Jacksonville to Panama City drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Jacksonville to Panama City by car is 265 miles, with a 4h12m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Jacksonville to Panama City drive are White Springs FL, the Suwannee River State Park and Tallahassee.
Planning a Jacksonville to Panama City road trip itinerary
The Jacksonville to Panama City connects northern Florida’s largest city to one of the state’s top Gulf Coast beach cities.
Top Jacksonville experiences include Amelia Island kayak tours, guided art and architecture tours by electric bike and electric skateboard rides along Fernandina Beach.
For cultural attractions, head to the Cummer Museum, where the strength tends to be the rotating temporary exhibitions.
There are military bases and industrial sites in Panama City, but for visitors it’s all about the beach.
Top things to do in Panama City include jetboat thrill rides, a sunset catamaran sail, and a dolphin and snorkelling cruise.
You can also swim with dolphins, try scuba diving for beginners and stand-up paddleboarding lessons.
Jacksonville to Panama City distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Jacksonville to Panama City is 265 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 12 minutes. The quickest route is along the I-10, then FL-12, FL-20 and US-231.
The best stops on a Jacksonville to Panama City road trip itinerary are White Springs FL, the Suwannee River State Park and Tallahassee.
Jacksonville to Panama City road trip attractions: White Springs FL
The Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs is named in honour of the composer who wrote Old Folks At Home. The park features a museum that goes into Foster’s work, plus a 97-bell carillon that plays his songs throughout the day.
Several hiking trails also have their trailheads in and around White Springs. Stephen Foster’s Hammock Loop Trail is perhaps the best, taking in several scenic riverside spots, such as Catfish Hole and the Overlook. The 8-mile trail is also suitable for mountain biking.
Jacksonville to Panama City drive: Suwannee River State Park
The Suwannee River State Park is at the confluence of the Suwannee and Withlacoochee rivers, and the short walking trails are surprisingly interesting. The 0.8-mile Sandhill Trail is most popular, combining sandhills, pine trees and the remnants of ghost town Columbus.
The quarter-mile Earthworks Trail, meanwhile, shows off the earthen defensive mounds made by soldiers in the civil war, as well as the remains of the ferryboats that once crossed the river here.
Best stops between Jacksonville and Panama City: Tallahassee
Top Tallahassee experiences include the Museum of Florida History, which tells the tale of the Sunshine State. That covers everything from prehistoric mastodons to the Spanish conquest and Disney.
The Tallahassee Museum, meanwhile, flits all over the place, from sculpture to birds of prey. For natural beauty, head to the Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park.
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