The drive from Panama City, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 329.9 miles and takes about 7h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 19, Byron Butler Parkway, FL 20 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 121.2 miles on US 19.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.51 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
164.9 miles from Panama City, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 41m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 29m. Total distance: 329.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 7h 29m highway drive covering 329.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 19 and Byron Butler Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 121.2 miles on US 19.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 19 is the longest continuous segment at about 121.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 19 and Byron Butler Parkway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 7th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 29m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 231 / Harrison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 105.9 miles (US 98 / Coastal Highway): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 231 / Harrison Avenue
Turn right onto US 231 / Harrison Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
105.9 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|US 98 / Coastal Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 98 / Coastal Highway
Navigation decision point
6
202.8 mi into trip|~4h 29m in|US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
324 mi into trip|~7h 17m in
Take the exit toward FL 590: Northeast Coachman Road, Sunset Point Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward FL 590: Northeast Coachman Road, Sunset...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 19
121.2 mi
2h 47m
Byron Butler Parkway
58.3 mi
1h 14m
FL 20
49.9 mi
1h 8m
Coastal Highway
38.6 mi
49m
FL 267
30.8 mi
42m
US 231
24.1 mi
32m
Drew Street
2.9 mi
6m
Northeast Coachman Road
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
US 19
— 121.2 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Panama City, FL and Clearwater, FL.
1
Start on Luverne Avenue
429 ft·26 sec·Luverne Avenue
2
Turn left onto East 7th Street
228 ft·14 sec·East 7th Street
3
Turn right onto US 231
1.0 mi·2 min·Harrison Avenue
4
Continue on US 231
1.6 mi·2 min·US 231
5
Continue on US 231
1.3 mi·2 min·US 231
6
Continue on US 231
21 mi·27 min·US 231
7
Turn right onto FL 20
50 mi·1 hr 8 min·FL 20
8
Continue on FL 267
31 mi·42 min·FL 267
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 98
39 mi·49 min·Coastal Highway
10
Turn right onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate; US 221 Truck
58 mi·1 hr 14 min·Byron Butler Parkway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
121 mi·2 hr 47 min·US 19; US 98; US 27 Alternate
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward FL 590: Northeast Coachman Road, Sunset Point RoadUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn straight onto US 19 Southbound Frontage Road
0.9 mi·2 min·US 19 Southbound Frontage Road
14
Turn right onto FL 590
1.7 mi·3 min·Northeast Coachman Road
15
Turn slight right onto FL 590
2.9 mi·6 min·Drew Street
16
Turn left onto North Fort Harrison Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·North Fort Harrison Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
North Fort Harrison Avenue
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.9 miles from Panama City, FL, or about 3h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.2 miles.
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 73 miles or 1h 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.9 miles or 3h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearwater, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Panama City, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Panama City, FL
This is one driving day of about 329.9 miles and 7h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Panama City, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 19 for about 121.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 164.9 mi from Panama City, FL
· 3h 41m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.51 one way
$105.02 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$57.12
$114.24
premium
$4.72
$61.34
$122.69
diesel
$5.61
$72.84
$145.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
50 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Circuit électrique Charging Station
Largo, Florida
Other
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Largo, Florida
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Ionna Charging Station
Largo, Florida
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Perry, Florida
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Brooksville, Florida
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
New Port Richey, Florida
Tesla
1 DCFC
FPL Charging Station
Lynn Haven, Florida
Other
1 DCFC
E.C.O. Charging Station
Largo, Florida
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 13
EV Connect: 10
ChargePoint: 10
Blink: 8
Tesla Destination: 3
Tesla: 3
Shell Recharge: 3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99
1
$34.64
$15.84
Efficient EV
82.5
0
$28.87
$13.20
EV Truck/SUV
132
1
$46.19
$21.11
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Panama City, FL
Afternoon
in Panama City on Friday
Local time
2:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clearwater, FL
Afternoon
in Clearwater on Friday
Local time
3:21 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°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.
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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 29m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Panama City, FL to Clearwater, FL covers 329.9 miles and takes about 7h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 19, Byron Butler Parkway, FL 20. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 164.9 miles from Panama City, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $52.51 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 29m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 231 / Harrison Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 105.9 miles (US 98 / Coastal Highway): Navigation decision point.
The route from Panama City, FL to Clearwater, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
