Origin
Panama City, FL
Afternoon in Panama City on Friday
Local time
2:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Panama City, FL to Palm Bay, FL
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 11m
Distance
421.5 mi
678 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 3m
★
6 AM
8h 11m
8 AM
8h 27m
10 AM
8h 17m
12 PM
8h 15m
3 PM
8h 18m
5 PM
8h 26m
8 PM
8h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Panama City, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Palm Bay, FL
Hetvi Patel
Trip Overview
The drive from Panama City, FL to Palm Bay, FL covers 421.5 miles and takes about 8h 11m 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 $67.09 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
210.7 miles from Panama City, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 8h 11m highway drive covering 421.5 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 29 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 304 miles in near Florida's Turnpike.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 421.5 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 304 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 367.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 368.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
304 mi into trip
|
~5h 50m 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
367.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 58m 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
368.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 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
416.8 mi into trip
|
~8h 2m 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
6
417.1 mi into trip
|
~8h 3m in
Continue toward CR 516: Palm Bay, Palm Bay Road
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left / right lanes.
Exit 176
Toward CR 516: Palm Bay, Palm Bay Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Panama City, 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
304 mi in
|
~5h 50m
|
via Florida's Turnpike
Orlando
304 mi in
|
~5h 50m
|
via Florida's Turnpike
Us 441: Kissimmee
367.9 mi in
|
~6h 58m
Saint Cloud
367.9 mi in
|
~6h 58m
Orlando Health Saint Cloud Hospital
368.4 mi in
|
~7h
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 | 24.1 mi | 32m |
| FL 12 | 18.1 mi | 24m |
| Palm Bay Road Northeast | 4.3 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
I 10
— 121.5 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Panama City, FL and Palm Bay, 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
28 mi
·
39 min
·
FL 20
8
Turn left onto FL 12
18 mi
·
24 min
·
FL 12
9
Turn right onto FL 12; CR 270
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Selman Street
10
Continue on FL 12
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Greensboro Highway
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 10 East: Tallahassee
12
Merge onto I 10
121 mi
·
2 hr 10 min
·
I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 296A
Toward I-75 South: Tampa
14
Merge onto I 75
107 mi
·
1 hr 54 min
·
I 75
Use the straight lane.
15
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.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 244
Toward US 192, US 441: Kissimmee, Saint Cloud
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
177 ft
·
6 sec
Toward US 192 East, US 441 South: Saint. Cloud, Orlando Health Saint Cloud Hospital
18
Turn left onto US 192; US 441
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Bronson Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on US 192; US 441
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
20
Continue on US 192; US 441
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
13th Street
21
Continue on US 192; US 441
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway
22
Continue on US 192; US 441
34 mi
·
40 min
·
Bronson Highway
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on US 192
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
US 192
24
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 95 South: Miami
25
Merge onto I 95
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 95
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 176
Toward CR 516: Palm Bay
Use the slight right lane.
27
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.
28
Turn straight onto CR 516
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Palm Bay Road Northeast
Use the left lane.
29
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 210.7 miles from Panama City, FL, or about 4h 10m 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 93 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 210.7 miles or 4h 10m 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 210.7 miles or 4h 10m
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 6h 51m
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, 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, FL
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Palm Bay, FL
Aim for roughly 211 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 93 miles from Panama City, 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 210.7 mi from Panama City, FL · 4h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
211 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 Gainesville, FLOvernight Options
Night 1
211 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near Gainesville, FL after about 211 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 93 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 210.7 miles from Panama City, 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 211 miles or 4.1 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
$67.09 one way
$134.18 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
148 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $72.98 | $145.97 |
| premium | $4.72 | $78.38 | $156.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $93.06 | $186.12 |
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
$67
Tolls
$4
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$202–$312
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 147.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 126.4 | 1 | $44.26 | $20.23 |
| Efficient EV | 105.4 | 1 | $36.88 | $16.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 168.6 | 2 | $59.01 | $26.98 |
Gas CO2
147 kg
EV CO2
49 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
Afternoon in Palm Bay on Friday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°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
13 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
8h 11m 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, FL to Palm Bay, FL covers 421.5 miles and takes about 8h 11m 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 211 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 210.7 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 $67.09 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 17 significant decision points across 421.5 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 304 miles (Florida's Turnpike): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 367.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 368.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Panama City, 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.
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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