The upside-down WonderWorks building on Front Beach Road
Things to do

Panama City Beach attractions

Most attractions sit on Front Beach Road in Middle Beach and at Pier Park. WonderWorks costs $35.99 for adults, the PCB Wheel $20.99 and Coconut Creek's mini golf $16.50. Race City and Shipwreck Island are closed for the season, and Gulf World has been closed to visitors since May 2025.

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Pick an attraction
Checked November 1, 20267 attractionsPrices and hours

WonderWorks, Front Beach Road · Photo: Evan Nichols / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 · Credits

The short answer

Match the attraction to the day

  • Something indoors for a rainy dayWonderWorksHands-on exhibits, an indoor ropes course and laser tag; under 5 free.$35.99 adults
  • A view over the beachPCB WheelFour turns in an air-conditioned gondola at Pier Park.$20.99 adults
  • Go-kartsRace CityClosed for the winter for now. Wristbands cover go-karts and rides, plus tax and a 3% card fee.From $44.86
  • Mini golf late into the eveningCoconut CreekOpen until 10:30 pm, 11 pm on Fridays and Saturdays; tax on top.$16.50
  • Animals, rain or shineZooWorld9:30 am–4 pm daily, last admission 3 pm; open rain or shine.From $25.95
  • A water parkShipwreck IslandClosed for the season; 2027 opening days aren't published yet.From $49.99, season not stated
All attractions

Prices and hours side by side

"Not published" means the operator's website doesn't show it in a form we could read, so check before you go. Prices are per person and usually come with tax on top.

  1. WonderWorksMiddle BeachIndoorsCost$35.99 adults 13 and up, $29.99 ages 5 to 12 and seniors 60 and up, plus sales tax; children 4 and under freeHoursSunday to Thursday 10 am–8 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am–9 pm; last entry an hour before closing
  2. Ripley's Believe It or Not!Middle BeachIndoorsCostTwo-attraction combos from $32.99 for ages 13 and up and $27.99 for ages 5 to 12 online; First Class Pass from $37.99, VIP Combo from $44.99; a convenience fee and tax come on topHours10 am–6 pm in the first week of November 2026; for other weeks, see the calendar on its website
  3. PCB WheelPier ParkCost$20.99 adults, $16.99 ages 3 to 9HoursOpen 365 days
  4. Race CityMiddle Beach (our placement)Closed for the seasonCost$54.20 for riders 54 inches and taller, $44.86 under 54 inches, both plus tax, with a 3% fee on card paymentsHoursClosed for the winter season, according to its hours page
  5. Coconut Creek Family Fun ParkMiddle Beach (our placement)Cost$16.50 per player for one 18-hole course or the Gran Maze, or $30 for unlimited golf and maze until 5 pm the next dayHoursSunday to Thursday 10 am–10:30 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am–11 pm; closed December 24 and 25
  6. ZooWorldGrand LagoonCostFrom $25.95 adults and $19.95 children in its online ticket shop, under 2 free; tickets are also sold at the gateHours9:30 am–4 pm every day, last admission 3 pm; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
  7. Shipwreck Island WaterparkOpen SandsClosed for the seasonCostSingle-day tickets from $49.99 online, $54.99 for any day online and $59.99 at the park, without saying which season they're forHoursClosed for the season
Attraction by attraction

What it costs and when it's open

Prices and hours come from the operators' own websites. Several don't publish all of them online.

The upside-down WonderWorks building on Front Beach Road
Photo: Evan Nichols / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Middle Beach · 9910 Front Beach Road

WonderWorks

More than 100 hands-on exhibits, an indoor ropes course and laser tag. Elevators for wheelchairs and strollers. The operator says to allow at least 3 to 4 hours. The ropes course needs closed-toe shoes and a height of at least 42 inches with an adult, or 48 inches to go alone.

Cost
$35.99 adults 13 and up, $29.99 ages 5 to 12 and seniors 60 and up, plus sales tax; children 4 and under free. A ticket covers all exhibits, one ropes course ticket and one laser tag game
Hours
Sunday to Thursday 10 am–8 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am–9 pm; last entry an hour before closing
Best for
A rainy day; it's indoors

Free parking. The operator says to allow at least 3 to 4 hours. Ropes course: closed-toe shoes, at least 42 inches tall with an adult or 48 inches to go alone.

Official website

Sources: WonderWorks: ticket prices, ticket shop, location info, FAQ

Middle Beach · 9907 Front Beach Road

Ripley's Believe It or Not!

Hundreds of odd-but-true artifacts, interactive games and stories. Its ticket page also sells the 7D Moving Theater and the Mirror Maze. The operator says its attractions are wheelchair accessible and ADA compliant, and service dogs are welcome.

Cost
Two-attraction combos from $32.99 for ages 13 and up and $27.99 for ages 5 to 12 online; First Class Pass from $37.99, VIP Combo from $44.99; a convenience fee and tax come on top
Hours
10 am–6 pm in the first week of November 2026; for other weeks, see the calendar on its website
Best for
A rainy day
Hours on the official website

Sources: Ripley's, tickets, hours, FAQ

Shops and walkways at Pier Park in the evening
Photo: Olin Gilbert / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Pier Park · 15700 LC Hilton Jr Drive

PCB Wheel

Four turns in an air-conditioned gondola, roughly 10 to 15 minutes in all. Formerly called SkyWheel.

