1 week road trip to Florida Panhandle

  1. Atlanta
  2. Panama City
  3. Destin
  4. Pensacola
Departure
Days total
7
Day(s) away
—
Destination
3

Trip Notes:

  • Pick the oldest traveler to hold all three bookings

  • Get each property's minimum check-in age in writing

  • Book all three stays and note each cancellation deadline

  • Agree a shared budget and a payment app for splitting costs

  • Decide who drives which car and who is the sober driver each night

  • Recheck each town's 2027 spring break rules in February

Packing Checklist

  • All three booking confirmations and age-policy emails

  • Reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat

  • Swimsuits, beach towel and a hoodie for cool nights

  • Refillable water bottle and a soft cooler

  • Portable phone charger and car charging cable

  • Speaker, frisbee or volleyball for the beach

  • Basic first-aid kit and aloe

  • Cash for park fees and tolls

Itinerary

0/26 tasks

  1. Atlanta

    Georgia, United States

  2. Panama City

    Panama City, Florida, United States

    3 day(s)
    By:
    • Car
    Preference(s):
    • Outdoors
    • Relaxing
    • Beaches
    • Shopping

    Destination Notes:

    • Book 3 nights and save the written age policy

    • Stock up on groceries and water on arrival

    • Buy Shell Island ferry tickets the day before

    • Leave all alcohol off the beach in March

    Some Ideas

    • Beach volleyball and a full day on the sand
    • St. Andrews State Park for the jetties, snorkeling and calmer water
    • Shell Island ferry from the state park for an undeveloped barrier island
    • Pier Park for shopping, cheap eats and the SkyWheel
    • Walk the Russell-Fields City Pier at sunset
    • Split a pontoon or jet ski rental in Grand Lagoon
    • Dolphin-watching cruise
    • Live music at a beachfront bar (most are 21 and up at night)
    • Rainy-day fallback: bowling, arcade or a movie at Pier Park

  3. Destin

    Destin, Florida, United States

    2 day(s)
    By:
    • Car
    Preference(s):
    • Outdoors
    • Relaxing
    • Beaches
    • Shopping
    • Adventure

    Destination Notes:

    On the road in along Scenic 30A:

    • Seaside for the food trucks on Airstream Row and the town square
    • Rent bikes and ride the 30A path between beach towns
    • Grayton Beach State Park for dunes and a quieter swim
    • Photo stop among the white buildings of Alys Beach

    Crab Island in mid-March is hit or miss. The water is still cool, typically in the 60s, and most of the floating vendors open later in spring. It works best on a warm, calm day around high tide, when clear Gulf water flows in. A pontoon split six ways is the affordable way to do it, and the driver must stay sober.

    Ideas to pick from in Destin:

    • Split a pontoon rental and anchor at Crab Island
    • Henderson Beach State Park for the best public beach in town
    • Destin Harbor Boardwalk and HarborWalk Village
    • Party-boat fishing trip, the cheapest way onto the Gulf
    • Parasailing or a dolphin cruise from the harbor
    • Okaloosa Island pier and boardwalk
    • Walk out to Norriego Point at the harbor mouth
    • Go-karts and mini golf for a non-beach afternoon

    TO DO LIST

    • Book 2 nights and save the written age policy

    • Reserve a pontoon for Wednesday, with free cancellation for weather

    • Check the tide table for Wednesday's high tide

    • Check the boat rental's minimum age to rent and drive

    • Bring cash for state park entry

  4. Pensacola

    Pensacola, Florida, United States

    2 day(s)
    By:
    • Car
    Preference(s):
    • Outdoors
    • Relaxing
    • Beaches
    • Adventure

    Destination Notes:

    On the road in from Destin:

    • Navarre Beach and its long fishing pier
    • Opal Beach in Gulf Islands National Seashore, miles of empty sand

    Ideas to pick from:

    • Casino Beach and the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
    • Fort Pickens for the brick fort, bike path and wild beaches
    • Paddleboard or kayak on the calm Santa Rosa Sound side
    • Pensacola Beach Boardwalk for food and live music
    • Downtown Pensacola and Palafox Street for dinner and nightlife
    • National Naval Aviation Museum, which has free admission
    • Day trip to Perdido Key and the Flora-Bama on the state line
    • Group photo on the dunes at sunset

    To-dos for this stop:

    • Book 2 nights and save the written age policy

    • Keep the national seashore receipt for the second day

    • Check Blue Angels practice dates once the 2027 schedule is out

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