A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Daytona Beach vs. Panama City for Nightlife, Families, Beaches, and Couples

Should you visit Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Panama City? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is a energetic, lively, and fun beach city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the live music, beaches, and nightlife. See Daytona Beach travel costs.

Panama City

Panama City is a cosmopolitan, fun-filled, and active beach town. Panama City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include food, beaches, and shopping. See Panama City travel costs.

Daytona Beach and Panama City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Daytona Beach. Although Daytona Beach and Panama City are both popular with visitors, Daytona Beach has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Daytona Beach is more popular for its nightlife and big city activities, while Panama City is known for its food, resorts, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty. Daytona Beach is popular for its spring break culture, wild parties, and the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. It is also home to The Daytona International Speedway. Panama City is popular for its watersports, sandy beaches, and year-round beach weather.

How is Daytona Beach different from Panama City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Panama City and Daytona Beach. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is the Food Better in Daytona Beach or Panama City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Panama City is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Panama City area. There are many waterfront restaurants that serve freshly caught seafood. Head to town for a charming atmosphere or grab a bite at a casual eatery. Fried seafood is popular when eating out but you'll also find plenty of options for land-lovers. Most restaurants also have kid-friendly menus.

Daytona Beach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. This beach is more about the parties and drinks than it is about the food.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City Better for Nightlife?

Daytona Beach is an amazing beach city to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Panama City is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

Daytona Beach has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. Spring break is when the parties are at their peak. For the most active nightlife head to A1A from Ormond-by-the-Sea to Ponce Inlet, Main and Beach Streets, and Seabreeze Boulevard, ONE DAYTONA and International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, and Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach.

The nightlife in Panama City has something for everybody. The nightlife is particular crazy during spring break, when the town fills with students. Head to the famous Club La Vela or Spinnaker for music and fun at night.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City Better for Music?

Both Daytona Beach and Panama City offer good live music venues.

The music scene in Daytona Beach is active and vibrant. You can see live music at the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Bandshell and The Roof.

Music lovers will find a few good venues in Panama City. A popular way to enjoy music in the area is to find a restaurant with a lounge where local musicians perform.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City Better for Resorts?

Panama City is a popular place for its resorts. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its luxury resorts.

Panama City has a few great resort options. Most people stay in condos that are VRBO's or Airbnbs, but there are resorts in the area as well.

Daytona Beach has a few resort options worth checking out. Many resorts in the area focus more on affordability than luxury. The oceanfront hotels usually have nice beachfront pools and rooms with balconies and oceanfront views. You'll pay a bit more for the waterfront rooms.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City Better for Beaches?

Panama City is a well-known place for the beach. Also, Daytona Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach city to visit for its beaches.

Panama City is considered a top beach destination. With miles of long white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters, this area's beaches offer a beautiful escape. Head to the area's state parks for the most natural experience. These include St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park. A day trip to Shell Island is also popular.

Many people head to Daytona Beach to enjoy the beach. The city's beaches are lively and festive, so if you're looking for a beach with music, drinking, and partying, then this is your place. In the surrounding areas you'll find some quieter, more family-friendly beaches. It's also best to avoid the Spring Break crowds if you're hoping for a quieter and more family-friendly vacation.

Is the Shopping Better in Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Panama City is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Panama City to go shopping. There are a number of malls and shopping centers in the area.

Daytona Beach is a good destination for shopping. Souvenir shops and t-shirt shops are the main shopping you'll find in this area. The boardwalk is lined with gimmicky shops where you can pick up magnets or beach paraphernalia.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City More Beautiful?

Panama City is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Daytona Beach is not a destination known for its beauty.

Panama City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. With beautiful sand and blue water, Panama City is a beautiful spot for people who enjoy city beaches.

Daytona Beach is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City Better for Families?

Panama City is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Panama City is a very family-friendly destination. This area has large sandy beaches, waterparks, amusement parks, and marine parks. Kids will enjoy playing around at WonderWorks, cooling off at Shipwreck Island Waterpark, and learning about marine life at Gulf World Marine Park. There are also many watersports and water activities that are fun for the whole family.

Daytona Beach is not always a place people visit with their families. Although it's best avoided during spring break, Daytona with kids can be fun when the crowds aren't too bad. There are water parks, surfing lessons, and of course the beach. The restaurants are usually family-friendly as well with many offering kid's menus and early opening hours.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City Better for Couples?

