Directions To Panama City

How To Get To Panama City...

You've settled on the vacation or the forever stay. Now, you need to get here. You need your directions to Panama City and Panama City Beach. I get that you may still be pondering the “forever stay” part, but I'll get you there. I have my goals set in stone. ;)

There are numerous ways of getting here and getting around once you've landed.

When I first arrived in Panama City, it was after a lengthy, but exciting, 2,700+ mile trip in a moving truck from Vancouver, WA. I spent a lot of time at Love's and Pilot truck stops along the way. Showering, sleeping, eating truck stop grub, all stretched out over many days. It may sound like a nightmare to you, but those are fond memories that I'll hold near and dear to me for the rest of my days. It was the beginning of my new life in Florida.

Directions To Panama City Via Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...

By Car: Although a car trip is going to take longer to get here (depending on where you're starting from, of course), in many ways, it's a big advantage. You'll have your own mode of transportation and won't be stuck to anyone else's schedule. Go where you want, when you want. And if you have the time, why not? If you want to take in the nation's scenery as you travel toward paradise, a car trip may be the perfect solution. As someone who can't find his way out of a paper bag, my best buddy is my GPS and Google Maps. That's freedom at it's best, my friend!

By Train: If you want to take a train to Florida, unless you already live along the East coast, it's not going to happen. If you do live on the East coast, though, there are 3 Amtrak trains to get you into the state: The Auto Train will transport both you and your vehicle, but it only has a single route and will drop you off in Sanford, Florida, which is located around Orlando. Then you have about 384 miles along I-75 to get to Panama City and PCB. Not the best of options, but who am I to say? Maybe an interesting trip is something you'd look forward to, and it would save you the gas and wear and tear on your car.

The Silver Meteor train takes you through Florida to the beaches of Miami. Not really a good choice, or any choice at all, to be honest. The Silver Star train stops at a lot of the same spots and the same routes as the Meteor. Also, not a solid choice.

Unless you're bringing your vehicle and taking the Auto Train, traveling to Panama City by train just won't work for you. There are simply no cross-country routes to get here. That's too bad, too, because traveling by train is a really cool adventure. Maybe some day Amtrak will put some routes, nationwide, into Panama City.

By Plane: Does Panama City have an airport? Absolutely! A short 30 minutes to or from Panama City and 20 minutes from Panama City Beach, our Northwest Florida Beaches (ECP) International Airport serves American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Air Lines, and United Airlines. From the airport, you can either rent a car, grab a taxi, call for a rideshare such as Uber, or get someone to pick you up (Friends don't ask friends to pick them up from the airport...or so I've heard). If flying is more your thing, this is your option. Click here to read more about Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport...

Getting Around Panama City And Panama City Beach...

Once you've made it here, there are many options for getting around Panama City and PCB:

Car: If you have your own vehicle, you're obviously good to go. Nuff said. If you didn't bring one, you can always rent one. You'll find it's very easy to get around here.

Although traffic can get heavy sometimes (we are a tourist spot), that's really the only issue you should run into. The roads around here are not some weird puzzle you'll have a hard time with. Here's a tip: I've found that 7-8 am is a great time to be down at the beaches of PCB. The roads are really clear and empty for a tourist town.

Taxi: Taxi services can help you out and are a somewhat convenient, albeit more costly, option for moving around and getting to the places you need to go to.

Catch A Bus: Bayway is our public transportation system that will take you around Panama City and down into Panama City Beach. Traveling by bus here is easy-peasy. Here's a tip: Routes 6 and 7 will get you around Panama City and down to Panama City Beach.

Hail A Rideshare: Rideshare services like Uber are another somewhat convenient way to travel the streets of the cities.

Golf Carts: Rent a golf cart, scooter, bikes, motorcycles, or a fancy Polaris Slingshot (sharp looking cars!). There are a bunch of businesses to rent these from, all up and down the main drags of Panama City Beach. It's a unique and fun way to cruise around town.

Walk: Yup. The good, old fashioned mode of free transportation. Just put one foot in front of the other. Get yourself some fresh air and exercise. So much is so close, making walking a great option. Don't forget a hat for head covering from the sun and a bottle of water to keep you hydrated.

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With directions to Panama City, Panama City Beach, and all kinds of ways to get around, all outlined for you, the choice is yours. What is not a choice is whether you have fun or not. Fun is simply a must-do! 😁