Spanning 127 miles across the Florida panhandle, this journey from Panama City Beach to Brent typically takes about 2 hours and 7 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day, making it an ideal candidate for a straightforward day trip. Budget roughly $21 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Florida locations. You will navigate primarily through local roads, avoiding major highway stretches entirely for this trek. Since you remain within the same state, the transition is seamless, though you should prepare for a drive that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed interstate travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.4 miles from Panama City Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 10
71.4 mi
1h 16m
Capt Fritz Road
15.3 mi
20m
US 331
14.3 mi
16m
Bay
11.3 mi
14m
North Arnold Road
4.2 mi
5m
Panama City Beach Parkway
3.6 mi
6m
Hutchison Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
Front Beach Road
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 71.4 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Panama City Beach, FL and Brent, FL.
1
Start on this road
59 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South Thomas Drive
479 ft·18 sec·South Thomas Drive
3
Turn left onto FL 30
1.0 mi·2 min·Front Beach Road
4
Turn right onto Richard Jackson Boulevard
0.3 mi·41 sec·Richard Jackson Boulevard
5
Turn left onto FL 392
1.4 mi·2 min·Hutchison Boulevard
6
Turn right onto Clara Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Clara Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 98
3.6 mi·6 min·Panama City Beach Parkway
8
Turn right onto FL 79
4.2 mi·5 min·North Arnold Road
9
Continue on FL 79
11 mi·14 min·Bay
10
Turn left onto FL 20
15 mi·20 min·Capt Fritz Road
11
Turn right onto US 331
14 mi·16 min·US 331
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward I 10 West: PensacolaUse the left lane.
13
Merge onto I 10
71 mi·1 hr 16 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 12Toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola BeachUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 110
0.4 mi·29 sec·Reubin O'Donovan Askew Parkway
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Exit 5Toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent LaneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward FL 296: Brent LaneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto FL 296
0.3 mi·52 sec·Brent Lane
19
Continue on East Brent Lane
0.1 mi·29 sec·East Brent Lane
20
Turn left onto Sycamore Drive
218 ft·12 sec·Sycamore Drive
21
Turn left onto East Brent Lane
34 ft·1 sec·East Brent Lane
22
Arrive at destination
East Brent Lane
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of this 2-hour and 7-minute drive, flexibility is your biggest advantage for your one-day itinerary. Since the route consists entirely of local roads, try to avoid peak traffic hours on these busy thoroughfares to keep your travel time consistent. You do not need to worry about long-distance fuel planning, but keeping $21 set aside for gas will ensure you are covered for the trip. Pay close attention to your navigation apps while maneuvering through the series of turns on South Thomas Drive and Front Beach Road. Because there are no designated stops scheduled, feel free to pull over whenever you need a break to keep your drive comfortable and alert.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.4 miles from Panama City Beach, FL, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.4 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 28 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.4 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brent, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Panama City Beach, 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 Panama City Beach, FL
This is one driving day of about 126.8 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Panama City Beach, 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 71.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.6 and 125.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
37.6 mi into trip|~53m in|US 331
Turn right onto US 331
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
51.9 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the ramp toward I 10 West: Pensacola
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 10 West: Pensacola
8
123.7 mi into trip|~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola Beach
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 12
Toward I 110 South: Pensacola, Pensacola Beach
8
125 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent Lane
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 5
Toward FL 750, FL 296: Airport Boulevard, Brent...
7
125.2 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward FL 296: Brent Lane
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward FL 296: Brent Lane
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.18 one way
$40.37 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$21.96
$43.91
premium
$4.72
$23.58
$47.16
diesel
$5.61
$28.00
$55.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38
0
$13.31
$6.09
Efficient EV
31.7
0
$11.09
$5.07
EV Truck/SUV
50.7
0
$17.75
$8.12
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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 Jun 21, 2022
Origin
Panama City Beach, FL
Night
in Panama City Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brent, FL
Night
in Brent on Saturday
Local time
11:43 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
31 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
2h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gulf Islands National Seashore
National Seashore
Millions of visitors are drawn to the Gulf of America for Gulf Islands National Seashore's emerald coast waters, magnificent white beaches, fertile marshes and historical landscapes. Come explore with...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
$25
near mile 126.8
Park Closure: Fort Pickens Campground Restroom A Loop Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy experience as you navigate through South Thomas Drive, Front Beach Road, and Richard Jackson Boulevard. This route is entirely localized, meaning you will encounter zero highway miles during your 127-mile journey. Because there is no longest stretch of highway, you should anticipate constant adjustments and frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted periods of cruising. The personality of this drive is distinctly urban and local, demanding your full attention at the wheel. It is a practical path that favors local connectivity over the efficiency of a high-speed interstate corridor.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.4 mi on I 10.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and Capt Fritz Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.6 miles in near US 331.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 126.8 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 37.6 miles (US 331): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 123.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 126.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.4 miles on I 10. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Brent, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 37.6 miles (US 331): Lane positioning matters here; at 51.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 123.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gulf Islands National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brent, FL before heading back.
