Origin
Panama City Beach, FL
Morning in Panama City Beach on Monday
Local time
10:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Panama City Beach, FL to Palm Bay, FL
Drive Time
8h 23m
Distance
429.2 mi
691 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$72
one way
EV Charging
None
0 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 16m
★
6 AM
8h 24m
8 AM
8h 39m
10 AM
8h 29m
12 PM
8h 27m
3 PM
8h 30m
5 PM
8h 38m
8 PM
8h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Panama City Beach, FL
Brent Singleton
Palm Bay, FL
Hetvi Patel
Trip Overview
The drive from Panama City Beach, FL to Palm Bay, FL covers 429.2 miles and takes about 8h 23m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 10, I 75, Florida's Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.5 miles on I 10. At current regular gas prices, budget about $71.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
214.6 miles from Panama City Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 8h 23m highway drive covering 429.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 10 and I 75. The longest continuous stretch is about 121.5 miles on I 10.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 10 is the longest continuous segment at about 121.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 10 and I 75. 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.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 429.2 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 375.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
8
375.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 192, US 441: Kissimmee, Saint Cloud
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 244
Toward US 192, US 441: Kissimmee, Saint Cloud
6
376.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 192 East, US 441 South: Saint. Cloud, Orlando Health Saint Cloud Hospital
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 192 East, US 441 South: Saint. Cloud,...
7
424.5 mi into trip
|
~8h 14m in
Take the exit toward CR 516: Palm Bay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 176
Toward CR 516: Palm Bay
Towns Along This Route
Between Panama City Beach, FL and Palm Bay, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando, Us 441: Kissimmee, Saint Cloud and Orlando Health Saint Cloud Hospital.
Florida's Turnpike South
311.7 mi in
|
~6h 2m
|
via Florida's Turnpike
Orlando
311.7 mi in
|
~6h 2m
|
via Florida's Turnpike
Us 441: Kissimmee
375.6 mi in
|
~7h 11m
Saint Cloud
375.6 mi in
|
~7h 11m
Orlando Health Saint Cloud Hospital
376.1 mi in
|
~7h 12m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 10 | 121.5 mi | 2h 10m |
| I 75 | 107.2 mi | 1h 54m |
| Florida's Turnpike | 63.9 mi | 1h 8m |
| Bronson Highway | 37.2 mi | 46m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 121.5 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Panama City Beach, FL and Palm Bay, 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 296A
Toward 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
64 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
Florida's Turnpike
Exit 328
Toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 244
Toward US 192, US 441: Kissimmee, Saint Cloud
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
177 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 192 East, US 441 South: Saint. Cloud, Orlando Health Saint Cloud Hospital
21
Turn left onto US 192; US 441
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Bronson Highway
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on US 192; US 441
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
23
Continue on US 192; US 441
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
24
Continue on US 192; US 441
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
25
Continue on US 192; US 441
34 mi
·
40 min
·
Bronson Highway
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on US 192
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 192
27
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South: Miami
28
Merge onto I 95
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 176
Toward CR 516: Palm Bay
Use the slight right lane.
30
Continue on this road
99 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
Exit 176
Toward CR 516: Palm Bay, Palm Bay Road
Use the left / right lanes.
31
Turn straight onto CR 516
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Palm Bay Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
32
Arrive at destination
Palm Bay Road Northeast
Trip Plan
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 214.6 miles from Panama City Beach, FL, or about 4h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.5 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 94 miles or 2h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 214.6 miles or 4h 18m 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 214.6 miles or 4h 18m
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 7h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palm Bay, 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 215 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Palm Bay, FL
Aim for roughly 215 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Panama City Beach, FL.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 10 for about 121.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 214.6 mi from Panama City Beach, FL · 4h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
215 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Lake City, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
215 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Lake City, FL after about 215 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 214.6 miles from Panama City Beach, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 10 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 121.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 215 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
Arriving in Palm Bay, FL
The final approach into Palm Bay, FL usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Palm Bay, FL.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Palm Bay, FL with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$71.70 one way
$143.39 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
150 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $77.66 | $155.32 |
| premium | $4.90 | $82.73 | $165.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $95.35 | $190.71 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.47
Florida's Turnpike
(63.9 mi)
$4.47
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
$72
Tolls
$4
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$206–$316
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 150.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 128.8 | 1 | $45.07 | $20.60 |
| Efficient EV | 107.3 | 1 | $37.56 | $17.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 171.7 | 2 | $60.09 | $27.47 |
Gas CO2
150 kg
EV CO2
50 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Destination
Palm Bay, FL
Morning in Palm Bay on Monday
Local time
11:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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.
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
25 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
8h 23m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Panama City Beach, FL to Palm Bay, FL covers 429.2 miles and takes about 8h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 10, I 75, Florida's Turnpike. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 215 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 214.6 miles from Panama City Beach, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $71.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 429.2 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.
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 375.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Panama City Beach, FL and Palm Bay, FL, road signs point toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando, Us 441: Kissimmee, Saint Cloud and Orlando Health Saint Cloud Hospital.
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Return Trip
Palm Bay, FL to Panama City Beach, FLPlan the drive back the other way.
429.7 mi
8h 24m
Continue From Palm Bay, FL
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