When to visit Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach attracts visitors throughout the year with warm weather, pristine beaches, hotel discounts, and family attractions. The most popular time to visit is summer, when kids are on vacation and people take to the water for activities such as snorkeling, diving, fishing, parasailing, and boating. Because of the start of the school season, fall brings the fewest visitors; however, many empty-nesters and couples come during this time for events, lower prices, and fewer crowds. Winter attracts people from colder destinations up north in search of a warm escape. Many of these snowbirds come for longer stays, renting homes or condominiums for the entire winter. Spring is a popular time for spring break festivities, when the beaches overflow with partygoers.

• high season: June to August
• low season: September to November
• shoulder season: December to May

Weather Information

Panama City Beach experiences warm weather throughout the year, with an annual high of 78 degrees. Summer temperatures reach an average high of 91 degrees, while winter temperatures hover around a high of 64 degrees. Spring and fall are pleasant, with temperatures ranging between highs of 74 and 80 degrees. Hurricane season runs from early June through late November.

Crowd Information

Panama City is busiest during summer, but annual events throughout the year also attract major crowds, including Spring Break in March and April, the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in September, the Indian Summer Festival in October, and the Ironman Florida Triathlon in November.

Closure Information

Most hotels, shops, and attractions remain open throughout the year. However, some restaurants and sites close from November through February.

When to Save

Panama City Beach can be an affordable destination anytime of year, as most hotels offer year-round specials, even in high season. The least expensive time to visit, though, is September through February.

Information provided by Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A few more sites for information

• Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau: The city's official tourism website provides listings of events, easily searchable by month.
• Weather.com: This popular website for current weather provides forecasts, a flight tracker, and temperature averages for the previous year.

The information and websites listed here were valid at the time of publication, but some details may have changed since that time. Please check directly with the provider for the latest information.