Panama City is a well-known place for couples. Also, Daytona Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach city to visit for romance.

Panama City is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful beaches and romantic restaurants make for a great romantic getaway. This is the perfect place to take sunset walks along the beach and sample freshly caught local seafood.

Daytona Beach is a nice destination for couples. While romance isn't exactly what comes to mind when you first think of Daytona, couples who like to party and be out and about will enjoy a visit to Daytona Beach. There's plenty to do and some very great seafood restaurants in the area, so it's not hard to turn it into a couple's destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City Better for Students?

Daytona Beach is an amazing beach city to visit for students. Also, Panama City is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Daytona Beach is a great destination for students. It's one of the original Spring Break destinations, and the trend continues. If you're a student looking to cut loose, you'll find plenty of likeminded vacationers in the area, with many bars and hotels catering specifically to the younger crowd.

Students come from all over to stay in Panama City. It's not the spring break destination that it once was, but you'll still find students hanging out around the spring holidays.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Panama City is a moderate beach town for its public transit. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Panama City. Most people need a car in Panama City but there is a trolley service that connects major tourist areas.

Public transit is quite limited in Daytona Beach. There's limited transportation options around town so you really must have a private vehicle. If you've been out drinking, you can call a taxi or an Uber.

Is Daytona Beach or Panama City a more walkable city?

Neither Daytona Beach or Panama City are walkable places.

Daytona Beach is not a walkable beach city. This area requires a car if you want to access restaurants, nightlife, or anything away from your hotel.

Panama City is not a very walkable beach city. There's often construction and the streets aren't designed for pedestrians.

For even more information, also check out Is Daytona Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Panama City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Panama City or Daytona Beach?

How long in Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Both Daytona Beach and Panama City have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Panama City than in Daytona Beach. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Daytona Beach, and 3-7 days is enough time in Panama City.

Families should spend more time in Panama City than Daytona Beach. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Panama City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Panama City than Daytona Beach. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Panama City that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Panama City than Daytona Beach if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Panama City.

One day in Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the energetic beach city of Daytona Beach. Most people visit for the nightlife. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the fun-filled destination of Panama City. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Visitors enjoy the live music and nightlife when visiting the party-hard destination of Daytona Beach. This beach city offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Panama City. Most people come for the beaches. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Five days in Daytona Beach or Panama City?

The party-hard beach city of Daytona Beach offers nightlife and live music. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the cosmopolitan destination of Panama City. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. This beach town offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A week in Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Many people enjoy the live music and nightlife when visiting Daytona Beach. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the live music and food when visiting the beach town of Panama City. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling.So, one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Daytona Beach and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Daytona Beach Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Daytona Beach has a larger population, and is about 72% larger than the population of Panama City. When comparing the sizes of Daytona Beach and Panama City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Daytona Beach or Panama City?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Panama City in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Daytona Beach and Panama City. Many travelers come to Daytona Beach for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Panama City in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Daytona Beach is generally around the same temperature as Panama City. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 81°F (27°C), and Panama City fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

Panama City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Daytona Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Daytona Beach usually receives less rain than Panama City. Daytona Beach gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Panama City receives 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Panama City in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Daytona Beach as well as Panama City. Many visitors come to Daytona Beach in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Additionally, most visitors come to Panama City for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Panama City in the autumn. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 74°F (23°C) in October, and Panama City fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

Daytona Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Daytona Beach usually gets more rain in October than Panama City. Daytona Beach gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Panama City in the Winter?

Both Panama City and Daytona Beach are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Daytona Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Panama City because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

In the winter, Daytona Beach is a little warmer than Panama City. Typically, the winter temperatures in Daytona Beach in January average around 58°F (14°C), and Panama City averages at about 52°F (11°C).

In January, Daytona Beach usually receives less rain than Panama City. Daytona Beach gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Panama City in the Spring?

Both Panama City and Daytona Beach during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Daytona Beach because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Panama City this time of year.

In April, Daytona Beach is generally around the same temperature as Panama City. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 69°F (21°C), and Panama City fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

Daytona Beach usually gets less rain in April than Panama City. Daytona Beach gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Panama City receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Panama City and Daytona Beach