Hi there! My name is Sam and I run a small beach motel called Beach Town Motel in Hollywood, Florida. As a Florida native who loves traveling around this beautiful state, I often get asked, “How long does it take to drive from Panama City to Hollywood?” So I wanted to share my insider knowledge on driving times between these two awesome beach destinations!
The drive from Panama City to my home base of Hollywood, Florida takes right around 9 hours if you drive nonstop. I’ll be honest, that’s a pretty long haul! As a road trip lover, I don’t mind long drives if I can break it up with fun stops along the way. But for those with less patience or time, you may want to consider flying instead.
There are a few different routes you can take when road tripping from Panama City to Hollywood. The shortest and fastest is to take I-10 W pretty much the whole way. This route is about 457 miles. You’ll go through Tallahassee and then hit I-75 South when you get closer to Hollywood’s location between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
If you want to add a little beach time into your drive, you can take Scenic Highway 98 along the gorgeous Emerald Coast for part of the trip. This adds only about an hour to your total drive time but gives you access to places like Destin and Pensacola Beach where you can stop to soak up some sun and seafood.
Whether you choose to fly or drive between Panama City and Hollywood, I highly recommend visiting both destinations if you love Florida beaches. Panama City is known for its white sand and calm emerald waters while Hollywood dazzles with vibrant murals, retro diners, and beach boardwalks. Both offer stunning coastal scenery and that laidback Florida lifestyle. And the drive itself takes you through interesting cities and landscapes across North and South Florida.
Let me know if you have any other questions about traveling between these two awesome beach towns! As a Florida resident and road trip enthusiast, I’m happy to share my first-hand experience and recommendations. Safe travels!