Walk or fish a pier
Front Beach Road
Russell-Fields City Pier ($4 to walk, $7 to fish) and M.B. Miller County Pier ($3 to walk, $6 to fish) each reach about 1,500 feet into the Gulf. Watch for rays, Spanish mackerel and the occasional dolphin.
Things to do in PCB
Short answer
Beyond the beach: walk or fish a pier, hike or bike the 24-plus miles of trails at Conservation Park, paddle Lake Powell, spend an evening at Pier Park and Aaron Bessant Park, and catch a free city event.
Beyond the sand
Hike or bike Conservation Park
100 Conservation Park, off Panama City Beach Parkway
More than 2,900 acres with 24-plus miles of trails across 12 loops, 0.6 to 11 miles long, and over a mile of boardwalk through cypress. Open dawn to dusk; up to two leashed dogs per person.
Paddle Lake Powell
Camp Helen State Park, west end
A coastal dune lake that meets the Gulf when the water is high. Calm, quiet paddling a few steps from the beach.
Spend an evening at Pier Park
Front Beach Road at the city pier
Shops, restaurants and a beach walk in one place, next to Aaron Bessant Park, which hosts free summer concerts, markets and the New Year's Eve beach ball drop.
Cool off at a water park
Front Beach Road
Shipwreck Island Waterpark is open seasonally, roughly spring through late summer. Check the schedule before you go.
Go to a free city event
Frank Brown Park and Aaron Bessant Park
The city runs a fishing rodeo, a floating pumpkin patch, a dog day called Paws in the Park, Easter events, markets and summer concerts.
On the water
Dolphin tours, pontoon rentals, snorkeling at the jetties and the ferry to Shell Island have their own guide.
Where to watch the sunset
- Schooners, for the cannon and the crowd counting down.
- Either pier, for the sun dropping behind the beach and the water turning pink below you.
- St. Andrews State Park, from the bay side, until the park closes at sundown.
Questions people ask
What is there to do in Panama City Beach when it rains?
Pier Park has shops and restaurants to duck into, and many restaurants on the Grand Lagoon have covered decks for watching a storm roll through. Summer afternoon storms often pass quickly.
Are there hiking trails in Panama City Beach?
Yes. Conservation Park has more than 24 miles across 12 trails, from 0.6 to 11 miles, plus over a mile of boardwalk through cypress. It's open dawn to dusk, and leashed dogs are welcome.
What is free to do in Panama City Beach?
The beach itself, sunsets, Conservation Park, the summer concerts and markets at Aaron Bessant Park, and city events like the Fishing Rodeo and Floating Pumpkin Patch.
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