Panama City Beach lines a 27-mile stretch of Gulf of Mexico shoreline known for sugar-white sand and emerald green water. Gulf tides here are a diurnal mixed pattern — one high and one low per day is common; low tide exposes a gently sloping, wide sandy beach.
The Gulf's diurnal pattern means typically one significant high and one significant low per day, with a range of about 1.5–2 ft; low tide exposes the widest, most gently sloping beach ideal for wading families. Swimming is excellent in the warm emerald water at any tide; surfing is not viable on this flat Gulf coast; shelling and fishing (from Captain Anderson Pier nearby) are both most productive at low tide. Local note: Spring Break (March–April) brings enormous crowds; Shell Island, accessible by ferry from St. Andrews State Park, offers more secluded shelling; St. Andrews State Park at the east end provides the most natural and uncrowded beach access as well as excellent snorkeling off the jetty.
Nearby Beaches