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Panama City, FL Road Trips

Sitting in Florida, Panama City, FL is a local road trip base with 5 trip routes mapped and ready to explore. Routes from here tend to cover serious ground — the average trip runs 432 miles, so plan for multi-day adventures. Most routes from Panama City, FL head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

city in and county seat of Bay County, Florida, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

5

Longest Drive

579.9 mi

Miami, FL

Quickest Drive

5h 13m

Jacksonville, FL

Plan Around Panama City, FL

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Panama City, FL is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Trips from Panama City, FL

Driving from Panama City, FL

Expect an average of 432 miles and about 8h 34m behind the wheel when leaving Panama City, FL. This is long-haul territory. Most routes stretch past the 250-mile mark, so pack snacks and plan fuel stops. The longest mapped route runs 580 miles (10h 55m), while the shortest is just 350 miles.

Popular Destinations

Top road trip destinations from Panama City, FL are Miami, FL (579.9 mi, 10h 55m), Lakeland, FL (366.6 mi, 7h 17m), and St. Petersburg, FL (350.2 mi, 7h 31m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

Regular gas in FL currently averages around $4.15 per gallon. For the typical 432-mile trip from Panama City, FL, budget about $71 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.

These are full-day drives. Start by 7 or 8 AM if you want to arrive at a reasonable hour without rushing. Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 3 mapped routes leaving Panama City, FL and 2 routes heading into Panama City, FL, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 350 to 580 miles.

The longest mapped route from Panama City, FL covers 580 miles and takes approximately 10h 55m. Shorter options start at just 350 miles.

The average route from Panama City, FL runs about 432 miles with a drive time of roughly 8h 34m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

At current gas prices (about $4.15/gallon for regular), the average 432-mile trip from Panama City, FL costs roughly $71 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.

The most popular road trip destinations from Panama City, FL include Miami, FL, Lakeland, FL and St. Petersburg, FL. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Traveler Guide to Panama City, FL

Panama City is on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Panama City is the governmental, cultural, business, and educational capital of Bay County.

Panama City is located adjacent to Panama City Beach, which tourists often confuse with Panama City. Panama City Beach is home to the beaches of the area and is a hugely popular destination for spring breakers and families alike. Panama City and the western portions of the Florida Panhandle are in the Central Time Zone, one hour behind the rest of the state. Panama City and Mexico Beach sustained severe damage due to Oct 2018's Hurricane Michael. The city and areas surrounding it were decimated, and everything was shut down for the better half of two months. Travel is not advisable until the community has had a chance to rebuild. As of November 22nd, 2019 many recreational parks/activities, restaurants, and businesses are up and operational, and the cities have started a "Re-beautification" Process. Completion of the project is expected for late 2023; however, the city is being hit by Hurricane Sally as of September 16, 2020. Panama City is in the warm subtropical zone, which is not as warm as South Florida, but it is still has mild winters, hot summers, and pleasant spring and fall weather. The nearby waters of the Gulf of Mexico helps to moderate the climate. Panama City is also susceptible to hurricanes due to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

Panama City Center for the Arts, 19 E.4th Street, ☏ +1 850-640-3670. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 10AM-3PM, Su M closed. Ripley's Believe It or Not, 9907 Front Beach Rd, ☏ +1 850-230-6113.

1 St. Andrews State Park, 4607 State Park Lane, ☏ +1 850-708-6100. 8AM-sundown. $2 pedestrian, $8 vehicle up to 8 people. [1] 2 Pine Log State Forest. 14 miles north of Panama City Beach, on State Road 79.

Uncle Ernie's Bayfront Grill and Brew House, 1151 Bayview Ave, ☏ +1 850-763-8427. If you're looking for great, fresh seafood and a gorgeous view of the bay (remember, this is in the city, not on the beach), then look no further. This is where the locals eat when they want a view of the water and a fabulous meal.

See also Panama City Beach Aqua Resort by Waterstone Resorts, 15625 Front Beach Road, ☏ +1 866-635-9333, toll-free: +1-800-211-8906. Calypso Resort & Towers by Waterstone Resorts, 15817 Front Beach Road, ☏ +1 850-726-8176, toll-free: +1-800-211-8906. Emerald Isle Condominiums by Waterstone Resorts, 17545 Front Beach Road, ☏ +1 850-696-7886, toll-free: +1-800-211-8906. Ocean Villa Condominiums by Waterstone Resorts, 10625 Front Beach Road, toll-free: +1-800-478-0591. Twin Palms Resort Condominiums by Waterstone Resorts, 10519 Front Beach Road, toll-free: +1-855-861-5757. Comfort Inn & Suites Panama City - St Andrew, 3602 W Hwy 98, ☏ +1 850-250-2769. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM.

1 Northwest Florida International Airport (ECP IATA) (off Florida State Road 388 about midway between State Roads 79 and 77). Delta Air Lines offers daily non-stop service from Atlanta with MD-88s; and Delta Connection has service from both Atlanta and Memphis with Canadair Regional Jets. Southwest Airlines has service from Baltimore, Houston Hobby, Nashville, and Orlando with Boeing 737s. (updated Oct 2019) Private pilots can also fly into Sandy Creek Airpark, located in the East Bay. Travelers headed to Panama City often drive to the destination, due to the strong regional appeal the area has. There are several routes to take depending on which direction a traveler is coming from. you can take US Highway 231 from the Florida Alabama state line to Panama City State Route 77, State Route 79 are all excellent roads into the area. US Highway 98 is the major East-West Highway along the and crosses through Panama City as 15th Street. Arriving by SR 79, one will have to turn east onto US 98 in Panama City Beach and proceed across the Hathaway Bridge to reach Panama City. If using Interstate 10 to reach Panama City, there will be several exits to take depending on your direction of travel. If arriving from the East, use the exit for US 231. From the exit it is a 50-mile drive to Panama City. One can also use the exit for SR 77, and it is also about 50 miles to Panama City. Panama City has a Greyhound bus terminal located on Harrison Street/US 231.

Travel tips adapted from Panama City (Florida) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.

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