Traveling from Panama City Beach to Miramar covers 572.9 miles across the state of Florida. Expect a total driving time of approximately 10 hours and 50 minutes, making this a significant trek across the peninsula. Because of the duration, splitting this journey over two days is highly recommended to keep your travel stress-free. You should budget roughly $96 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Navigating this distance requires a mix of I-10, I-75, and Florida’s Turnpike, moving you from the Panhandle down into South Florida. It is a long-distance haul that demands steady pacing rather than a quick sprint.
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
286.5 miles from Panama City Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Florida's Turnpike
258 mi
4h 39m
I 10
121.5 mi
2h 10m
I 75
107.2 mi
1h 54m
FL 20
28.4 mi
39m
US 231
22.6 mi
29m
FL 12
18.1 mi
24m
West 23rd Street
5.3 mi
9m
Front Beach Road
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Florida's Turnpike
— 258 mi, about 4h 39m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Panama City Beach, FL and Miramar, FL.
1
Start on this road
59 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto South Thomas Drive
479 ft·17 sec·South Thomas Drive
3
Turn right onto FL 30
2.7 mi·4 min·Front Beach Road
4
Merge onto US 98
1.9 mi·3 min·US 98
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
6
Turn straight onto FL 368
5.3 mi·9 min·West 23rd Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto US 231
372 ft·7 sec·US 231
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 231
1.3 mi·2 min·US 231
9
Continue on US 231
21 mi·27 min·US 231
10
Turn right onto FL 20
28 mi·39 min·FL 20
11
Turn left onto FL 12
18 mi·24 min·FL 12
12
Turn right onto FL 12; CR 270
0.6 mi·1 min·Selman Street
13
Continue on FL 12
2.2 mi·3 min·Greensboro Highway
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
15
Merge onto I 10
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·37 sec
Exit 296AToward I-75 South: Tampa
17
Merge onto I 75
107 mi·1 hr 54 min·I 75
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike
258 mi·4 hr 39 min·Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328Toward Florida's Turnpike South, OrlandoUse the slight left / straight lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 49BToward SR 820 West: Pines BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto SR 820
1.1 mi·2 min·Hollywood Boulevard
21
Turn left onto Southwest 72nd Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·Southwest 72nd Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
At end of road, turn left onto SR 824
444 ft·19 sec·Pembroke Road
23
Turn right onto West Arcadia Drive
527 ft·25 sec·West Arcadia Drive
24
At end of road, turn right onto Tropicana Street
158 ft·12 sec·Tropicana Street
25
Turn left onto Bahama Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Bahama Drive
26
Arrive at destination
Bahama Drive
Trip Plan
To manage the 572.9 miles effectively, try to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic congestion on the busier sections of the turnpike. Planning for three well-timed stops will help you stay alert during the nearly 11-hour transit. Since you are looking at a two-day itinerary, consider finding a midway point to rest before tackling the longest 258-mile segment. Keep your $96 fuel budget accessible, as costs can fluctuate depending on where you choose to pull off for gas. Always monitor your GPS for real-time traffic updates, as the heavy reliance on I-75 and the turnpike means that accidents can significantly impact your arrival time.
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 286.5 miles from Panama City Beach, FL, or about 5h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 258 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 286.5 miles or 5h 35m 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 286.5 miles or 5h 35m
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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Miramar, 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.
+
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 Panama City Beach, FL
Aim for roughly 286 miles and 5.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Miramar, 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 Panama City Beach, 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 258 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.3 and 572.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.3 mi into trip|~18m in|US 231
At end of road, turn left onto US 231
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
311.7 mi into trip|~6h 2m in|Florida's Turnpike
Take the exit onto Florida's Turnpike toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
7
569.7 mi into trip|~10h 42m in
Take the exit toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 49B
Toward SR 820 West: Pines Boulevard
6
571.3 mi into trip|~10h 45m in|Southwest 72nd Avenue
Turn left onto Southwest 72nd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
572.4 mi into trip|~10h 48m in|Tropicana Street
At end of road, turn right onto Tropicana Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$86.72 one way
$173.45 round trip
$3.85/gal25.4 MPG avg200 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.22
$95.16
$190.32
premium
$4.55
$102.63
$205.25
diesel
$4.80
$108.17
$216.35
Estimated Tolls: $18.06
Florida's Turnpike
(258 mi)$18.06
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
$18
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$235–$345
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 200.4 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
171.9
2
$60.15
$27.50
Efficient EV
143.2
1
$50.13
$22.92
EV Truck/SUV
229.2
2
$80.21
$36.67
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.
Forecast as of Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Panama City Beach, FL
Late night
in Panama City Beach on Sunday
Local time
2:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
W 15 mph5% chanceLive 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
Miramar, FL
Late night
in Miramar on Sunday
Local time
3:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
98°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SE 7 mph30% chanceLive 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
89°F
Quincy, FL
189 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.
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 later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
7 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
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway-focused, with 97% of the drive spent on major interstates and turnpikes. You will experience a fast-paced environment that prioritizes efficiency over local scenery. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 258-mile stretch on Florida’s Turnpike, which requires consistent focus. Because the road is dominated by high-speed corridors, the drive feels like a sustained, long-distance interstate haul. Be prepared for a monotonous rhythm as you transition between the major arterial roads that connect the northern and southern reaches of the state.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 258 mi on Florida's Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 10.3 miles in near US 231.
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 19 significant decision points across 572.9 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 10.3 miles (US 231): Lane positioning matters here; at 311.7 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 569.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
271 ft5 ft
Total Climb
357 ft
Total Descent
365 ft
Highest Point
271 ft
~81.8 mi in
Elevation Range
266 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Panama City Beach, FL and Miramar, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South and Orlando.
The longest stretch is about 258 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 $18.06 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 Miramar, 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 10.3 miles (US 231): Lane positioning matters here; at 311.7 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 569.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Miramar, FL before the return drive.
