Jacksonville, FL to Panama City, FL is 265.1 miles and takes about 5h 13m via I 10 and FL 20, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Florida, moving from the northern part of the state to the panhandle. With over 90% of the route on highways, you'll find it a straightforward drive for a single-day trip. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Florida cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
132.5 miles from Jacksonville, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
187.3 mi
3h 22m
FL 20
28.4 mi
39m
US 231
24.1 mi
32m
Bristol Highway
17.7 mi
23m
Greensboro Highway
2.4 mi
3m
US 17
1.1 mi
1m
Harrison Avenue
1 mi
2m
State Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 187.3 mi, about 3h 22m
Traffic on I-10
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,308 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,844
Quietest
2 AM
~160 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Jacksonville, FL and Panama City, FL.
1
Start on US 17
210 ft·12 sec·Union Street
2
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
281 ft·15 sec·Ocean Street
3
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228
0.7 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on US 17; US 23; FL 228
0.3 mi·36 sec·Kings Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 17; FL 228
1.1 mi·1 min·US 17; FL 228
Toward I 95 South: JacksonvilleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 351AToward I 10 West: Lake CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 10; US 17; FL 228
187 mi·3 hr 22 min·I 10; US 17; FL 228
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 174Toward FL 12: Gretna, GreensboroUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
366 ft·11 sec
Toward FL `12 South: Greensboro
10
Turn straight onto FL 12
2.4 mi·3 min·Greensboro Highway
11
Continue on FL 12
0.6 mi·1 min·Selman Street
12
Turn left onto FL 12
0.4 mi·57 sec·Green Avenue
13
Continue on FL 12
18 mi·23 min·Bristol Highway
14
At end of road, turn right onto FL 20
28 mi·39 min·FL 20
15
Turn left onto US 231
24 mi·32 min·US 231
16
Turn left onto US 231
1.0 mi·2 min·Harrison Avenue
17
Turn left onto East 7th Street
228 ft·12 sec·East 7th Street
18
Turn right onto Luverne Avenue
429 ft·18 sec·Luverne Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
Luverne Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 13m estimated duration, leaving Jacksonville in the morning allows ample time to reach Panama City before evening. The longest stretch on I 10 is 187.3 miles, so plan your last fuel stop before you begin that segment. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short total driving time, you have flexibility in your pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel level as you approach the transition from I 10 to FL 20, as services might be more spread out on those roads.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 132.5 miles from Jacksonville, FL, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 187.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 58 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.5 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Panama City, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jacksonville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jacksonville, FL
This is one driving day of about 265.1 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Jacksonville, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 187.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 190.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street
Turn left onto US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 10 West: Lake City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 351A
Toward I 10 West: Lake City
8
190.1 mi into trip|~3h 28m 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
6
190.4 mi into trip|~3h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward FL `12 South: Greensboro
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward FL `12 South: Greensboro
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.13 one way
$80.26 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$44.03
$88.07
premium
$4.55
$47.49
$94.98
diesel
$4.80
$50.06
$100.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.5
0
$27.84
$12.72
Efficient EV
66.3
0
$23.20
$10.60
EV Truck/SUV
106
1
$37.11
$16.97
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Jacksonville, FL
Evening
in Jacksonville on Sunday
Local time
6:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
S 6 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Destination
Panama City, FL
Evening
in Panama City on Sunday
Local time
5:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Cloudy
N 5 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued July 17 at 3:45AM EDT until July 18 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
89°F
Quincy, FL
133 mi in
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.
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 13m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 91% of the 265.1 miles on major roads like I 10. You'll experience a long stretch of 187.3 miles on I 10 before transitioning to surface roads like FL 20 and US 231. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the majority of the trip, with fewer exits on the interstate portion.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 187.3 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and FL 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 13m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
263 ft16 ft
Total Climb
412 ft
Total Descent
399 ft
Highest Point
263 ft
~189.3 mi in
Elevation Range
247 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jacksonville, FL and Panama City, FL, road signs point toward Greensboro and Fl `12 South: Greensboro.
Greensboro
190.1 mi in|~3h 28m
Fl `12 South: Greensboro
190.4 mi in|~3h 29m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Jacksonville occupies one of the most coveted spots on the Atlantic coast. Set amongst abundant beaches and possessing an ideal subtropical climate, its crown jewel is the unique habitat and natural beauty of the St. Johns River. For this reason and more, "The River City" is a popular destination for vacationers looking for a laid-back Sunshine State escape.
Top landmarks
•Fort Caroline — fort in Florida managed by the National Park Service
•Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville — museum in Jacksonville, Florida
•Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve — wetlands in Florida (U.S.) managed by the National Park Service
The longest stretch is about 187.3 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 19 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / Ocean Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 1; US 17; FL 228 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Panama City, FL before the return drive.
