By air: The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) is the closest airport, about 15 miles east of the main beach strip near Panama City. It handles flights from several US cities — Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Houston, and others — but the schedule is seasonal and thins out considerably in winter. Pensacola International Airport, about an hour and fifteen minutes west, has more year-round connections and is worth checking for flights when the local airport is expensive.
By car: Panama City Beach is primarily a drive-to destination. It sits at the end of US-98 on the Gulf, about 100 miles east of Pensacola and 90 miles south of Dothan, Alabama. From Atlanta, it's roughly 5 hours. The main beach road, Front Beach Road (also signed as US-98 and Thomas Drive), runs the length of the resort strip. Traffic on this road in summer is miserable; allow extra time.
By bus: Greyhound serves Panama City (the separate city inland), and local buses connect to the beach, but the bus option requires patience and is genuinely awkward if you have luggage.