With casinos, a lively nightlife, and headline entertainment, it’s easy to assume Atlantic City is just an adults’ getaway. But when the kids are in tow for a day trip or overnight, Steel Pier is where families can find lots of shore fun. Founded in 1898, Steel Pier is where top entertainers and the world-famous high-diving horses entertained families for decades on the renowned Atlantic City Boardwalk (the world’s first and longest boardwalk). Today, the horses are long gone, but Steel Pier has plenty of exciting attractions that appeal to all ages, including the only helicopter ride along the Jersey Shore. Oh, and the best part? You don’t have to buy a badge at any Atlantic City beach, just steps away from Steel Pier. Read on for what to know before you go to Atlantic City’s Steel Pier. (featured photo credit: istock/andykazie)
5 Things To Do At Steel Pier In Atlantic City
Play and win at the arcade
One of the most popular things to do at Steel Pier is to play one of the classic boardwalk games for a souvenir plushie prize. Kids will have a blast working the cranes, taking aim with squirt guns, and trying their luck at sinking a basketball in the hoop to win a giant panda. The Balloon Bust game is always a good time, and when that balloon pops, you know a prize is coming your way. And when kids are proudly toting their gigantic squishy back to the car, you can say it’s been a good day.
Get ready to ride
With Steel Pier’s prime oceanfront spot, riding on one of the rides gives sweeping views and lets you feel the ocean breezes as you whiz around. Littles will love the Beach Buggies, Balloon Wheel, Dodgem (Kiddie Bumper Cars), and the Silly Steamer—a kiddie boat ride the whole family can ride together. The Grand Carousel is a classic ride for any age, while older kids will gravitate to the Tropical Storm (a carousel that spins and swings) or the Rock and Roll, a roller coaster that not only plays music but spins forward and backward on a circular track. And it’s not a Steel Pier trip without a ride on the country’s third-largest observation wheel (AKA an enclosed Ferris Wheel). The 227-foot Wheel gives you 360-degree views of the Atlantic City skyline and the Atlantic Ocean during the over 10-minute ride in the temperature-controlled gondola. Whether you ride during the day, at sunset, or at night when the LEDs glow on The Wheel, the views are like nothing else since it’s the only observation wheel on the Jersey Shore. Or take a more daring way to see the coastline on The Slingshot, a ride that shoots you 225 feet in just 1.5 seconds (more than 100 miles per hour), and you can see the views for miles—assuming your eyes are open.
Eat with a view
When you work up an appetite, Steel Pier has all the classic boardwalk fare, such as ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, pizza, and yummy saltwater taffy (invented in Atlantic City in the early 1880s). If you’d rather sit down and relax, pop into one of Steel Pier’s eateries. The Steel Pier Pub has a family-friendly atmosphere with live music, while The Crab House & Bar has freshly caught seafood, including all-you-can-eat Blue Claw Crabs. For stellar views, the Ocean Reef Bar has tables just 1,000 feet from the ocean. And if you want a cocktail, the Sunset Bar is an ideal spot to have a drink and enjoy the shoreline views.
Yes, there is a real helicopter ride
Want to see the Atlantic City Boardwalk from the sky? Fly along the Atlantic City shoreline with Steel Pier Helicopters. Get a birds-eye view of the boards, the beaches, the casinos, and even the amusement rides while you cruise the air. Choose the Shoreline Tour, City Ride, or design your own tour. Want to see what AC looks like at night? Book a night or sunset ride and catch a glimpse of the glittering lights of the boardwalk and casinos.
Island Waterpark at Showboat is so close to Steel Pier if you want to take a dip after the amusement park rides. Photo Credit: NJ MOM
More fun is so close
Steel Pier has a lot to offer in terms of entertainment, but another perk is how close it is to even more attractions on the boardwalk and nearby. Kids and adults can swim and slide at Island Waterpark at Showboat, which feels like summer all year round. If you want to see the oldest surviving roadside attraction in the United States, the 65-foot-tall Lucy the Elephant is right down the road in nearby Margate, New Jersey. The whimsical Storybook Land theme park in Egg Harbor Township is only 20 minutes away, and it’s the perfect stop to add to your trip if you have kids who love to see children’s stories and nursery rhymes come to life.
What to know before you go
Ticket prices at Steel Pier vary depending on the date of your visit and the number of tickets you purchase at once. A single ticket is $2 cash, a book of 50 tickets with coupons is $65 cash, and a book of 80 tickets with coupons is $85 cash. Two Ticket Tuesdays and Thursdays (beginning June 23, 2025) and Fun Fridays (beginning June 27, 2025) are special offers that provide discounted tickets and wristbands for rides. The tickets never expire, and there are no refunds. The Wheel and Steel Pier rides are typically open from 12 PM – 12 AM on Saturdays and 12 PM – 11 PM on Sundays, and 4 PM – 9 PM Monday through Friday, but hours are subject to change.
Check out Steel Pier in Atlantic City on their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
Steel Pier
1000 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Want the inside scoop? Sign up for the NJMOM bi-weekly newsletter to get the lowdown on everything for your family in NJ (think of it as the ultimate cheat sheet for NJ Moms). And don’t forget to tag your photos #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured.
