Origin
Panama City, FL
Morning in Panama City on Friday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Panama City, FL to Orlando, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 30m
Distance
358 mi
576 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 17m
★
6 AM
5h 30m
8 AM
5h 57m
10 AM
5h 40m
12 PM
5h 37m
3 PM
5h 41m
5 PM
5h 56m
8 PM
5h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Panama City, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Orlando, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Panama City, FL to Orlando, FL covers 358 miles and takes about 5h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 7th Street, Harrison Avenue, Selman Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.98 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
179 miles from Panama City, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 30m. Total distance: 358 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 30m drive with frequent turns across 358 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 7th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 30m 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, FL to Orlando, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 7th Street | — | — |
| Harrison Avenue | — | — |
| Selman Street | — | — |
| Greensboro Highway | — | — |
| I 10 East | — | — |
| I-75 South | — | — |
| Florida's Turnpike South | — | — |
| FL 408 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East 7th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Panama City, FL and Orlando, FL.
1
Start on Luverne Avenue
430 ft
·
26 sec
·
Luverne Avenue
2
Turn left onto East 7th Street
226 ft
·
14 sec
·
East 7th Street
3
Turn right onto Harrison Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Harrison Avenue
4
Continue straight
1.6 mi
·
2 min
5
Continue straight
1.3 mi
·
2 min
6
Continue straight
21 mi
·
27 min
7
Turn right
28 mi
·
39 min
8
Turn left
18 mi
·
24 min
9
Turn right onto Selman Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Selman Street
10
Continue on Greensboro Highway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Greensboro Highway
11
Take the ramp slight right toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 10 East: Tallahassee
12
Merge slight left
121 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
13
Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
I-75 South: Tampa
14
Merge slight left
107 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
15
Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando
16
Take the exit slight right toward FL 408 Toll East: Orlando, Titusville
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
FL 408 Toll East: Orlando, Titusville
17
Continue on East-West Expressway
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
East-West Expressway
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 17, US 92, US 441: Orange Blossom Trail
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 17, US 92, US 441: Orange Blossom Trail
19
Continue on Carter Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Carter Street
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Hicks Avenue
203 ft
·
5 sec
·
Hicks Avenue
21
Exit the roundabout onto Hicks Avenue
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Hicks Avenue
22
Turn right onto West Anderson Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Anderson Street
23
Turn left onto Boone Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Boone Avenue
24
Turn right onto West South Street
197 ft
·
5 sec
·
West South Street
25
Turn slight right
102 ft
·
4 sec
26
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 179 miles from Panama City, FL, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
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 79 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179 miles or 2h 45m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orlando, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Panama City, FL
This is one driving day of about 358 miles and 5h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Panama City, FL.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 179 mi from Panama City, FL · 2h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
179 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 79 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 179 miles from Panama City, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Orlando, FL
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.98 one way
$113.97 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
125 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $61.99 | $123.98 |
| premium | $4.72 | $66.57 | $133.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $79.04 | $158.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107.4 | 1 | $37.59 | $17.18 |
| Efficient EV | 89.5 | 1 | $31.33 | $14.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 143.2 | 1 | $50.12 | $22.91 |
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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.
Destination
Orlando, FL
Morning in Orlando on Friday
Local time
9:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°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
2 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
5h 30m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Orlando, FL covers 358 miles and takes about 5h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 7th Street, Harrison Avenue, Selman Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 179 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 $56.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 30m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Panama City, FL to Orlando, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Panama City, FL to Orlando, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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