Drive Time
5h 43m
Distance
366.1 mi
589 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
Photo: Connor Scott McManus
The drive from Panama City Beach, FL to Orlando, FL covers 366.1 miles and takes about 5h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Thomas Drive, Front Beach Road, West 23rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
183 miles from Panama City Beach, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 43m drive with frequent turns across 366.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 43m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Panama City Beach, FL to Orlando, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Thomas Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Front Beach Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 23rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Selman Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Greensboro Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-75 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Florida's Turnpike South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Panama City Beach, FL and Orlando, FL.
Start on the route
Turn left onto South Thomas Drive
Turn right onto Front Beach Road
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right
Turn straight onto West 23rd Street
At the end of the road, turn left
Continue straight
Continue straight
Turn right
Turn left
Turn right onto Selman Street
Continue on Greensboro Highway
Take the ramp slight right toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
Take the exit slight right toward FL 408 Toll East: Orlando, Titusville
Continue on East-West Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward US 17, US 92, US 441: Orange Blossom Trail
Continue on Carter Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Hicks Avenue
Exit the roundabout onto Hicks Avenue
Turn right onto West Anderson Street
Turn left onto Boone Avenue
Turn right onto West South Street
Turn slight right
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 81 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orlando, FL than in the middle of the route.
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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Panama City Beach, FL
This is one driving day of about 366.1 miles and 5h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 183 mi from Panama City Beach, FL · 2h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 183 miles from Panama City Beach, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Orlando, 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 Orlando, FL.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$61.16 one way
$122.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $66.24 | $132.49 |
| premium | $4.90 | $70.57 | $141.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $81.33 | $162.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.8 | 1 | $38.44 | $17.57 |
| Efficient EV | 91.5 | 1 | $32.03 | $14.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.4 | 1 | $51.25 | $23.43 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Night in Panama City Beach on Saturday
Local time
11:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Orlando on Sunday
Local time
12:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
61°F
Tallahassee, FL
183 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.
Time zone
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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