Alachua County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0 mi from route
Trip from Hollywood, FL to Panama City Beach, FL
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
10h 50m
Distance
572.5 mi
921 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$87
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
10h 41m
★
6 AM
10h 51m
8 AM
11h 10m
10 AM
10h 57m
12 PM
10h 55m
3 PM
10h 58m
5 PM
11h 9m
8 PM
10h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hollywood, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Panama City Beach, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hollywood, FL to Panama City Beach, FL is 572.5 miles and takes about 10h 50m via Florida's Turnpike, I-75, and I-10, with a fuel budget near $95 and requiring an overnight stay. This is a significant trek across the state of Florida, moving from the southern region to the panhandle. Given the 10+ hour driving time, planning for at least two days is essential. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a direct but lengthy trip.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
286.3 miles from Hollywood, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Florida's Turnpike | 240.6 mi | 4h 20m |
| I 10 | 121.8 mi | 2h 10m |
| I 75 | 106.9 mi | 1h 54m |
| FL 20 | 28.4 mi | 39m |
| US 231 | 22.5 mi | 29m |
| Bristol Highway | 17.7 mi | 23m |
| I 95 | 15.1 mi | 17m |
| East 23rd Street | 5.4 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 240.6 mi, about 4h 20m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,501 veh/hr typical · worst 2,043
Quietest
2 AM
~173 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hollywood, FL and Panama City Beach, FL.
1
Start on SR 820
216 ft
·
12 sec
·
Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on SR 820
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hollywood Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 820
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Hollywood Boulevard
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 95 North: West Palm Beach
Use the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 95
15 mi
·
17 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 36
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward SR 814 West: Atlantic Boulevard West
Use the left / slight right lanes.
8
Turn left onto SR 814
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Atlantic Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto North Andrews Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North Andrews Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Turn left onto Northwest 16th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Northwest 16th Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward Florida's Turnpike: Miami, Orlando
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
14
Merge onto Florida's Turnpike
240 mi
·
4 hr 20 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Florida's Turnpike
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
Use the straight lane.
16
Merge onto I 75
107 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
I 75
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 10
122 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 174
Toward FL 12: Gretna, Greensboro
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
366 ft
·
11 sec
Toward FL `12 South: Greensboro
22
Turn straight onto FL 12
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Greensboro Highway
23
Continue on FL 12
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Selman Street
24
Turn left onto FL 12
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Green Avenue
25
Continue on FL 12
18 mi
·
23 min
·
Bristol Highway
26
At end of road, turn right onto FL 20
28 mi
·
39 min
·
FL 20
27
Turn left onto US 231
23 mi
·
29 min
·
US 231
28
Turn right onto East 23rd Street
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
East 23rd Street
29
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
30
Merge onto US 98
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
US 98
31
Continue on FL 30
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Front Beach Road
32
Turn left onto South Thomas Drive
479 ft
·
14 sec
·
South Thomas Drive
33
Turn right
59 ft
·
4 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 10h 50m duration, this is best tackled over two days. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize your travel time. With 3 recommended stops, you can easily break up the drive into manageable segments. The longest stretch on Florida's Turnpike is over 240 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before entering that section. Consider splitting the drive roughly in half to avoid fatigue, perhaps stopping around the central Florida region.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 286.3 miles from Hollywood, FL, or about 5h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 126 miles or 2h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 286.3 miles or 5h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 286.3 miles or 5h 14m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Panama City Beach, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hollywood, FL so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hollywood, FL
Aim for roughly 286 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Panama City Beach, FL
Aim for roughly 286 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 126 miles from Hollywood, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Florida's Turnpike for about 240.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
189 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
378 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Tallahassee, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
286 mi · about 5.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gainesville, FL after about 286 miles or 5.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 126 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 286.3 miles from Hollywood, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Florida's Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 240.6 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 286 miles or 5.4 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Turkey Lake Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Leon County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Leon County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Jefferson County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Fort Drum Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Madison County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Madison County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 southbound)
0.1 mi from route
Alachua County Rest Area (I-75 southbound)
0.1 mi from route
Marion County Rest Area Southbound
0.1 mi from route
Okahumpka Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Port Saint Lucie - Fort Pierce Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0.2 mi from route
Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Columbia County Rest Area (I-75 northbound)
0.2 mi from route
Marion County Rest Area Northbound
0.2 mi from route
Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Southbound
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Busy Bee Truck Stop
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
West Palm Beach Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Canoe Creek Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Suwannee County Rest Area Eastbound
0.3 mi from route
Wildwood I-75 Weigh Station Northbound
0.3 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
40392
0.8 mi from route
40391
1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.5 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.7 mi from route
Pompano Service Plaza
1.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 decision points cluster between mile 17 and 489.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
17 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward SR 814 West: Atlantic Boulevard West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / slight right lanes.
