How far is Panama City, FL from Tampa, FL?

The driving distance from Panama City, FL to Tampa, FL is about 375.4 miles (604.1 km), with a travel time of about 05h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 246.4 miles (396.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 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
375.4 mi
05h 44m
Flight
246.44 mi
396.61 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
246.44 mi
Kilometers
396.61 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
375.4 mi
Kilometers
604.14 km
Drive Time
05h 44m

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 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Tampa
Fri, Apr 17, 2:13 PM EDT
Return by in Panama City
Fri, Apr 17, 6:58 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Panama City
2026-04-17T07:28
Arrive Tampa
Fri, Apr 17, 1:13 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
12:45 PM to 2:45 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Panama City
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Live Oak
FL

County seat of Suwannee County, Florida, United States

From Panama City
187.5 mi
02h 52m
To Tampa
187.9 mi
02h 52m

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
86°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Panama City and Tampa.

  1. 1

    Start on Luverne Avenue

    131 m · 26 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

    28.4 mi · 39 min

  8. 8

    Turn left

    18.1 mi · 24 min

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Selman Street

    3018 ft · 1 min · Selman Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Greensboro Highway

    2.2 mi · 3 min · Greensboro Highway

  11. 11

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 10 East: Tallahassee

    2453 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    121.5 mi · 2 hr 10 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I-75 South: Tampa

    1959 ft · 37 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    160.5 mi · 2 hr 52 min

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 275 South: Tampa, Saint Petersburg

    15.9 mi · 19 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown East-West

    2767 ft · 49 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    77 m · 6 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Downtown East, Jefferson Street

    856 ft · 23 sec

  19. 19

    Continue on North Orange Avenue

    1531 ft · 47 sec · North Orange Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto Pierce Street

    1364 ft · 41 sec · Pierce Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto East Kennedy Boulevard

    1336 ft · 46 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

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
22 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-75 South
161 mi · 43%
I 10 East
122 mi · 32%
Harrison Avenue
25.1 mi · 7%
I 275 South
15.9 mi · 4%
Greensboro Highway
2.23 mi · 1%
Selman Street
0.57 mi
Longest Stretch

I-75 South

Merge slight left

161 mi · 02h 52m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 44m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+129 mi
246.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Live Oak
02h 52m from Panama City
Leave By
5:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Panama City and Sunny near Tampa.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Panama City to Tampa?

The road trip is about 375.4 miles (604.1 km) and usually takes 05h 44m 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?

Live Oak is a useful midpoint, sitting about 187.5 miles from Panama City and 187.9 miles from Tampa.

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

The direct path is about 246.4 miles (396.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 129 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 CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $54.96 one way or $109.92 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 117.8 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 Tampa, 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 Tampa.

Stop Ideas Near Live Oak

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Live Oak, 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 Live Oak.

BUS

Gainesville, Florida

96 mi away
201 East University Ave.
BUS

Waldo, Florida

97 mi away
14648 NE 147th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Panama City and Tampa. Straight-line distance: 246.44 mi (396.61 km).

Panama City

#1 Panama City

County seat of Bay County, Florida, United States

Population34,667
Coordinates30.1594600, -85.6598300
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Tampa

#2 Tampa

The third most populous city in Florida and the center of the Tampa metropolitan area.

Population407,599
Coordinates27.9475200, -82.4584300
Altitude1
CountryUnited States
Start: Luverne Avenue (-85.659629, 30.15946)
End: Kennedy Boulevard (-82.458429, 27.947518)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 604 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.25 gal
50.14 L · about $54.96
Round trip
$109.92
26.5 gal · 100.28 L
Estimated CO2
117.8 kg one way
Round trip: 235.5 kg / 519 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $54.96 $109.92
Mid-grade $4.60 $60.90 $121.79
Premium $4.90 $64.87 $129.74
Diesel $4.35 $57.64 $115.27

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 Tampa, FL. The current time in Panama City is 07:28:57, although it is 08:28:57 in Tampa.

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.