Panama City Beach stretches about 27 miles along the Gulf, and the stretch you pick decides the kind of trip you get. Stay near Pier Park and you can walk to dinner, the SkyWheel and the City Pier. Stay on the east end by St. Andrews State Park and the beach gets quieter and the condos get bigger. Head west to Laguna Beach and Carillon Beach and it feels like a different town altogether, with small inns and low-rise homes instead of towers. Here’s how to choose where to stay in Panama City Beach.
Quick answer
- Walk to shops and restaurants: the Pier Park end, at Embassy Suites or Calypso Resort & Towers.
- Families who want a lazy river: Holiday Inn Resort or Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort.
- Retro, family-run and on the sand: The Driftwood Lodge, Osprey on the Gulf or Casa Loma.
- Big condos on a quieter beach: the east end, at Moonspinner or Regency Towers.
- Adults only: Wisteria Inn in Laguna Beach.
- Kitchen and value, off the beach: Residence Inn Pier Park or Home2 Suites.
Pier Park: for walking everywhere
The area around Pier Park is the busiest part of the beach, and staying here means you can park the car for most of the trip. Embassy Suites by Hilton Panama City Beach Resort opened in 2023 as a five-story, 255-suite hotel on the Gulf, about a two-minute walk from Pier Park. Every room is a suite with a separate living area, which gives parents somewhere to sit after the kids are asleep.
If you’d rather have a full condo, Calypso Resort & Towers is three high-rise towers directly across from Pier Park, with one- to three-bedroom units and balconies that climb past the 20th floor. Next door, Aqua Resort is a 22-story condo tower with its own on-site rental office.
Best for: first-time visitors, teens and anyone who wants dinner, shopping and the beach within a few blocks.
Tradeoff: this is the most crowded stretch of sand, especially in summer and during spring break.
Old-school and family-run: the retro strip
Among the high-rises, a handful of low-rise beachfront hotels keep Panama City Beach’s older character alive, and they’re some of the most charming places to stay on the whole coast.
Just east of Pier Park, the Gilmore family has hosted beach guests since 1957. The Driftwood Lodge has a palm-shaded courtyard, pools facing the Gulf and room layouts from beach-level cabanas to efficiencies, most with kitchens. Next door, its sister property Osprey on the Gulf has 70 rooms, and every one has a full kitchen and a Gulf-view balcony.
Farther east on Front Beach Road, Casa Loma calls its style “Old Florida, Today.” All 100 rooms sit directly on the beach with balconies over the Gulf, and two-bedroom suites sleep up to seven. There’s no elevator, so ask for a lower floor if stairs are a concern.
Best for: families who want a kitchen and the sand steps away without a tower.
Tradeoff: fewer resort extras than the big hotels.
Front Beach Road resorts: for the pool-first family
The long middle stretch of Front Beach Road is where the full-amenity family resorts live.
- Holiday Inn Resort Panama City Beach: built around the kids, with a lazy river, the Aqualand water play area, an indoor arcade, a kids club and a Gulf-front spa for the grown-ups.
- Margaritaville Beach Cottage Resort: vacation-home-style stays, from cottages to six-bedroom beach villas with private pools, around a 2-acre heated pool and a 425-foot lazy river.
- Majestic Beach Resort: two Gulf-front condo towers with studios to four-bedroom units, indoor and outdoor pools and a market and deli downstairs.
- Seahaven Beach Hotel: part of a complex with more than a quarter mile of private beach and Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant on the property.
Best for: families who plan to spend as much time at the pool as the beach.
Tradeoff: you’ll drive to Pier Park and most restaurants.
The east end: for space and a quieter beach
Thomas Drive and the east end, near St. Andrews State Park and the Grand Lagoon, feel calmer than central Front Beach Road. Moonspinner Condominium sits right next to the state park, with about 700 feet of Gulf frontage and units up to five bedrooms, including townhomes. Regency Towers is a gated, 14-story condo resort that has hosted families for more than 40 years, with one- to four-bedroom units and an on-site restaurant and bar. Shores of Panama is the tall one, at 23 stories, with a lagoon-shaped pool and two tiki bars.
This is also the side of the beach for boats. The Grand Lagoon marinas and fishing charters are minutes away, and Historic St. Andrews is just across the Hathaway Bridge.
Best for: big families, groups and anyone who wants a condo with room to spread out.
Tradeoff: Pier Park is about 15 to 20 minutes away by car.
The west end: small inns and quiet sand
West of Pier Park, toward Laguna Beach and the 30A line, the towers thin out. Wisteria Inn is an adults-only inn with 15 themed rooms around a walled tropical garden and pool, about 30 steps across the road from the Gulf, with wine in the lobby every evening. Beachside Resort is a retro-styled Gulf-front hotel in the low-rise Sunnyside area, where the beach feels open and uncrowded. And at the far west edge, Carillon Beach Resort Inn sits inside a gated village about two miles from Rosemary Beach, with access to the community’s five pools.
Best for: couples and anyone who wants Panama City Beach without the crowds, with 30A close by.
Tradeoff: fewer restaurants within walking distance.
Off the beach: kitchens and value
Staying a mile inland saves money and usually gets you a kitchen. Residence Inn Panama City Beach Pier Park opened in 2024 with 121 suites, all with full kitchens, a free hot breakfast and a pool with a fire pit, about half a mile from Pier Park. On the east end, Home2 Suites by Hilton has kitchen suites, free breakfast and a dog-friendly policy, about a mile from ZooWorld. Browse every option on our Panama City Beach stays page.
Tips for booking in Panama City Beach
- Condo or hotel? Most Gulf-front towers are individually owned condos, so decor, beds and beach chair service vary by unit. Check the specific unit’s photos and occupancy before you book.
- Watch the calendar. March brings spring break crowds to the central beach. Families looking for a quieter week should look at the east or west ends.
- Look at parking. Many resorts charge a daily parking fee, so factor it in when comparing prices.
- Fly into ECP. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is the closest to the beach.
Where to stay in Panama City Beach FAQ
What is the best area to stay in Panama City Beach? For walkability, the Pier Park area. For families, the Front Beach Road resorts. For space and quiet, the east end near St. Andrews State Park.
What part of Panama City Beach is quietest? The far west end around Laguna Beach and Carillon Beach, and the east end next to St. Andrews State Park.
Are there adults-only hotels in Panama City Beach? Yes. Wisteria Inn in Laguna Beach is adults only.
Once you’ve picked your base, plan the days with our guides to things to do in Panama City Beach, the best restaurants and Panama City Beach’s beaches. Comparing towns? See where to stay on the Emerald Coast.
Featured photo: The Driftwood Lodge.