Toward SR 814 West: Atlantic Boulevard West
7
260.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 46m in
|
Florida's Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto Florida's Turnpike toward I 75 North: Ocala
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 75 North: Ocala
8
367.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 435
Toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
8
367.7 mi into trip
|
~6h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 10 West: Tallahassee
8
489.9 mi into trip
|
~8h 53m in
Take the exit toward FL 12: Gretna, Greensboro
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 174
Toward FL 12: Gretna, Greensboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$86.66 one way
$173.33 round trip
$3.85/gal
25.4 MPG avg
200 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.22 | $95.09 | $190.19 |
| premium | $4.55 | $102.55 | $205.11 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $108.10 | $216.20 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.83
Florida's Turnpike
(240.4 mi)
$16.83
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$87
Tolls
$17
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$233–$343
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 200.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $60 in charging · 2 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 171.8 | 2 | $60.11 | $27.48 |
| Efficient EV | 143.1 | 1 | $50.09 | $22.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 229 | 2 | $80.15 | $36.64 |
Gas CO2
200 kg
EV CO2
67 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Hollywood, FL
Night in Hollywood on Saturday
Local time
9:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
95°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 8 mph
17% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:07PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Destination
Panama City Beach, FL
Evening in Panama City Beach on Saturday
Local time
8:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
W 15 mph
5% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 16 at 5:07PM EDT by NWS Miami FL
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 16 at 11:29AM EDT until July 17 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Melbourne FL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
10h 50m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
With 94% of this route on highways, you'll be on limited-access roads for the vast majority of the 572.5 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. Expect a steady pace for most of the drive, transitioning to surface roads only near your final destination. The high highway share means frequent exit and entrance ramps as you navigate the interstate system.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.6 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Florida's Turnpike and I 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 572.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.4 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 367.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
270 ft
9 ft
Total Climb
403 ft
Total Descent
400 ft
Highest Point
270 ft
~490.7 mi in
Elevation Range
261 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hollywood, FL and Panama City Beach, FL, road signs point toward Tallahassee, Greensboro and Fl `12 South: Greensboro.
Tallahassee
367.6 mi in
|
~6h 41m
Greensboro
489.9 mi in
|
~8h 53m
Fl `12 South: Greensboro
490.1 mi in
|
~8h 53m
About the Cities
Starting in Hollywood, FL
Full guide →Founded 1921
Hollywood is a city in Florida, located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. With a population of 153,000 people (2022), Hollywood is a relatively small city that retains an old, laid-back, Florida feel to it compared to the larger cities in the area.
Top landmarks
- • Hollywood Boulevard Historic Business District — human settlement in Hollywood, Florida, United States of America
- • Hollywood Garden Club — clubhouse in Hollywood, United States of America
Arriving in Panama City Beach, FL
Full guide →Founded 1977
Panama City Beach is a town on the Emerald Coast of Florida. It is approximately halfway between the state capital, Tallahassee, and Pensacola.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 240.6 miles on Florida's Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 286 miles on day one.
Expect about $16.83 in tolls one way, starting with Florida's Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 49 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Panama City Beach, FL before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. There are 49 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 17 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 260.4 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 367.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.8 hours each way, a round trip means 21.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Panama City Beach, FL before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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