Panama City BeachPanama City Beach, FL

Visibility is an estimate — wind, rain, tide & water alerts.

Getting in

Shore access, walk in off the sand

Best conditions

Green flags mean calm conditions. The city's own rip current guidance still recommends swimming near a lifeguard and checking the flags first, since a current can form even when the water looks calm.

Getting through the gate

The public beach itself is free. Russell-Fields City Pier, run by the city, is open 24 hours a day year round; daily rates are $7 to fish and $4 to walk on without fishing, free for children 6 and under, and $3 for disabled visitors, active or retired military and seniors 65 and up with ID. Bay County's M.B. Miller County Pier, a few miles east on the same beach, charges $6 to fish and $3 to walk on daily, and annual passes, sold at Frank Brown Park, are honored at both. A Leave No Trace ordinance, City Ordinance No. 1242, bans leaving tents, chairs, umbrellas and coolers on the sand between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.; anything left out may be removed by the Tourist Development Council's beach maintenance contractor.

Parking

The city's public beach parking is three paid lots, at 9941 Thomas Drive, 600 Henley Drive and 11209 Front Beach Road, none directly at this pier, paid through the Passport Parking app or website at $2 an hour up to six hours, $12 a day or $84 a week.

On site

rinse showers, lifeguard on duty

Watch for

Double red flags close the water to the public; entering anyway carries a $500 fine for a first offense and $1,000 for a second, under City Ordinance 1650, Rip currents are common along this stretch of Gulf coast, especially during storms and strong wave activity, and the city's own guidance says they can be present even when the water looks calm

Checked 2026-08-28. Sources: City of Panama City Beach: beach flags, City of Panama City Beach: FAQ, City of Panama City Beach: ordinances, City of Panama City Beach: Leave No Trace, City of Panama City Beach: rip currents, City of Panama City Beach: beach safety, City of Panama City Beach: public parking, City of Panama City Beach: Russell-Fields pier and beach (facility page), City of Panama City Beach: city beach (facility page), Bay County: parks and recreation, Bay County: M.B. Miller County Pier (facility page), City of Panama City Beach: Ordinance 1650 (beach safety flag warning system).