South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach boasts 60 miles of the Atlantic Ocean coastline, while Florida’s Panama City Beach is 27 miles long.
Myrtle Beach offers golf, live entertainment, and vibrant boardwalks, with a beachside nightlife scene. In contrast, Panama City Beach focuses on water activities, family-friendly attractions, and vibrant spring break nightlife.
Myrtle Beach gets more rainfall despite similar summer temperatures. Meanwhile, Panama City Beach tends to be slightly more expensive than Myrtle Beach.
By now, you may have come to decide whether to go to Myrtle Beach or Panama City Beach. Yet, some further details may change your mind, so I’ll suggest reading till the end.
Myrtle Beach vs. Panama City Beach: Quick Comparison
Here is a comparison table to make your choice between Myrtle Beach and Panama City Beach.
| Aspect | Myrtle Beach | Panama City Beach |
| Location | South Carolina along the Atlantic Ocean | Florida Panhandle along the Gulf of Mexico |
| Climate & Weather | Warm summers and milder winters, more sunny days | Warm climate, sunnier weather, more sunny days, milder winters |
| Best Time to Visit | Fall (September to November), Winter (December to February) | Spring (June to August),
early Summer. |
| Accessibility | Easily accessible by car from major highways and airport | Accessible by car from airport |
| Accommodations | Hotels, condos, beach homes, family-friendly | Beachfront resorts, modern hotels, suitable for families and couples |
| Dining & Restaurant | Diverse dining options, fresh seafood | Culinary delights, waterfront dining |
| Activities |
|
|
| Nightlife | Vibrant nightlife scene with bars, clubs, outdoor venues | Active nightlife with good music scenes and bars |
| Cost (Daily typical average) | $176 | $224 |
To help you decide which is the best vacation spot for you, I will now compare these two popular vacation destinations.
Location
Myrtle Beach is located along the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina. Meanwhile, Panama City Beach is on the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Panhandle.
Myrtle Beach is known for its expansive 60-mile stretch of sandy beaches compared to Panama City Beach’s short 27-mile stretch of sandy beaches.
Climate & Weather
Both Panama City and Myrtle Beach have similar summer temperatures, with Panama City averaging 82°F and Myrtle Beach 81°F.
While they receive similar amounts of sunshine in summer, Myrtle Beach tends to be rainier than Panama City during this season. Also, Panama City is a bit warmer than Myrtle Beach in October, offering milder temperatures compared to Myrtle Beach.
In spring, Panama City is slightly warmer than Myrtle Beach. Both cities have plenty of sunshine and receive comparable amounts of rainfall.
Best Time To Visit
Myrtle Beach is best for beach activities during the Fall and Winter while Panama City Beach is pleasant year-round, with Spring and early Summer being ideal times to visit.
The best time to visit Myrtle Beach is in the fall (September to November) for milder weather, fewer crowds, and budget-friendly options. Winter (December to February) offers lower rates and is suitable for escaping colder climates. Spring (March to May) is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.
For Panama City Beach, like Myrtle Beach, summer (June to August) is popular for beach activities, but it can be crowded and expensive.
Accessibility
Myrtle Beach has Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR) that is located just 3 miles away while Panama City Beach is 12.4 miles away.
Myrtle Beach Airport offers international and domestic flights, providing great convenience for travelers to the Grand Strand. However, Panama City airport is approximately a 15-minute drive from the beachfront area with transportation options, including rental cars, taxis, shuttles, and rideshare services available at the airport.
Accommodations
Myrtle Beach offers hotels, condos, and beach homes, and it’s known to be family-friendly. However, Panama City Beach provides beachfront resorts, modern hotels, and accommodations suitable for families and couples.
In Myrtle Beach, you can choose from oceanfront resorts, beachfront hotels, condos, and budget-friendly accommodations.
- Coral Beach Resort & Suites
- Hampton Inn & Suites Myrtle Beach
- Vacasa Vacation Rentals
- Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort
- Ocean Park Resort
Myrtle Beach is open and safe to visit. Although it is considered family-friendly and safe with more attractions, Myrtle Beach has less clear water.
