How far is Panama City, FL from St. Petersburg, FL?

The driving distance from Panama City, FL to St. Petersburg, FL is about 349.4 miles (562.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 244.3 miles (393.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 33m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
349.39 mi
06h 16m
Flight
244.32 mi
393.19 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Panama City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
244.32 mi
Kilometers
393.19 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
349.39 mi
Kilometers
562.29 km
Drive Time
06h 16m

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 06h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in St. Petersburg
Fri, Apr 17, 3:52 PM EDT
Return by in Panama City
Fri, Apr 17, 9:09 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Panama City
2026-04-17T08:35
Arrive St. Petersburg
Fri, Apr 17, 2:52 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:17 PM to 2:47 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:26 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Panama City
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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.

Mid-route stop
Cross City
FL

Town in Florida, United States

From Panama City
175.2 mi
03h 08m
To St. Petersburg
174.2 mi
03h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSE
Destination
87°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Panama City and St. Petersburg.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Panama City and St. Petersburg.

  1. 1

    Start on Luverne Avenue

    131 m · 24 sec · Luverne Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 7th Street

    69 m · 14 sec · East 7th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Harrison Avenue

    1 mi · 3 min · Harrison Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    1.6 mi · 3 min

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    21.2 mi · 27 min

  7. 7

    Turn right

    51.1 mi · 1 hr 10 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    29.6 mi · 41 min

  9. 9

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Coastal Highway

    38.6 mi · 49 min · Coastal Highway

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Byron Butler Parkway

    58.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min · Byron Butler Parkway

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    55.2 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Northeast 5th Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · Northeast 5th Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Gulf to Lake Highway

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Gulf to Lake Highway

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right toward FL 589 Toll: Suncoast Parkway

    2186 ft · 50 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Suncoast Parkway

    54.3 mi · 59 min · Suncoast Parkway

  16. 16

    Merge slight right onto Veterans Expressway

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Veterans Expressway

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Veterans Expressway

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Veterans Expressway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on FL 589 Toll Express Lane

    5.3 mi · 7 min · FL 589 Toll Express Lane

  19. 19

    Merge slight right onto Veterans Expressway

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Veterans Expressway

  20. 20

    Continue on Memorial Highway

    794 ft · 14 sec · Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on Memorial Highway

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Memorial Highway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward I 275 South: Saint Petersburg

    1.6 km · 2 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto I 275: Saint Petersburg

    15.4 mi · 18 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 595: Treasure Island, Florida Orange Groves Winery

    1409 ft · 34 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto 5th Avenue North

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 5th Avenue North

  26. 26

    Turn left onto 34th Street North

    2693 ft · 1 min · 34th Street North

  27. 27

    Continue on 34th Street South

    99 m · 14 sec · 34th Street South

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 34th Street South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Panama City and St. Petersburg.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
28 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Byron Butler Parkway
113 mi · 32%
Harrison Avenue
54.7 mi · 16%
Suncoast Parkway
54.3 mi · 16%
Coastal Highway
38.6 mi · 11%
I 275
15.4 mi · 4%
Veterans Expressway
6.93 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Byron Butler Parkway

Turn right onto Byron Butler Parkway

58.3 mi · 01h 14m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
06h 16m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+105.1 mi
244.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cross City
03h 08m from Panama City
Leave By
11:26 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Panama City and Sunny near St. Petersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Panama City to St. Petersburg?

The road trip is about 349.4 miles (562.3 km) and usually takes 06h 16m 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?

Cross City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 175.2 miles from Panama City and 174.2 miles from St. Petersburg.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 244.3 miles (393.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 105.1 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 7:30 AM CDT. 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 $51.14 one way or $102.29 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 109.6 kg one way.

Do you cross a time zone on this route?

Yes. There is about a 1 hour time difference between Panama City and St. Petersburg, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Panama City and Sunny near St. Petersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Cross City

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Cross City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Cross City.

BUS

Gainesville, Florida

78 mi away
201 East University Ave.
BUS

Waldo, Florida

94 mi away
14648 NE 147th Avenue
BUS

Ocala, Florida

108 mi away
531 Northeast First Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Panama City and St. Petersburg. Straight-line distance: 244.32 mi (393.19 km).

Panama City

#1 Panama City

County seat of Bay County, Florida, United States

Population34,667
Coordinates30.1594600, -85.6598300
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
St. Petersburg

#2 St. Petersburg

The second most populous city in Florida.

Population253,693
Coordinates27.7708600, -82.6792700
Altitude13
CountryUnited States
Start: Luverne Avenue (-85.659629, 30.15946)
End: 34th Street South (-82.679372, 27.77086)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 562 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 44m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 21m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.33 gal
46.67 L · about $51.14
Round trip
$102.29
24.66 gal · 93.34 L
Estimated CO2
109.6 kg one way
Round trip: 219.2 kg / 483 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $51.14 $102.29
Mid-grade $4.60 $56.67 $113.34
Premium $4.90 $60.37 $120.74
Diesel $4.35 $53.64 $107.27

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

Please keep in mind that there is a 1 hour time gap between Panama City, FL and St. Petersburg, FL. The current time in Panama City is 08:35:51, although it is 09:35:51 in St. Petersburg.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.