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

The driving distance from Tampa, FL to Panama City, FL is about 375.4 miles (604.1 km), with a travel time of about 07h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 246.4 miles (396.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 14h 21m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
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
375.34 mi
07h 10m
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 Tampa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
246.44 mi
Kilometers
396.61 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
375.34 mi
Kilometers
604.05 km
Drive Time
07h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Panama City
Fri, Apr 17, 4:12 PM CDT
Return by in Tampa
Sat, Apr 18, 12:22 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Tampa
2026-04-17T10:01
Arrive Panama City
Fri, Apr 17, 5:12 PM EDT
Route Timing
07h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:11 PM to 1:41 PM CDT

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

Leave by
9:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Tampa
8:00 PM EDT
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
Live Oak
FL

County seat of Suwannee County, Florida, United States

From Tampa
187.8 mi
03h 35m
To Panama City
187.6 mi
03h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph SSW
Destination
76°F
Friday

Sunny

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East Kennedy Boulevard

    122 m · 17 sec · East Kennedy Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Ashley Drive

    1748 ft · 49 sec · North Ashley Drive

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight toward I 275

    1164 ft · 29 sec

  4. 4

    Keep slight right to continue on I 275 North

    843 ft · 21 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    17 mi · 21 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    160.3 mi · 2 hr 52 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 10: Jacksonville, Tallahassee

    820 ft · 16 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 10 West: Tallahassee

    1569 ft · 30 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    121.8 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward FL 12: Gretna, Greensboro

    1341 ft · 46 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on FL `12 South: Greensboro

    112 m · 11 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Greensboro Highway

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Greensboro Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on Selman Street

    3018 ft · 1 min · Selman Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Green Avenue

    2342 ft · 57 sec · Green Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on Bristol Highway

    17.7 mi · 23 min · Bristol Highway

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn right

    28.4 mi · 39 min

  17. 17

    Turn left

    24.1 mi · 32 min

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Harrison Avenue

    1 mi · 3 min · Harrison Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto East 7th Street

    69 m · 12 sec · East 7th Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Luverne Avenue

    131 m · 19 sec · Luverne Avenue

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Luverne Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 275 North
177 mi · 47%
I 10 West
122 mi · 33%
Bristol Highway
17.7 mi · 5%
Greensboro Highway
2.38 mi · 1%
Harrison Avenue
1.04 mi
Selman Street
0.57 mi
Longest Stretch

I 275 North

Merge slight left

160 mi · 02h 52m

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
07h 10m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
14h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+129 mi
246.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Live Oak
03h 35m from Tampa
Leave By
9:38 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Tampa 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 Tampa to Panama City?

The road trip is about 375.4 miles (604.1 km) and usually takes 07h 10m 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 187.8 miles from Tampa and 187.6 miles from Panama City.

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 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 $54.96 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 Tampa and Panama City, so arrival and return times should be read in local time.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Tampa and Panama City. Straight-line distance: 246.44 mi (396.61 km).

Tampa

#1 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
Panama City

#2 Panama City

County seat of Bay County, Florida, United States

Population34,667
Coordinates30.1594600, -85.6598300
Altitude8
CountryUnited States
Start: Tampa (-82.45843, 27.94752)
End: Panama City (-85.65983, 30.15946)

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 Tampa, FL and Panama City, FL. The current time in Tampa is 10:01:25, although it is 09:01:25 in Panama City.

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.