Panama City Beach public shoreline access is available at access points along the Gulf coast, with parking and facilities varying by location. This guide covers where to find parking, what some access points offer, and the local rules and safety flags to know before you go.
If you are arriving by air, the trip from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport to Panama City Beach is another part of planning your visit.
- Bay County maintains 96 public access points from Thomas Drive to Front Beach Road.
- Vehicle parking is available at selected beach access points and public lots.
- Flag colors indicate water conditions, and the flags are updated daily.
How public beach access works in Panama City Beach
Visit Panama City Beach says all beaches in Bay County are public, with 96 public access points from the east end of Thomas Drive to the west end of Front Beach Road. The City of Panama City Beach Parks and Recreation Department maintains and repairs accesses 24 through 76B within city limits.
The shoreline has nearly 100 public access points, some with public parking and many without. Check the specific location before you set out, especially if you need to park close to an access.
Summer Breeze Motel is in Panama City Beach, where public shoreline access points run from Thomas Drive to Front Beach Road.
Choosing an access point near your plans
Choose an access point by the facilities you need, rather than assuming every entrance offers the same setup. The city has vehicle parking at accesses 40, 41, 44–50, 53–58 and 69, as well as at M.B. Miller County Pier.
Bike racks are at accesses 26, 34, 45, 47, 58, 65 and 76A. For accessible beach access, the city provides points 24, 40, 56, 66, 70 and 73, plus M.B. Miller County Pier.
Visit Panama City Beach identifies four public parking areas with beach access: Pier Park/Russell-Fields City Pier at 16101 Front Beach Road, M.B. Miller County Pier at 12213 Front Beach Road, Rick Seltzer Park at 7419 Thomas Drive, and St.
Andrews State Park at 4607 State Park Lane. If you are planning time at the park as well as the shore, see how to plan a visit to Saint Andrews State Park.
Parking and beach facilities
The city operates public parking lots at 9941 Thomas Drive, 600 Henley Drive at Churchwell and Front Beach Road, and 11209 Front Beach Road at Richard Jackson Boulevard.
The rate is $2 per hour for up to 6 hours, $12 per day for 24 hours, or $84 per week; payment is available through Passport Parking online or in its app.
At City Beach, 16201 Front Beach Road, outdoor showers are located on the east and west access ramps of the City Pier. Eleven regulation volleyball courts east of the pier are available first-come, first-served.
Rick Seltzer Park has free parking, picnic pavilions, restrooms, outdoor showers and direct beach access. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset. For the current parking details and facility information, check the official site before you go: the City of Panama City Beach and Visit Panama City Beach.
Local beach rules and safety
Follow the local beach rules and check the warning flags before entering the water. Green means low hazard, yellow medium hazard, red high hazard, double red means the water is closed to the public, and purple warns of dangerous marine life.
Visit Panama City Beach urges extreme caution when red flags are flying; the Gulf is closed to the public when double red flags are raised.
Pets are not allowed on the sandy beach except at Dog Beach west of Russell-Fields City Pier; service animals are permitted when assisting their owners. Dogs at Dog Beach must be leashed, and free dog waste bags are available at beach entrances.
Glass bottles are prohibited year-round. Alcohol is allowed on the beach for people age 21 or older for 11 months of the year, but not on the sandy beach during March. Tents, chairs and other personal belongings left unattended overnight are considered abandoned and will be removed. The city adopted its Leave No Trace ordinances in 2012.
A simple checklist before you go
A quick check of the access, parking and water conditions can help you choose where to spend your beach time. Before leaving, confirm the following:
- Pick an access that matches your parking, bike rack or accessibility needs.
- Check the flag colors. Flag-change text alerts are available by texting “PCBFLAGS” to 888777.
- If you plan to swim where lifeguards are on duty, note their seasonal schedule: M.B. Miller County Pier and Rick Seltzer Park have lifeguards from May 27 through Labor Day weekend; Russell-Fields City Pier has them from April 1 through Labor Day weekend. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, and inclement weather may affect duty.
If a boat outing is also on your itinerary, how to plan a Shell Island trip from Panama City Beach covers that separate excursion.
FAQs
Can you park overnight at a Panama City Beach public lot?
Overnight parking is allowed only in the three city-operated lots at 9941 Thomas Drive, 600 Henley Drive and 11209 Front Beach Road. Sleeping or camping in vehicles is not allowed, and trailers, RVs and oversized vehicles are prohibited.
Can you bring a dog onto the beach?
Dogs are permitted on the sandy beach at Dog Beach, west of Russell-Fields City Pier. They must be leashed.
Are beach volleyball courts available?
City Beach has 11 regulation courts east of the pier. They are available first-come, first-served.