in bill. It’s a headache you don’t want.
The Frequent Traveler Myth
There's this idea that if you live in South Jersey, you get a massive discount. That’s only half true. The SJTA offers a "Frequent Voter" (wait, wrong term) I mean "Frequent User" plan. But there's a catch. You have to make 30 trips within a 35-day period to see the credit. For a casual gambler or a weekend beach-goer, that is basically impossible to hit. It’s designed for the people commuting from places like Mays Landing or Egg Harbor Township into the casinos for work. If that's not you, don't bother looking for the secret discount. It doesn't exist for the rest of us.
Navigating the Pleasantville Bottleneck
The Pleasantville toll plaza is the one that catches people off guard. You’re so close to the Borgata or Caesars that you can see the skyline, and then—boom—another toll. This one is cheaper, usually around $1.50, but it’s the location that's the killer. On a Friday night in July, this plaza becomes a parking lot.
Here is a pro tip: if the backup at Pleasantville looks insane, some people try to exit early and take Black Horse Pike (Route 40). Is it faster? Rarely. You'll hit every traffic light in Pleasantville and probably lose more time than if you’d just sat in the toll line. The ACE was built to bypass the lights. Use it for that purpose.
What About the "Connector"?
Once you get into Atlantic City, you hit the Brigantine Connector. It’s that long, sweeping tunnel and overpass system that takes you toward the Marina District (Harrah’s, Borgata, Golden Nugget).
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The good news? The Connector itself doesn't have an additional toll booth once you're on it. The bad news? You’ve already paid for the privilege of getting there via the Pleasantville plaza. The engineering of the tunnel is actually pretty impressive, involving a massive "cut and cover" project that finished around 2001. It was controversial then—mostly because of how it cut through certain neighborhoods—and it remains a point of contention for locals, but for a tourist, it’s a seamless transition from the highway to the poker table.
The "Secret" Exits and Toll Avoidance
Everyone wants to beat the system. People ask me all the time, "Can I take Route 322 or Route 40 to avoid the Atlantic City Expressway tolls?"
Sure. You can. But you’ll hate yourself.
Route 322 is the "Black Horse Pike." It runs parallel to the ACE. It is filled with traffic lights, shopping centers, and 35 mph zones. During the off-season on a Tuesday morning? Maybe you save five bucks and only lose ten minutes. On a weekend? You're looking at adding 45 minutes to your trip. Your time is worth more than the $6.20 you're trying to save.
The only "valid" reason to hop off the ACE is if there is a major accident. The ACE is notorious for having very few "escape hatches." If a multi-car pileup happens near the Hammonton exit, you are stuck. There are no U-turns. There are no easy ways to cross the median. In those cases, keep Waze or Google Maps open. If the app tells you to get off at Exit 28, do it immediately. Don't second-guess it.
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Breakdown of Current Costs (The "Roughly" Guide)
Since rates are subject to "inflationary adjustments" every January, you should always keep a few extra dollars in the glove box or $20 extra on your E-ZPass account.
- Egg Harbor Main Plaza: The heavy hitter. Expect to pay nearly $5.00 here.
- Pleasantville Plaza: The "entry fee" to the city. About $1.50.
- The Ramp Tolls: Exits 5, 9, 12, 17, and 28 all have various small tolls ranging from $0.75 to $1.50.
If you drive the full length from the Route 42 merge down to the casinos, you're looking at a round trip cost of roughly $13.00 to $15.00 depending on your payment method. Compare that to the $25+ you might spend on the NJ Turnpike coming from North Jersey, and it feels like a bargain. But it's still a chunk of change.
E-ZPass vs. The World
If you are a resident of NJ, PA, or DE, you probably already have E-ZPass. If you don't, get it. There is no reason to be the person stopping the flow of traffic to hand over a crumpled ten-dollar bill.
The SJTA uses the same system as the rest of the Northeast corridor. Interestingly, there have been talks about merging the ACE tolling system more closely with the Garden State Parkway (run by the NJTA), but they remain separate entities for now. This matters because customer service for a "missed toll" on the ACE goes through the SJTA, not the Turnpike Authority. Don't call the wrong people; they won't help you.
What Happens if Your Transponder Fails?
It happens. The battery dies or the reader at the Egg Harbor plaza is having a bad day. If you see that "Toll Not Paid" light flash, do not stop. Do not back up. Just keep driving.
The system will take a photo of your plate. If that plate is linked to an active E-ZPass account, they usually just deduct the toll and move on. No harm, no foul. If you don't have an account, wait for the bill. You can pay it online at the SJTA website. Whatever you do, don't ignore it. The state of New Jersey is very good at blocking your registration renewal if you owe them toll money.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
- Check your E-ZPass balance 24 hours before you leave. The ACE doesn't always update in real-time, and a low balance can trigger a violation notice even if you auto-replenish later that day.
- Use the Atlantic City Expressway rest stop. There is only one major one—the Farley Service Plaza around milepost 21. It’s got a Sunoco, a Starbucks, and a Burger King. It’s also where the State Police hang out, so keep your speed in check around there.
- Download the "ACE Drive" app or check the SJTA Twitter/X feed. They are surprisingly good at posting real-time updates about lane closures at the toll plazas.
- Carry a small amount of cash just in case. While the road is moving toward all-electronic, technical glitches happen. Having $10 in ones and fives in your center console can save you a massive headache if the scanners go down.
- Watch the speed limit change. It’s 65 mph for most of the way, but it drops to 55 mph and then 45 mph as you approach the Pleasantville toll. Cops love that transition zone.
The Atlantic City Expressway is a tool. It’s the fastest way to get to the boardwalk, the beach, and the slots. Pay the toll, keep your eyes on the road, and watch out for the guys in the left lane doing 90 mph—they're usually the ones who lose the most at the blackjack tables anyway.