Panama City Beach ranks in Top 25 Best Beaches in the U.S. list, according to Tripadvisor

Ebonee Burrell, The News Herald
·3 min read

With a 27-mile stretch of sugary white sand that leads to the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico, there’s no denying that Panama City Beach lives up to its name as the “World's Most Beautiful Beaches.”

In fact, Panama City Beach recently got national recognition to prove it.

Ranked at No. 18, Panama City Beach snagged a spot on Trip Advisor’s 2023 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best list of Top 25 Beaches in the United States. According to Tripadvisor.com, the Travelers' Choice awards honor travelers' favorite destinations, hotels, restaurants, things to do, and beyond, based on the reviews and opinions collected from travelers and diners around the world.

Related:Panama City Beach tourism officials are optimistic for booming spring break season

The “Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best” award is their highest recognition, which is only presented to spots with the most favorable reviews and ranked among the top 1% of listings on Tripadvisor.

As of Wednesday, Panama City Beach is rated an overall 4.5 out of 5 in reviews on Tripadvisor, with popular mentions of “white sand,” “beautiful water” and “family vacation” and over 5,000 "Excellent” ratings.

“One of the many Panhandle beach options worth a look. Lots of entertainment, dining and accommodations to choose from,” read a Feb. 25 review.

“Always worth coming back for more!! PCB has everything for everyone; amazing beaches, restaurants and plenty to do on all days rain or shine,” a Feb. 22 review read.

The sands along Panama City Beach were crowded with Spring Breakers enjoying warm weather Thursday, March 17, 2022.
The sands along Panama City Beach were crowded with Spring Breakers enjoying warm weather Thursday, March 17, 2022.

It's safe to say Panama City Beach is accustomed to the spotlight. In previous years, the area has ranked within the Top 5 on Tripadvisor's best beaches list, claiming the No. 2 spot in 2021 and No. 3 spot in 2019.

And:Brace for crowds: Panama City area ranked among top tourist destinations for 2022

Also, Panama City Beach shares the public eye with seven other Florida beaches, including Henderson Beach State Park in Destin and Pensacola Beach in the Panhandle.

Rachel Banks, public relations manager for Visit PCB, said there are many key factors, in addition to the beaches, that could explain why the area draws millions of visitors every year.

“(Panama City Beach) is known as the Real.Fun.Beach. We have a strong marketing campaign in place to attract new visitors, and our goal is to keep pushing the destination and show everyone what our beach is all about,” Banks said. “We really pride ourselves in being a family-friendly destination and a year-round destination, and when you factor in our beautiful beaches–you just can’t beat that.”

There’s fun for everyone in Panama City Beach.

The destination is home to some of the biggest events along the Gulf Coast such as the biannual Thunder Beach motorcycle rally, New Year’s Eve Beach Ball Drop and the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam, to name a few. In addition, the area boasts beach view lodging options, premiere dining experiences and family friendly attractions.

More information about Panama City Beach's top suggestions for lodging, dining and fun can be found at VisitPanamaCityBeach.com.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach named in Top 25 Beaches in the United States list