Overview
Panama City is on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Panama City is the governmental, cultural, business, and educational capital of Bay County.
4 things to do · 1 places to eat · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Panama City
St. Andrews State Park
Pine Log State Forest
14 miles north of Panama City Beach, on State Road 79.
Panama City Center for the Arts
Ripley's Believe It or Not
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Oct–May. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 40°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jun and Aug. (climate data from nearby Florida Panhandle)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- ECP Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, Panama City Beach — 15 mi away. Directions
- DSI Destin Executive Airport, Destin — 51 mi away. Directions
- PNS Pensacola International Airport, Pensacola — 93 mi away (major hub). Directions
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.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning St. Andrews State Park, Pine Log State Forest
- Lunch Uncle Ernie's Bayfront Grill and Brew House
- Afternoon Panama City Center for the Arts, Ripley's Believe It or Not
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
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.
Climate
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.
Get in
By plane
Go Northwest Florida International Airport (ECP)
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.
- Private pilots can also fly into Sandy Creek Airpark, located in the East Bay.
By car
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.
By bus
Panama City has a Greyhound bus terminal located on Harrison Street/US 231.
See
Do
Eat
Eat Uncle Ernie's Bayfront Grill and Brew House
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.
Sleep
See also Panama City Beach
Go next
The following locations are less than a 3-hour drive away, perfect for a day trip:
- Apalachicola National Forest near Tallahassee.
- Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna.
- Destin, with 2 outlet malls for shopping and more great beaches.
- Tallahassee, the state capital.
- Falling Waters State Park - just north of Panama City on Hwy 77 in Chipley, you will find this state park an amazing site. With sinkholes and a waterfall which you can walk down into, this is a great location to visit for the day or even camp over night.
- Bayou George is 20 minutes from Panama City on Deer Point Lake, and is in a wooded area; it is a good place for nature activities.
Nearby
Panama City Beach
City / town · 37 listings · 8 mi away
Santa Rosa Beach
City / town · 9 listings · 32 mi away
Port St. Joe
City / town · 16 listings · 33 mi away
Freeport
City / town · 8 listings · 36 mi away
Blountstown
City / town · 7 listings · 41 mi away
Chipley
City / town · 6 listings · 42 mi away
DeFuniak Springs
City / town · 12 listings · 46 mi away
Marianna
City / town · 6 listings · 49 mi away
My experience
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