Today I want to talk about a trip I truly loved — a drive from Atlanta to Panama City Beach, Florida, with my parents along for the ride.

I think Panama City Beach is one of the most underrated beaches in Florida. Everyone talks about Miami Beach or Orlando as the places to go, but those are really more city experiences, and they get crowded fast. Panama City Beach, on the other hand, is quiet. All the amenities you’d want are still there, but without the crowds — and it’s clean, well-maintained, and comfortable no matter when you visit. Personally, it’s the one I love most.

The Drive Down

This was a trip we planned somewhat suddenly. We got a rental car, slept early, and left Atlanta at 5 a.m., arriving in Panama City Beach around noon via Dothan. The drive is usually about five hours, but we stopped for food along the way.

One quirk of the route: you cross time zones twice. Georgia is on Eastern time, but as you pass through a stretch of Alabama, you drop into Central time — then coming back into the Florida panhandle, you shift again, since Florida itself is split between the Eastern and Central time zones. It’s a small thing, but it matters when you’re timing the drive — on the way back, you have to leave an hour earlier than you’d expect to actually make it home in five or six hours.

Along the way, Dothan emerged as a quaint old town, embodying the quintessential style of a classic small American town. The road itself is a two-lane highway with no real median—just a single dividing line—winding through vast stretches of forest. As a result, you often encounter numerous deer and other animals that didn’t make it across safely. There are few food stops along this stretch as well. The roads are predominantly straight and desolate, causing your speed to increase without your realization. It’s important to keep an eye on the speedometer, as there is a high likelihood of receiving a speeding ticket—not necessarily due to intentional over-speeding, but because of dips that can accelerate your speed before you notice, so remain vigilant about your pace.

Arriving in Panama City

Crossing into Panama City feels like entering a completely different atmosphere — the landscape shifts, and suddenly you’re surrounded by a different kind of greenery and coastal air.

My favorite part of the area is actually Laguna Beach, which is part of the greater Panama City Beach stretch. The whole area — Panama City Beach, Laguna Beach, Rosemary Beach, Miramar Beach, Destin — runs along the same coastline, but Laguna is the one that stole my heart. If you keep driving, you’ll eventually reach Destin, one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, which even has its own airport — a convenient option for anyone who doesn’t want to drive the whole way.

Laguna Beach itself is beautiful from every angle: clean turquoise water, no litter, minimal crowds, and a peaceful, sparsely built-up shoreline.

One tip: bring sunscreen, and buy it before you get there if you forget — the sun is intense, especially if you’re arriving around midday like we did. We stopped at a local chain called Sunsations, which you’ll notice on seemingly every corner of Panama City. They stock everything — sunscreen, water, beach essentials, souvenirs, clothing, fishing gear, sports equipment — though prices run a bit high, as you’d expect near a tourist spot.

We stocked up there, grabbed a quick meal at a nearby McDonald’s, and headed straight to the beach, where we spent a long, peaceful stretch of time. There wasn’t much of a place nearby to rinse off afterward, but we’d brought water in the car, so we washed our feet before heading back in.

The Pier, and Beyond

From there, the next must-see stop is the Panama City Pier. It’s privately run, so there’s an entry fee, but it’s worth it. Walking out along the pier takes you well into the sea, over a shallow stretch of water that’s full of life — clear water, plenty of fish, and even small sharks. The day we visited, several people were out fishing specifically for shark, treating it almost like an adventure sport. Pelicans and other seabirds circle around, drawn by the scraps left behind by the fishermen. We spent close to two hours here, just walking the pier and taking it all in.

Right next to the pier is a small park with a walkway where people play beach volleyball — fun to watch even if you’re not playing.

By this point we were ready to eat, and the area has a good spread of restaurants — an Italian place and several seafood spots, mostly local names you won’t recognize from anywhere else.

Nearby is Wonder Works, a building constructed upside-down, with science exhibits and small museum displays inside — things like space shuttle components, astronaut gear, and a number of visual illusions.

Right across from it is Ripley’s Believe It or Not. There’s also a small water park, a Ferris wheel, and no shortage of other activities: helicopter rides, jet skiing, water skiing, parasailing, and other watersport options. This whole stretch has a livelier, more party-oriented feel and tends to draw more people — compared to Laguna, prices here are lower, but the crowds are heavier.

Old Panama City and the Marina

Next we headed to Old Panama City Center — you can find it by searching for Panama City Hall. Getting there means crossing a striking bridge between Bayview and the upper lagoon, with a great view of speedboats passing beneath and the shoreline stretched out on either side.

The old town center itself has preserved much of its historic character — old buildings, a walkable downtown, plenty of shops and restaurants, and great spots for photos. We parked easily (parking is plentiful) and spent time just wandering through.

From there, we made our way to Panama City Marina — a quiet, photogenic stretch with water on both sides and the opposite shore visible in the distance. Not much foot traffic, easy to drive along, and a great place to take in the view of the city from the water’s edge.

Heading Back

We wrapped up the day around 4 or 5 p.m. Florida time with a stop at Walmart for food and a few essentials, then started the drive back to Atlanta, arriving around 12:30 a.m.

It’s genuinely impossible to see everything Panama City Beach has to offer in a single day — the water parks and other attractions alone could eat up all your time. What we managed: Laguna Beach, the City Pier, the old downtown and City Hall, the marina, and the inverted Wonder Works building (with a stop across the street at Ripley’s for photos), plus food and a bit of souvenir shopping.

Why I’d Go Back

Panama City Beach is the kind of place I’d happily visit again and again — no matter how many times I go, it never feels stale. Unlike some other beaches, I’ve never seen seaweed wash up here; it’s consistently clean and well cared for. Honestly, even compared to Miami, I haven’t seen a beach maintained this well.

There’s no shortage of restaurants either — mostly independent, local seafood and Italian spots rather than the usual chains, and genuinely excellent.

If you have the time, Destin Beach is only about an hour further and well worth the detour. But for a day trip centered on Laguna Beach, spending time on the pier, and maybe trying your luck fishing for shark, Panama City Beach is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated stretches of coastline in Florida — and very highly recommended.