How far is Fort Lauderdale, FL from Panama City, FL?
The driving distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Panama City, FL is about 554.9 miles (893.1 km), with a travel time of about 10h 30m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 436.6 miles (702.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 21h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 10h 30m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
The most populous city in Marion County, Florida.
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City.
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1
Start on East Broward Boulevard
1 km · 1 min · East Broward Boulevard
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2
Turn right onto Northwest 9th Avenue
2.9 mi · 5 min · Northwest 9th Avenue
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3
Continue on Powerline Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Powerline Road
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4
Continue on South Powerline Road
2.4 mi · 5 min · South Powerline Road
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5
Continue on South Pompano Parkway
1 mi · 2 min · South Pompano Parkway
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6
Turn left onto West Atlantic Boulevard
2984 ft · 1 min · West Atlantic Boulevard
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7
Turn right onto Northwest 31st Avenue
1.5 km · 2 min · Northwest 31st Avenue
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8
Continue on Florida's Turnpike Toll, Miami, Orlando
610 ft · 17 sec
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9
Keep slight right to continue on Orlando, Florida's Turnpike North
1761 ft · 43 sec
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10
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
240.4 mi · 4 hr 20 min · Florida's Turnpike
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11
Keep slight left to continue on Florida's Turnpike
1281 ft · 16 sec · Florida's Turnpike
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12
Merge slight left
106.9 mi · 1 hr 55 min
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13
Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
820 ft · 16 sec
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14
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee
1569 ft · 30 sec
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15
Merge slight right
121.8 mi · 2 hr 11 min
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16
Take the exit slight right toward FL 12: Gretna, Greensboro
1341 ft · 46 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on FL `12 South: Greensboro
112 m · 11 sec
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18
Turn straight onto Greensboro Highway
2.4 mi · 4 min · Greensboro Highway
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19
Continue on Selman Street
3018 ft · 1 min · Selman Street
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20
Turn left onto Green Avenue
2342 ft · 57 sec · Green Avenue
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21
Continue on Bristol Highway
17.7 mi · 23 min · Bristol Highway
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22
At the end of the road, turn right
28.4 mi · 39 min
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23
Turn left
24.1 mi · 32 min
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24
Turn left onto Harrison Avenue
1 mi · 3 min · Harrison Avenue
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25
Turn left onto East 7th Street
69 m · 12 sec · East 7th Street
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26
Turn right onto Luverne Avenue
131 m · 19 sec · Luverne Avenue
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27
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Luverne Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Florida's Turnpike
Merge slight left onto Florida's Turnpike
240 mi · 04h 20m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Mostly Sunny leaving Fort Lauderdale and Sunny near Panama City.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Fort Lauderdale to Panama City?
The road trip is about 554.9 miles (893.1 km) and usually takes 10h 30m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Ocala is a useful midpoint, sitting about 277.7 miles from Fort Lauderdale and 277.3 miles from Panama City.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 436.6 miles (702.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 118.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $81.22 one way or $162.44 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 174 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Fort Lauderdale and Sunny near Panama City.
Stop Ideas Near Ocala
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Belleview City Hall Park
Ocala Citizens' Circle
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ocala.
Ocala, Florida
The Villages-Lady Lake, FL
Wildwood, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City. Straight-line distance: 436.65 mi (702.72 km).
#1 Fort Lauderdale
The second most populous city in Broward County, Florida.
| Population | 184,245 |
| Coordinates | 26.1223100, -80.1433800 |
| Altitude | 1 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Panama City
County seat of Bay County, Florida, United States
| Population | 34,667 |
| Coordinates | 30.1594600, -85.6598300 |
| Altitude | 8 |
| Country | United States |
End: Panama City (-85.65983, 30.15946)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 893 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 18h 29m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 13h 52m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 11h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 09h 14m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 07h 55m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 06h 55m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $81.22 | $162.44 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $89.99 | $179.98 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $95.86 | $191.73 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $85.17 | $170.35 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in Florida · Apr 17, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.