How far is Gainesville, FL from Panama City Beach, FL?
The driving distance from Gainesville, FL to Panama City Beach, FL is about 257.7 miles (414.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 13m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 211.6 miles (340.5 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 26m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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 05h 13m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
City in Jefferson County, Florida, United States
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 Gainesville and Panama City Beach.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville and Panama City Beach.
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1
Start on South Main Street
35 m · 11 sec · South Main Street
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2
Turn left onto West University Avenue
3.3 mi · 9 min · West University Avenue
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3
Continue on Newberry Road
2.3 mi · 5 min · Newberry Road
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4
Take the exit slight right toward I 75 North: Lake City
2013 ft · 49 sec
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5
Merge slight left
46.7 mi · 50 min
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6
Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
820 ft · 16 sec
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7
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee
1569 ft · 30 sec
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8
Merge slight right
121.8 mi · 2 hr 11 min
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9
Take the exit slight right toward FL 12: Gretna, Greensboro
1341 ft · 46 sec
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10
Keep slight left to continue on FL `12 South: Greensboro
112 m · 11 sec
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11
Turn straight onto Greensboro Highway
2.4 mi · 4 min · Greensboro Highway
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12
Continue on Selman Street
3018 ft · 1 min · Selman Street
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13
Turn left onto Green Avenue
2342 ft · 57 sec · Green Avenue
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14
Continue on Bristol Highway
17.7 mi · 23 min · Bristol Highway
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15
At the end of the road, turn right
28.4 mi · 39 min
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16
Turn left
22.5 mi · 30 min
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17
Turn right onto East 23rd Street
5.4 mi · 9 min · East 23rd Street
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18
Take the ramp slight left
1693 ft · 43 sec
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19
Merge slight left
2 mi · 3 min
-
20
Continue on Front Beach Road
2.6 mi · 5 min · Front Beach Road
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21
Turn left onto South Thomas Drive
146 m · 15 sec · South Thomas Drive
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22
Turn right
18 m · 4 sec
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Gainesville and Panama City Beach.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
I 10 West
Merge slight right
122 mi · 02h 11m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Mostly Sunny leaving Gainesville and Sunny near Panama City Beach.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Gainesville to Panama City Beach?
The road trip is about 257.7 miles (414.8 km) and usually takes 05h 13m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Monticello is a useful midpoint, sitting about 128.8 miles from Gainesville and 128.9 miles from Panama City Beach.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 211.6 miles (340.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 46.1 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 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:34 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $37.75 one way or $75.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.9 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Gainesville and Panama City Beach, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Gainesville and Sunny near Panama City Beach.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Gainesville and Panama City Beach. Straight-line distance: 211.57 mi (340.49 km).
#1 Gainesville
The third most populous city in Florida.
| Population | 135,004 |
| Coordinates | 29.6516300, -82.3248300 |
| Altitude | 54 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Panama City Beach
City in the U.
| Population | 12,337 |
| Coordinates | 30.1765900, -85.8054900 |
| Altitude | 3 |
| Country | United States |
End: Panama City Beach (-85.80549, 30.17659)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 415 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 35m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 26m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 09m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 17m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 40m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 12m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $37.75 | $75.49 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $41.82 | $83.65 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $44.55 | $89.11 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $39.58 | $79.17 |
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 23, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.