Similarly, Panama City Beach provides beachfront resorts, hotels on the beach, vacation rentals, and cost-effective choices for travelers. For example-
- Edgewater Beach and Golf Resor
- Tidewater Beach Resort
- Panama City Beach Condo Rentals
- Beachside Resort Panama City Beach
- Seahaven Beach Hotel
Panama City Beach has clearer water but can be more geared toward young adults with potentially more seaweed and jellyfish and fewer non-beach activities.
Dining & Restaurant
Myrtle Beach has diverse dining options, including fresh seafood whereas, Panama City Beach offers culinary delights with waterfront dining options.
In Myrtle Beach, you’ll find beloved seafood restaurants like-
- Sea Captain’s House
- Drunken Jack’s
- RipTydz
- King Kong Sushi (International flavors)
- Thoroughbreds Chophouse & Seafood Grille
- River City Cafe
- Mammy’s Kitchen.
Alternatively, in Panama City Beach, fresh seafood is also a highlight, with restaurants like-
- Boatyard and Saltwater Grill (waterfront dining)
- Gulf-to-table dining
- Margaritaville and Diego’s Burrito Factory (Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine)
- Montego Bay Seafood House & Oyster Bar (Steakhouse)
- Runaway Island Beach Bar
- Pineapple Willy’s
Activities
Myrtle Beach is known for golf, live entertainment, and vibrant boardwalks, while Panama City Beach focuses on water activities, natural experiences, and family-friendly attractions.
Myrtle Beach is ideal for sunbathing, swimming, and water sports. Known as the “Golf Capital of the World,” it has numerous golf courses and tournaments.
It also offers family-friendly fun at amusement and water parks like Family Kingdom and Myrtle Waves. The Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Broadway at the Beach provide shopping, dining, and entertainment.
In contrast, Panama City Beach has white sandy beaches for sunbathing, swimming, and water activities. Offers diverse water sports, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and dolphin-watching tours.
Pier Park is a prominent shopping complex with dining and entertainment. Families can enjoy Shipwreck Island Waterpark, Gulf World Marine Park, and pirate-themed cruises.
Nightlife
Myrtle Beach offers more vibrant nightlife experiences with beachfront bars and clubs than Panama City Beach. But Panama City Beach offers an active nightlife with good music scenes and bars.
Myrtle Beach offers an amazing beach city nightlife, known for its colorful and unique scene, featuring all-night bars, clubs, music concerts, and outdoor venues. It’s particularly popular for bachelor and bachelorette parties and spring break festivities.
In contrast, Panama City also has a diverse nightlife catering to different tastes but reaches its peak during spring break. It attracts a student crowd, with venues like Club La Vela and Spinnaker offering music and entertainment at night.
Cost
Panama City tends to be slightly more expensive than Myrtle Beach starting at $224 per day. But, Myrtle Beach offers a more budget-friendly option at an average daily cost of $173 to $176.
Here is a typical comparison between the cost of Myrtle Beach and Panama City.
| Category | Myrtle Beach | Panama City |
| Average Daily Cost (per day for two) | Around $173 to $176 | $224 |
| Accommodation (Hotel) | $88 (per night) | $128 (per night) |
| Local Transportation | $24 | $48 |
| Food | $56 | $66 |
| Entertainment | $46 | $19 |
Myrtle Beach tends to be more budget-friendly in terms of accommodation costs and local transportation, whereas Panama City is slightly pricier in these categories.
However, Myrtle Beach has higher costs for entertainment. Food costs are reasonably similar in both destinations.
Final Verdict: Which Place Is Good For You?
Both Myrtle Beach and Panama City Beach offer unique experiences, and the choice between the two depends on your preferences and priorities.
- Family: Panama City Beach is family-friendly with numerous kid-oriented attractions. Myrtle Beach is also family-oriented but offers fewer child-centric activities.
- Couples: Panama City Beach is ideal for romantic getaways with beautiful beaches and intimate dining. Besides that, you can also do various couple activities in Panama City Beach with your loved one. Also, Myrtle Beach is better for active couples, lacking a strong romantic ambiance.
- Students: Panama City is great for students in terms of parties or nightlife.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the choice between Myrtle Beach and Panama City Beach depends on your preferences. I’ll include, whether it’s family fun or a romantic escape, both destinations offer unique experiences to suit your priorities.
