Guides

Jacksonville to Panama City Beach: A Pet-Friendly Road Trip Guide

Everything you need to know about driving from Jacksonville to PCB with your dog — stops, timing, and what I learned the hard way.

The drive from Jacksonville to Panama City Beach is about 5-7 hours depending on how many stops you make — and if you’re traveling with a dog, you’re going to make a lot of stops. Here’s what I learned driving this route with Ansel, my 70-pound GSP/Lab mix.

(Planning a PCB trip? Check out my full Embassy Suites Panama City Beach review for the hotel details.)

The Route

From Jacksonville (I started in Callahan), you’ll take I-10 West through Lake City, Tallahassee, and then head south on US-231 into Panama City Beach. It’s mostly highway driving with plenty of rest areas along the way.

Distance: ~350 miles
Drive time: 5-7 hours (with dog stops)

Best Stops Along the Way

The Must-Stop: Busy Bee

If you only make one non-potty stop, make it Busy Bee. It’s basically Florida’s answer to Buc-ee’s — spotless restrooms (seriously, some of the cleanest gas station bathrooms you’ll ever see), a huge selection of snacks, jerky, fudge, and their famous Bee Bites. There’s also a Burger King and Dunkin’ inside if you need real food.

There are two locations on I-10:

  • Live Oak (Exit 283) — about 1.5 hours from Jacksonville
  • Lake City (US-41 near I-75) — slightly earlier if you’re coming from the Callahan area

Both have plenty of room to walk your dog around before heading back on the road. It’s worth the stop.

Rest Areas

Florida’s I-10 rest areas are well-maintained with grassy pet areas:

  • Suwannee County Rest Area (Mile Marker 294) — Good first stop
  • Madison County Rest Area (Mile Marker 265) — Midway point
  • Leon County Rest Area (Mile Marker 194) — Just west of Tallahassee

All have pet areas, restrooms, and vending machines. Nothing fancy, but they get the job done.

Coming Soon: Buc-ee’s

Buc-ee’s is building a massive 75,000 square foot location near Tallahassee on I-10. Once that opens, it’ll be another great option. For now, Busy Bee has you covered.

What I Packed (And What I’d Do Differently)

What Worked

(For my full packing list, check out road trip essentials for traveling with your dog.)

What I’d Do Differently: The Crate Situation

I made the mistake of bringing Ansel’s wire crate to use in the hotel room. The problem? It rattled the entire drive. Every bump, every turn — rattle, rattle, rattle. Ansel is an anxious boy when it comes to weird sounds, so by the time we arrived, he was stressed and I was frustrated.

The fix: Get a crash-tested travel kennel that stays in the car.

The two best options:

Gunner Kennel — The gold standard. 5-star crash test rating from the Center for Pet Safety, double-wall construction for temperature regulation, and built like a tank. For a 70-lb dog, you’d want the Large. They’re pricey (~$500+) and heavy (~72 lbs), but if safety is your priority, this is it.

Ruffland Kennel — The more budget-friendly option (~$300-350). Single-piece roto-molded plastic, lighter weight, and performed well in crash testing when secured against the seatback. A lot of hunters and dog sport people swear by these.

Either way, your dog rides safer and you skip the rattling nightmare. I’m upgrading before my next trip.

Timing Tips

  • Leave early. If you leave Jacksonville by 7am, you can be in PCB by early afternoon with plenty of stops.
  • Plan for stops every 2 hours — or whenever your dog tells you it’s time.
  • Avoid Tallahassee rush hour if possible (typically 4-6pm).
  • The last hour (US-231 south into PCB) is the slowest part — two-lane roads and beach traffic.

The Bottom Line

This is an easy drive if you plan for it. Pack smart, stop at Busy Bee, and invest in a proper travel crate. Your dog (and your sanity) will thank you.

Ready to book the hotel? Check out my Embassy Suites PCB review — it’s one of the best pet-friendly options in the area, and I booked it entirely on points.