Planning a Trip

Getting There

The commuter arms of Delta (tel. 800/221-1212), Northwest (tel. 800/225-2525), and US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322) fly into Panama City/Bay County International Airport, on Lisenby Avenue, north of St. Andrews Boulevard, in Panama City (tel. 850/763-6751; www.pcairport.com).

Alamo (tel. 800/327-9633), Avis (tel. 800/331-1212), Budget (tel. 800/527-0700), Enterprise (tel. 800/325-8007), Hertz (tel. 800/654-3131), and National (tel. 800/CAR-RENT [227-7368]) have rental-car offices here.

Taxi fares to the beach are about $25 to $30.

The Amtrak (tel. 800/USA-RAIL [872-7245]; www.amtrak.com) transcontinental Sunset Limited service stops at Chipley, 45 miles north of Panama City.

Visitor Information

For advance information, contact the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, P.O. Box 9473, Panama City Beach, FL 32417 (tel. 800/722-3224 in the U.S., 800/553-1330 in Canada, or 850/233-6503; fax 850/233-5072; www.800pcbeach.com). It operates a visitor center in the City Hall complex, 17001 Panama City Beach Pkwy. (U.S. 98), at Florida 79. The center is open daily from 8am to 5pm; closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Getting Around

The Bay Town Trolley (tel. 850/769-0557; www.baytowntrolley.org) runs along Thomas Drive and on Front Beach Road as far west as Florida 79; it operates year-round Monday through Friday five times a day. Rides cost $1.25 for adults and 60¢ for seniors. Children 5 and younger ride free. Call for the schedule.

For a taxi, call Yellow Cab (tel. 850/763-4691). Fares at the beach are approximately $3.25 to climb aboard and $2.50 per mile, or $5 to $10 for rides within Panama City Beach.

Time

The Panama City area is in the Central time zone, 1 hour behind Miami, Orlando, and Tallahassee.