Where is Panama City Beach?

Where is Panama City Beach? We take a look at where Panama City Beach is, how you can get to it, and what you can do once you are here staying at one of the top Panama City Beach condos.

panama city beach florida

Directions

Panama City Beach is located on the panhandle of Florida. The panhandle is the northwestern region of the state that budges up against Alabama. You will find Panama City Beach tucked almost exactly in between Pensacola to the west and Tallahassee to the east. Both of these cities are comparatively larger than Panama City Beach, so it offers a more relaxing and less tourist-heavy vacation experience.

Directions vary based on where you are coming from:

  • From US-1 E: You are typically only ever going to enter Panama City Beach via I-10 east or west. Heading eastbound on I-10, we recommend taking US-331 south at DeFuniak Springs at exit 85. From here, you’ll take FL-20 east. It’s only about 15 miles down. You will run this road right down to its end at the beach, and take a left at Panama City Beach Parkway.
  • From US-1 W: Going west on I-10, we recommend carrying US-231 all the way down to Panama City Beach. Interestingly, Panama City Beach is about 10 miles west of Panama City. So once you enter the city, you’ll have to carry US-98 to FL-30 west about 20 minutes until you enter the beach city proper. From Atlanta: A major airport hub in Atlanta, about 5 hours away. The majority of your ride will take you along I-85 S, then to I-185, follow signs into the city.
  • From Birmingham: I-65 out of Birmingham is your most direct route. Take it down to Montgomery and then onto 331.
  • From Nashville: The ride from Nashville is about 7.5 hours. We suggest following I-65 past Birmingham the majority of the way. 

Things to Do

Once you make it, you get to decide exactly how you want your vacation to unfold. Fortunately, you have an array of exciting options, all offering pleasant beach vibes throughout.

Families will have a blast exploring every fun-filled nook and cranny of Shipwreck Island Waterpark. The park is famous for its zoom flume waterslide. You’ll also unearth the ocean motion wave pool, the epic Tree Top Drop, 300 feet of white water inner tube rafting, and the Pirates Plunge Racing Slide, among others.

Anyone who loves Old Florida vibes and historical downtown shopping will find a lot to appreciate at Pier Park. This shopping plaza offers shopping standards and staples, like Target, Dillard’s, Columbia, Forever 21, and upwards of 100 other stores and restaurants. It is located at 600 Pier Park Dr.

Plan Your Next Vacation

Secure your next well-deserved and long-awaited vacation getaway today and see this beloved beachside haven for yourself!

You can also get connected with the area’s premier helicopter tour provider. See the beaches from the air with Panhandle Helicopter. It is about $40 per person and includes different flight packages, like the Shark Run and the Run to the Pass. The office is at 15726 Front Beach Rd.

You can cap off any vacation getaway with a sunset cruise. Island Time Sailing delivers top-quality sailing expeditions while Sunset Dolphin Sail carries you and a small crew on a 1.5 hour catamaran trip.

As you can see, nature lovers and enthusiastic shoppers alike can find something to appreciate in Panama City Beach. 

Where to Stay

There’s no shortage of excellent places to stay. All of our Panama City Beach condo rentals are gulf front! Our 2 bedroom condos in Panama City Beach give you a grand entry-point for seeing all the many sights. There’s plenty of space to spread out and find a little privacy between the master suite and guest bedroom.

Larger groups often struggle to find reasonable accommodations. Thankfully, larger groups can still have an awesome vacation experience with our assorted 3 bedroom condos in Panama City Beach.