Happy Days PCB home

Happy days in Panama City Beach

White sand, emerald water, dolphins in the bay and a cannon at sunset. A small guide to the good stuff in PCB.

Find a beachSee what's on

Illustration: the afternoon sun over Panama City Beach's striped emerald water, a long fishing pier and white sand with sea oats

Short answer

Panama City Beach (PCB) is about 27 miles of white quartz sand and emerald Gulf water on Florida's Panhandle. Check the beach flag before you swim, start early at St. Andrews State Park, get out on the bay to see dolphins, and end the day with the sunset cannon.

Last reviewed

Before you swim, read the flag

Flag poles stand along the whole beach. The Gulf can look calm and still pull hard, so the flag wins every time.

  • Double red

    Water closed to the public. Stay out of the Gulf.

  • Red

    High hazard: high surf and/or strong currents.

  • Yellow

    Medium hazard: moderate surf and/or currents.

  • Green

    Low hazard: calm conditions. Still use caution.

  • Purple

    Dangerous marine life, such as jellyfish or stingrays.

No flag doesn't mean safe water. Text PCBFLAGS to 888777 to get a message when the flags change.

Rip currents, sea turtles and more beach safety

A happy day in PCB, hour by hour

Our favorite way to spend one perfect day, from first light on the pier to last light on the sand.

  1. Sunrise

    Walk the pier

    Russell-Fields City Pier runs more than 1,500 feet into the Gulf. Early morning is cool, quiet and the best light for spotting fish below.

    Beaches, piers and parks

  2. 8 am

    Beat the gate line at St. Andrews

    St. Andrews State Park opens at 8 am. Swim the calm lagoon behind the jetties or snorkel the rocks when the water is flat.

    Beaches, piers and parks

  3. Late morning

    Cross to Shell Island

    Take the official ferry from inside the park to an undeveloped barrier island. Pack water and shade; plan as if there are no services.

    Dolphins, pontoons and Shell Island

  4. Afternoon

    Find the dolphins

    Bottlenose dolphins live in St. Andrew Bay year-round. A tour, a pontoon or a kayak all work; watch from a distance and never feed them.

    Dolphins, pontoons and Shell Island

  5. Sunset

    Count down with the cannon

    Schooners fires a cannon the moment the sun drops, and the whole beach cheers. Any west-facing stretch of sand works too.

    Local places to eat

  6. After dark

    Leave the beach dark and clean

    Fill your holes, take everything home and keep lights off the sand. From May through October, sea turtles nest here.

    Sharing the beach with sea turtles

Coming up

The whole year at a glance

The guides

Questions people ask

What does PCB stand for?

PCB stands for Panama City Beach, the beach city on Florida's Panhandle in Bay County. It is a separate city from Panama City, which sits across St. Andrew Bay.

Why is the sand in Panama City Beach so white?

The sand is almost pure quartz that washed down from the Appalachian Mountains over thousands of years. It stays cool underfoot and squeaks when it is dry.

What is the best beach in Panama City Beach for kids?

The lagoon behind the jetties at St. Andrews State Park. The rocks block the waves, so the water is calm and shallow. Always check the flags first.

Where can you see dolphins in Panama City Beach?

Bottlenose dolphins live in St. Andrew Bay and Grand Lagoon all year, near the pass between St. Andrews State Park and Shell Island. Tours leave from the marinas on Thomas Drive.

What is Happy Days PCB?

A small, independent guide to spending happy days in Panama City Beach: beaches, beach flags, things to do, local food and events. To get out on the bay, see our On the water page for dolphin tours, pontoon rentals and the Shell Island ferry.