Cost
$20.99 adults, $16.99 ages 3 to 9. The 18-hole mini golf costs $14.99, or $27.50 together with the wheel
Hours
Open 365 days. Pier Park's listing gives Monday to Friday 1–8 pm and weekends 11 am–8 pm, and winter hours from November 1 of noon to 6 pm; it may close for weather or maintenance
PCB Wheel at Pier Park

Sources: PCB Wheel: tickets, home page, FAQ, Simon: Pier Park, PCB Wheel hours (Nov 2, 2026)

Closed for the seasonMiddle Beach (our placement) · 9523 Front Beach Road

Race City

Go-karts and rides with a wristband, which stays active until an hour before closing. The Skycoaster isn't included. Single rides are sold too, from $6.78 plus tax.

Cost
$54.20 for riders 54 inches and taller, $44.86 under 54 inches, both plus tax, with a 3% fee on card payments. Single rides are also sold, $7.25 to $14.25 each with tax included (Gran Prix $14.25)
Hours
Closed for the winter season, according to its hours page. The same page still says it will reopen in February 2026, a date that has passed, so check before you go

Which rides you can use depends on height; the operator's size tool shows it ride by ride. Go-kart passengers must be at least 36 inches tall and ride with a driver who is 16 or older.

Hours on the official website

Sources: Race City: tickets, hours, FAQ

Middle Beach (our placement) · 9807 Front Beach Road

Coconut Creek Family Fun Park

Mini golf and the Gran Maze.

Cost
$16.50 per player for one 18-hole course or the Gran Maze, or $30 for unlimited golf and maze until 5 pm the next day. Kids 5 and under play free; tax comes on top of all prices
Hours
Sunday to Thursday 10 am–10:30 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am–11 pm; closed December 24 and 25
Official website

Source: Coconut Creek

Grand Lagoon · 9008 Front Beach Road

ZooWorld

A zoo that's open year-round, rain or shine, according to its website. It doesn't say how much of a visit is under cover.

Cost
From $25.95 adults and $19.95 children in its online ticket shop, under 2 free; tickets are also sold at the gate
Hours
9:30 am–4 pm every day, last admission 3 pm; closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Best for
Animals, rain or shine
Official website

Sources: ZooWorld: home page, FAQ, ticket shop (Nov 2, 2026)

Closed for the seasonOpen Sands · 12201 Hutchison Boulevard

Shipwreck Island Waterpark

The water park is closed until its 2027 season; opening days aren't published yet.

Cost
Single-day tickets from $49.99 online, $54.99 for any day online and $59.99 at the park, without saying which season they're for. 2027 season passes are on sale
Hours
Closed for the season
Official website

Source: Shipwreck Island

Book ahead

Escape rooms and a rage room

These are sold on Viator. Prices, length and ratings come from Viator on November 1, 2026; we haven't tried them.

The Escape Game at Pier Park
Photo: The Escape Game Panama City Beach via Viator

The Escape Game Panama City Beach

The Escape Game at Pier Park

1 h 15 min

The operator runs five themed rooms; each game gives your team 60 minutes to get out. Viator lists the booking at 1 hour 15 minutes.

  • Meets: Pier Park, 15801 LC Hilton Jr Drive, by the PCB Wheel
  • Up to 8 people per Viator booking
  • Free cancellation on Viator; the deadline is on the listing

5.0 · 3 reviews on Viator

From $43.22 on Viator

The Stolen Relic Escape Room
Photo: Royal Escape Rooms via Viator

Royal Escape Rooms

The Stolen Relic Escape Room

1 hour

Solve your way to a stolen relic in a private room; only your group plays. Viator asks you to check in 15 minutes early.

  • Meets: 525 Richard Jackson Boulevard
  • Up to 10 people per Viator booking
  • Free cancellation on Viator; the deadline is on the listing

4.6 · 44 reviews on Viator

From $35 on Viator

Rage Room
Photo: Axe Throwing PCB via Viator

Axe Throwing PCB

Rage Room

1 hour

A room where you smash breakable things, run by Axe Throwing PCB. Viator lists it at about one hour.

  • Meets: 525 Richard Jackson Boulevard, inside Axe Throwing PCB
  • Up to 4 people per Viator booking
  • Free cancellation on Viator; the deadline is on the listing

4.2 · 12 reviews on Viator

From $40 on Viator

Gulf World Marine Park

Is Gulf World open?

No. Gulf World has been closed to visitors since May 28, 2025. That comes from local news: WJHG reported a year later that the park never reopened, its animals were moved out and the property was bought by By The Sea Resorts, with no plans announced. The park's own website shows only insolvency information. The tourism office's FAQ still names Gulf World as a rainy-day option; it's out of date.

The former Gulf World Marine Institute is now the Florida Panhandle Marine Institute. It rescues, rehabilitates and releases marine animals, and that work doesn't mean the park is open to visitors again.

Sources: Gulf World Marine Park, Florida Panhandle Marine Institute, Visit Panama City Beach FAQ, WJHG, May 29, 2026 (local news).

When it rains

Indoors or under cover

June to September brings the most rainy days. Boat tours can be cancelled for storms, and the PCB Wheel may close in bad weather.

Rain and weather by month

All things to do

WonderWorks
Indoor ropes course, laser tag and exhibits
Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Museum of oddities on Front Beach Road
Escape rooms
At Pier Park and elsewhere in town; see the Viator listings above
PCB Wheel
Air-conditioned gondolas, but it may close for bad weather
ZooWorld
Stays open rain or shine, but its website doesn't say how much is under cover