Are you dreaming of visiting Panama City Beach, Florida? If so, you might be curious about how to get there by air. Panama City Beach is a popular tourist destination on the Gulf of Mexico, known for its white sandy beaches, emerald waters, and family-friendly attractions. Whether you are looking for a relaxing getaway, a fun-filled adventure, or a business trip, you will find plenty of options to suit your needs and budget.
But before you book your flight, you need to know which airport is the closest and most convenient for your travel plans. In this blog post, we will answer some of the most common questions about airports near Panama City Beach, Florida, such as how far they are from the city, what airlines and destinations they serve, and what transportation options are available.
What Is the Closest Airport to Panama City Beach, Florida?
The closest airport to Panama City Beach, Florida, is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP). It is located about 11.4 miles (18.4 kilometers) northwest of Panama City Beach, near West Bay. This is a public airport owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District. It opened for commercial flights in 2010 and is the first international airport in the United States designed and built since the September 11 attacks.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport serves as a hub for Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines, offering direct flights to and from major cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Nashville, Baltimore, and Denver. It also offers seasonal flights to and from other destinations such as Austin, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Minneapolis. The airport has one terminal with seven gates, a restaurant, a gift shop, a business center, and free Wi-Fi. It also has a rental car center, a taxi stand, and a shuttle service. The airport has ample parking space, with a main lot, an overflow lot, and a cell phone lot. The parking rates are $3 per hour, $14 per day, and $70 per week.
What Is The Panama City Beach Airport Code?
The Panama City Beach airport code is ECP, which stands for Emerald Coast Parkway, the road that leads to the airport. The airport is also known as Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, or simply Beaches International Airport.
What Are The Other Airports Near Panama City Beach, Florida?
If you are looking for more options, you can also consider flying to one of the other airports near Panama City Beach, FL. Here are some of the alternatives:
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Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
This airport is located about 47.9 miles (77.1 kilometers) west of Panama City Beach, in Valparaiso, Florida. This is a public airport owned by the Okaloosa County Airports Department. It serves as a focus city for Allegiant Air, offering direct flights to and from cities such as Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Pittsburgh, and St. Cloud. It also offers flights to and from Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C. via American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines. The airport has one terminal with 12 gates, a restaurant, a gift shop, and free Wi-Fi. It also has a rental car center, a taxi stand, and a shuttle service. The airport has two parking lots, with rates of $9 per day and $54 per week.
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Dothan Regional Airport (DHN)
This airport is located about 82 miles (131.9 kilometers) north of Panama City Beach, in Dothan, Alabama. It is a public airport owned by the Dothan-Houston County Airport Authority. It offers flights to and from Atlanta via Delta Connection. The airport has one terminal with two gates, a restaurant, a gift shop, and free Wi-Fi. It also has a rental car center, a taxi stand, and a shuttle service. The airport has one parking lot, with rates of $5 per day and $35 per week.
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Pensacola International Airport (PNS)
This airport is located about 85 miles (136.8 kilometers) west of Panama City Beach, in Pensacola, Florida. This is a public airport owned by the City of Pensacola. It serves as a focus city for Silver Airways, offering direct flights to and from cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Key West, Orlando, and Tampa. It also offers flights to and from Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Miami, Nashville, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. via American Airlines, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United Airlines. The airport has one terminal with 12 gates, a restaurant, a gift shop, a business center, and free Wi-Fi. It also has a rental car center, a taxi stand, and a shuttle service. The airport has two parking lots, with rates of $11 per day and $66 per week.
How to get from the airport to Panama City Beach, Florida?
Depending on which airport you choose, you have different options to get from the airport near Panama City Beach, Florida. Here are some of the most common ways:
- By car: You can rent a car from one of the rental car agencies at the airport, or use your own car if you drove to the airport. You can also use a ride-sharing service such as Uber or Lyft, or a taxi service. The driving time and distance will vary depending on the airport and the traffic conditions. But you can expect to spend between 20 minutes to 2 hours on the road.
- By bus: You can take a bus from some of the airports to Panama City Beach, Florida. For example, Greyhound USA operates a bus from Tallahassee Bus Station to Panama City Beach Station twice daily. Tickets cost $11 – $45 and the journey takes 2h 10m. You can also check other bus companies such as Megabus, RedCoach, or FlixBus for more options and schedules.
- By shuttle: You can book a shuttle service from some of the airports to Panama City Beach, Florida. For example, Sunshine Shuttle & Limousine offers a shuttle service from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport to Panama City Beach, Florida. The fare is $35 per person and the journey takes about 30 minutes. You can also check other shuttle companies such as Emerald Coast Shuttle, Bay Limo, or Groome Transportation for more options and prices.
Hope this blog has helped you find the best airport for your trip to Panama City Beach, Florida. If you have any questions regarding airports near Panama City Beach, FL, please feel free to get in touch with us.
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