How far is Lakeland, FL from Panama City Beach, FL?
The driving distance from Lakeland, FL to Panama City Beach, FL is about 374.4 miles (602.5 km), with a travel time of about 07h 29m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 275.6 miles (443.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 59m 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 07h 29m.
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.
County seat of Suwannee County, Florida, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lakeland and Panama City Beach.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland and Panama City Beach.
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1
Start on East Walnut Street
129 m · 19 sec · East Walnut Street
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2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
727 ft · 22 sec · Lake Morton Drive
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3
Turn right onto South Iowa Avenue
1034 ft · 32 sec · South Iowa Avenue
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4
Continue on East Lemon Street
1307 ft · 46 sec · East Lemon Street
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5
Turn right onto South Florida Avenue
16.4 mi · 25 min · South Florida Avenue
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6
Turn right
34.8 mi · 46 min
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7
Keep slight left
89 m · 13 sec
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8
At the end of the road, turn left
1759 ft · 33 sec
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9
Turn right
2.5 mi · 4 min
-
10
Take the ramp slight right toward I 75 North: Ocala
1518 ft · 37 sec
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11
Merge slight left
114.4 mi · 2 hr 3 min
-
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee
820 ft · 16 sec
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13
Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee
1569 ft · 30 sec
-
14
Merge slight right
121.8 mi · 2 hr 11 min
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15
Take the exit slight right toward FL 12: Gretna, Greensboro
1341 ft · 46 sec
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16
Keep slight left to continue on FL `12 South: Greensboro
112 m · 11 sec
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17
Turn straight onto Greensboro Highway
2.4 mi · 4 min · Greensboro Highway
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18
Continue on Selman Street
3018 ft · 1 min · Selman Street
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19
Turn left onto Green Avenue
2342 ft · 57 sec · Green Avenue
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20
Continue on Bristol Highway
17.7 mi · 23 min · Bristol Highway
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21
At the end of the road, turn right
28.4 mi · 39 min
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22
Turn left
22.5 mi · 30 min
-
23
Turn right onto East 23rd Street
5.4 mi · 9 min · East 23rd Street
-
24
Take the ramp slight left
1693 ft · 43 sec
-
25
Merge slight left
2 mi · 3 min
-
26
Continue on Front Beach Road
2.6 mi · 5 min · Front Beach Road
-
27
Turn left onto South Thomas Drive
146 m · 15 sec · South Thomas Drive
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28
Turn right
18 m · 4 sec
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29
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lakeland and Panama City Beach.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
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.
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 Lakeland and Partly 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 Lakeland to Panama City Beach?
The road trip is about 374.4 miles (602.5 km) and usually takes 07h 29m 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?
Live Oak is a useful midpoint, sitting about 187.3 miles from Lakeland and 187.1 miles from Panama City Beach.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 275.6 miles (443.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 98.8 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 $54.80 one way or $109.59 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 117.4 kg one way.
Do you cross a time zone on this route?
Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Lakeland 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 Lakeland and Partly Sunny near Panama City Beach.
Stop Ideas Near Live Oak
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Live Oak.
Gainesville, Florida
Waldo, Florida
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lakeland and Panama City Beach. Straight-line distance: 275.62 mi (443.56 km).
#1 Lakeland
The most populous city in Polk County, Florida.
| Population | 115,283 |
| Coordinates | 28.0394700, -81.9498000 |
| Altitude | 60 |
| 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: 603 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 12h 28m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 09h 21m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 29m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 06h 14m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 20m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 40m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.15 | $54.80 | $109.59 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $60.71 | $121.43 |
| Premium | $4.90 | $64.68 | $129.35 |
| Diesel | $4.35 | $57.46 | $114.93 |
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 · Jun 08, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.