Direct Flights from Chicago to Panama City Beach
Nonstop service from MDW to ECP on Southwest. Here's the schedule at a glance — plus what to do once you land.
Airlines
Southwest
Nonstop flights
—
Distance
797 mi
Days operated
Daily (all week)
About Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is a resort city in the Florida Panhandle, and principal city of the Panama City Metropolitan Area. Being located on the Emerald Coast area of Florida, it is a popular vacation destination. Panama City Beach had a population of 18,094 at the time of the 2020 census, up from 12,018 in 2010. Panama City Beach's slogan is "The World's Most Beautiful Beaches" due to the unique, sugar-white sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle.
Top things to do in Panama City Beach
- Eden Gardens State Park is a 163 acres (0.66 km2) Florida State Park and historic site located in Point Washington, south of Freeport, off U.S.
- St. Andrews State Park is a 1,200-acre (4.9 km2) Florida State Park located three miles (5 km) east of Panama City Beach Florida, off U.S. 98.
- Camp Helen State Park is a Florida State Park and historic site located west of Panama City Beach, in northwestern Florida. The park is south of U.S.
- Ponce de Leon Springs State Recreation Area is a Florida State Park in Holmes County, Florida, United States, located in the town of Ponce de Leon.
- Grayton Beach State Park is a Florida State Park located between Panama City Beach and Destin, near the unincorporated area of Grayton Beach, on CR 30A, in northwestern Florida. Its sister park is Deer Lake State Park.
- Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is a 1,640-acre (6.6 km2) Florida State Park located in Santa Rosa Beach, ten miles (16 km) east of Destin, off U.S. 98, in northwestern Florida. The address is 7525 W.
- The Walton County Heritage Museum is located at 1140 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, Florida.
- The Man in the Sea Museum is a Military Diving Museum. Located at 17314 Panama City Beach PKWY, FL. It has exhibits and documents related to the history of diving. Some of these exhibits include U.S.
- SS Tarpon was a ship which sank in 1937 near Panama City, Florida, United States. The shipwreck is located 7.8 nautical miles (14.4 km) off the shore of Panama City.
- Deer Lake State Park is a Florida State Park located in Santa Rosa Beach, on CR 30A, in northwestern Florida. Its sister park is Grayton Beach State Recreation Area.
- Gulf World Marine Park was a dolphinarium located in Panama City Beach, Florida. It was open from 1970 to 2025, and was one of only a few institutes in the United States to house rough-toothed dolphins.
- The Vamar is a shipwreck near Mexico Beach, Florida, United States. It is located 3.7 miles offshore from Mexico Beach. It became the ninth Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve when it was dedicated in 2004.
Attraction descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA); place data from Wikidata (CC0).
Planning a trip to Panama City Beach
- Best time to visit
- The best time to visit Panama City Beach is February and October–November, when daytime highs are a comfortable 67–79°F.
- How long to stay
- Panama City Beach rewards a longer visit — a full week lets you explore its many sights, from Eden Gardens State Park, St. Andrews State Park, and Camp Helen State Park and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a direct flight from Chicago to Panama City Beach?
- Yes — you can fly nonstop from Chicago (MDW) to Panama City Beach (ECP) on Southwest.
- Which airlines fly nonstop from Chicago to Panama City Beach?
- Southwest flies nonstop between Chicago (MDW) and Panama City Beach (ECP).
- How far is Panama City Beach from Chicago?
- Panama City Beach is about 797 miles from Chicago by air.
- What is there to do in Panama City Beach?
- Popular things to do include Eden Gardens State Park, St. Andrews State Park, Camp Helen State Park, Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, and more.
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