Tides & Towns
Florida Panhandle · FL

Panama City Beach

Nine miles of Gulf beach, grown from a few 1930s resorts.

Population
18,094 (2020 census)
Incorporated
1970
Gulf shoreline
About 9 miles
Tides
One high, one low a day

Then

  1. 1929

    The Hathaway Bridge opens across West Bay from Panama City.

  2. 1935–1936

    Long Beach Resort opens, and Gideon Thomas opens for business along what becomes Thomas Drive.

  3. 1970

    Several beach communities merge and incorporate as Panama City Beach.

  4. 2000s

    A building boom replaces old motels with high-rise condominiums, and the beach becomes a famous spring break destination.

  5. 2018

    Hurricane Michael makes landfall nearby on October 10 as a Category 5 storm.

Now

St. Andrews State Park offers swimming, snorkeling and camping at the east end of the beach. Pier Park, with its fishing pier, is the center of town.

Gulf Coast Jam brings country music each spring, and the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally fills the beach road.

On the water

From NOAA's predictions for Panama City Beach, FL over the next 351 days. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW).

Pattern
Usually one high and one low a day
Typical daily range
1.4 ft
Biggest swing
2.7 ft on Dec 23
Smallest swing
0.2 ft on Jul 9
Highest high
2.3 ft, Oct 28 at 9:38 PM
Lowest low
−1.0 ft, Jan 20 at 4:51 AM

2 tide stations around Panama City Beach

Sources