Driving to Panama is certainly possible if you’re traveling to the country from the U.S. or one of the other countries of Central America. While the distances, the roads, and the bureaucracy can make it a challenging trip, there’s no reason you can’t complete the trip with an adventurous spirit and a decent vehicle. You can undertake the 2,700-mile journey using the Pan-American Highway in around a week. There are many great things to see as you pass through Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Therefore, try to allow at least 2 weeks to complete this amazing road trip.
If you’re traveling to Panama from the south via Colombia and South America, it’s more complicated. The border region between Panama and Colombia is covered by an impenetrable area of jungle known as the Darién Gap. It’s not possible to drive through this area, although there are options for shipping your car between Colombia and Panama. See our guide on driving to South America for further details.
Panama is located in Central America and acts as a land bridge between the continents of North America and South America. Covering an area of over 29,000 square miles, its neighbors are Colombia to the southeast and Costa Rica to the west. The country is flanked on its northern coast by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean on its southern coast.
The best route to drive to Panama from the U.S. follows a near-constant southerly trajectory along the Pan-American Highway. Assuming a starting point of San Antonio in Texas, the closest major city to the border on the East Coast, we first head into Mexico. Descending south through the country and following a coastal route along the Gulf of Mexico, we eventually reach Guatemala. From Guatemala, the route proceeds to the southeast, passing through Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. You can cross the border into Panama from Costa Rica and continue to your desired location.
Panama lies a long way south of the U.S., and you’ll need to traverse through at least 5 other countries to reach it. Most of the journey will be along the Pan-American Highway, which has some excellent roads. However, it’s a long way to drive, and it’s likely to take you at least a week to complete the trip.
Here are some of the distances involved in road trips between various major U.S. cities and Panama City:
Starting City | Destination | Distance |
San Antonio | Panama City | 2703 miles |
New York | Panama City | 4422 miles |
Los Angeles | Panama City | 4056 miles |
Seattle | Panama City | 4846 miles |
Chicago | Panama City | 3877 miles |
San Francisco | Panama City | 4437 miles |
Driving in Panama and other Central American countries is generally considered safe, provided you follow a few common sense rules. Stories of kidnapping, hijacking, or worse by drug cartels are often sensationalist and don’t reflect the reality on the ground.
The best common sense rules to follow to ensure your safety when driving to Panama are:
The road trip route from the U.S. to Panama City passes close to some of the finest sights in Central America. Depending on your timescales, it’s well worth stopping at one or more of the following attractions:
Palenque, Mexico – Palenque is probably the finest Mayan ruin in Mexico. This vast archaeological site covers 15 square kilometers of the ancient city. The site dates back to the 1st century BC and comprises more than 500 buildings. You’ll need at least half a day, if not longer, to take in the full site. There are more details on Palenque, plus a possible side trip opportunity in our Yucatan Peninsula guide.
Flores, Guatemala – Flores is one of Guatemala’s most popular attractions, and it’s easy to understand why. The town features exquisite colonial architecture, including red-roofed buildings and cobbled streets. The town is also a good base to visit the nearby jungle and archaeological site of Tikal, the finest Mayan ruins in Guatemala.
Masaya Volcano, Nicaragua – One of Nicaragua’s top attractions is the Masaya Volcano. Known as one of the most active volcanos in Central America, it’s famous for its status as one of the few places in the world where you can see a lava lake inside the volcano’s cone. It’s a tough hike up to the top, but it’s well worth the effort.
Tamarindo, Costa Rica – Central America is blessed with fine beaches on both coasts, but something about Tamarindo makes it stand out. This laid-back beach town on Costa Rica’s west coast is a great place for adventure and relaxation in equal measure. There are plenty of water-based activities, from surfing to scuba diving on the offshore reef. A nearby jungle reserve provides good trekking opportunities and is famous for its howler monkeys and leatherhead turtles that nest on the beach.
Panama Canal, Panama – Situated just to the west of Panama City, this triumph of modern engineering is a key waterway in world shipping. Seeing enormous cruise ships and container ships passing through the Panamanian countryside down a narrow waterway is quite a sight.
Panama’s proximity to the equator ensures it benefits from a warm year-round climate. The big climatic factor in Panama is the wet season, which runs from mid-April to December each year. During this period, rainfall is frequent and sometimes very heavy. However, as fast as the rain comes, it can often disappear, leaving fine weather in its aftermath.
The dry season runs from January to mid-April and is typically considered the best time to visit the country. During this time, days are warm and dry, making it undoubtedly the best time to visit the country from a weather perspective. This fine weather does come at a price, as it’s also Panama’s peak tourist season, meaning less availability and higher costs for accommodation.
If you have the budget, we recommend visiting during the dry season. The dry weather allows you to see this beautiful country at its best. Panama isn’t an especially popular tourist destination, meaning you won’t find huge crowds of people at beaches or major attractions, even during peak season.
If you’re considering continuing your journey south from Panama into South America, check out our guide for passing through the Darién Gap. There are some complexities with traveling to Colombia from Panama, so it’s well worth reading about it in our driving to South America guide.
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