oriented more for the "townie" type rider.
ROUTE #1
This 33-mile route goes west toward Destin along 30A to Hwy 98 and then returns. Along the way we do a side trip through an older neighborhood and then through the latest development Watercolor Resort. I suggest a stop in Seaside on the way out to catch a light breakfast.
ROUTE #2
The 28-mile route goes east to Pier Park at Panama City Beach and then returns. It passes Seacrest and Rosemary Beach. Part of it is on Hwy 98 which is not the best, but I think I remember a bike lane on it. Again we can catch a light breakfast in Seacrest or Pier Park.
ROUTE #3
This 36-mile route goes east through Santa Rosa Beach. I have never ridden this route; so we'll be exploring. A short section is on Hwy 98. It has a shoulder, but is "chip-seal."
Review of 30A for Bicyclists
I have ridden 30A with my road bike both in July and November from 2005 to 2018. Initially, I found the bike trail that parallels 30A to be welcoming. By 2016, I found it uninviting and rarely used it.
I have ridden 98 from the western intersection with 30A, past the eastern intersection, and along 98 and 30 to Tyndall Airbase in Panama City. Plan for heavy urban traffic in this area.
Riding on 98 near 30A
98 has clip-seal, is a divided highway, and has a four- to six-foot shoulder for most of the length from the east boundary of Destin to Panama City. This rough surface makes it an unpleasant bike ride even though sections of it are marked for a bike lane. Car traffic moves along at 60+mph.
By Tennessee standards, it is flat and has long sight distances. A typical bike tourist will find this route to be acceptable. However, I avoided it due to the rough chip-seal surface.
Riding on 30A
Traffic on this two-lane scenic highway along the coast is abominable and frequently backed up from 9AM to mid-night. Fortunately, an asphalt 10-foot wide bike lane parallels most of the road and provides a way for a bicyclist to escape the cars. But, a roadie is not going to like this trail.
In the summer, shops have hundreds of townie bikes for rent and it seems that all of them rent-out. They, along with crowds of pedestrians, populate this trail. The trail has lumpy sections and many driveway cut-throughs. Unless you’re a kid or an adult with minimal biking experience, you are going to find the road, even with all the cars, to be the safer alternative.
Riding side-roads along 30A
The side roads mimic the issues with 30A, except most do not have a side trail upon which to escape the cars.
Riding on 30
Traffic on this scenic two-lane scenic highway along the coast from Panama City Beach to Panama City is reasonable for a bicyclist comfortable with urban commuting. Traffic is lighter than on 30A. But, it has easily distracted tourists in cars.
In general, it is bike-able at any time of day. We like to ride it from Rosemary Beach area to Pier Park in Panama City Beach.
Riding on 98 near 30
This four-lane highway is the main route through Panama City Beach and Panama City. It has no shoulder but a side-walk. Car traffic moves along at about 40 mph.
It is flat and has long sight distances, lots of distractions, and stop lights. Nevertheless, a typical bike tourist will find this route to be acceptable.
Riding in Panama City Beach and Panama City
The area is busy with car traffic but generally no more difficult for an experienced bicyclist to navigate than downtown Nashville.
Pier Park is the major commercial shopping center with lots of restaurants, entertainment, and shops for the ladies. We always visit it by both car and bicycle.
