Swimmers leaving the Gulf after the first lap of IRONMAN Florida, with crowds and condo towers behind
Events

IRONMAN Florida in Panama City Beach

IRONMAN Florida is on Saturday, November 7, 2026: a 2.4-mile swim around the Russell-Fields City Pier, a 112-mile bike loop and a 26.2-mile run, finishing at Pier Park. The Athlete Village at Aaron Bessant Park is free to visit. The half-distance IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast follows on May 8, 2027. IRONMAN Florida was first held here in November 1999.

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Where to watch
Checked November 2, 2026Race day Nov 7, 202670.3 on May 8, 2027

IRONMAN Florida swim, November 2010 · Photo: TimothyJ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 · Credits

Dates

When and where

The tourism office's race guide of October 29, 2026, still lists November 7 after Hurricane Isaias; check ironman.com for any changes. Both races carry Visit Panama City Beach's name. In 2023, IRONMAN and the tourism office extended their partnership through 2029.

For entry fees, cutoff and start times, and course maps, check IRONMAN Florida on ironman.com.

Sources: Visit Panama City Beach: IRONMAN, its race guide (October 29, 2026), Slowtwitch: 2027 schedule, IRONMAN press release, 2023.

IRONMAN Florida 2026
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Practice swim
Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Russell-Fields City Pier, according to the tourism office's race guide
IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast
Saturday, May 8, 2027
IRONMAN Florida 2027
Saturday, November 6, 2027, according to the trade site Slowtwitch; not yet confirmed by IRONMAN or the tourism office on pages we could read
Athlete Village
Aaron Bessant Park, next to Pier Park; opens a few days before the race, free and open to the public
Finish
Pier Park
The course

Swim, bike and run

Source: the tourism office. The swim, bike and run outline is from its 2026 race guide; the water temperature and the St. Andrews State Park section are from its general IRONMAN page, which gives no year. The days are short: daylight saving time ended on November 1, so on race day the sun sets before 5 pm.

  • Swim

    Distance: 2.4 miles

    Where: Two laps in the Gulf around the Russell-Fields City Pier, with a short run on the beach between laps. The tourism office says the water is usually in the mid-70s °F, which typically allows wetsuits; whether they're allowed depends on the water temperature on race day

  • Bike

    Distance: 112 miles

    Where: One loop along the Intracoastal Waterway and coastal roads. The 2026 race guide calls it mostly flat with a few rolling stretches, while the tourism office's general page calls it flat; the guide says the wind can build during the day

  • Run

    Distance: 26.2 miles

    Where: Two laps along the coast and through neighborhoods, finishing at Pier Park. The tourism office's general page, which gives no year, says the course passes through St. Andrews State Park; its 2026 race guide doesn't mention the park. Check the official course map on ironman.com before you pick a spot

Where to watch

Where to watch IRONMAN Florida

The swim starts at the Russell-Fields City Pier, 16201 Front Beach Road (city pier page). You don't need a ticket for the Athlete Village. The tourism office's guide also mentions VIP packages with prime viewing spots and catered meals, without a price.

Road closures

Driving on race day

The city hadn't published 2026 closures on the pages we could read. These are the closures it announced for the 2025 race. They show which roads were affected last year; the 2026 closures may differ, so check the city's news page and IRONMAN Florida on ironman.com before you drive.

Source: City of Panama City Beach: IRONMAN road closures, 2025.

Runners on South Lagoon Drive during IRONMAN Florida
Runners on South Lagoon Drive during IRONMAN Florida in 2010.South Lagoon Drive, IRONMAN Florida 2010 · Photo: TimothyJ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

  • South Pier Park Drive, Longboard Way, Sea Monkey Way

    Closure in 2025Closed from 6 am on the Monday of race week until noon on Sunday

  • West Pier Park Drive, Front Beach Road to Pier Park Drive

    Closure in 2025Closed on race day from 2 am until 4 am the next morning

  • Front Beach Road, West Pier Park Drive east to Powell Adams Road

    Closure in 2025Traffic rerouted or controlled on race day from 2 am until 4 am the next morning

  • Thomas Drive

    Closure in 2025Southernmost eastbound lane closed from Front Beach Road to Joan Avenue, 9 am to 11 pm on race day

  • Panama City Beach Parkway

    Closure in 2025Outside westbound lane closed, 6 am to 6 pm, from Ashley Drive to the city's western limit
IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast

The half distance in May

IRONMAN 70.3 Gulf Coast is on Saturday, May 8, 2027: a 1.2-mile swim in the Gulf, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run. In 2026 it finished at the Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort; the 2027 venue hasn't been confirmed.

Sources: Visit Panama City Beach: IRONMAN, IRONMAN 70.3 event listing, 2026, IRONMAN press release, 2023; details on ironman.com.

Spectators along the finish chute at IRONMAN Florida
Spectators along the finish chute at IRONMAN Florida in 2010.IRONMAN Florida finish, November 2010 · Photo: TimothyJ / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Hotels

Hotels within 30 minutes' walk of Pier Park

The finish is at Pier Park, and the Athlete Village is next door in Aaron Bessant Park. These are the hotels on our list within 30 minutes' walk of Pier Park, sorted by walking time to 600 Pier Park Drive. The times are estimates from OpenStreetMap. Race-weekend rates aren't shown here; book early.

  1. Embassy Suites PCB ResortPier Park · 16006 Front Beach RoadTo Pier Park4 min walkBeachAcross the roadParkingSelf-parking $20 a night per car plus taxPrices
  2. The Driftwood LodgePier Park · 15811 Front Beach RoadWalk to Pier ParkTo Pier Park8 min walkBeachOn the sandParkingFree, 1 space per unit (per Expedia)Prices
  3. Osprey on the GulfPier Park · 15801 Front Beach RoadWalk to Pier ParkTo Pier Park9 min walkBeachOn the sandParkingFree, limited spaces (per Expedia)Prices
  4. Hyatt Place PCB BeachfrontPier Park · 15727 Front Beach RoadLazy riverTo Pier Park10 min walkBeachOn the sandParking1 vehicle in the daily resort fee (Expedia: covered self-parking $22.60 a night)Prices
  5. Hampton Inn & Suites PCB BeachfrontPier Park · 15505 Front Beach RoadWalk to Pier ParkTo Pier Park15 min walkBeachOn the sandParking$21 a dayPrices
  6. Residence Inn PCB Pier ParkPier Park · 15900 Panama City Beach ParkwayTo Pier Park18 min walkBeachNot on the beachParking$10 a dayPrices
  7. Holiday Inn Club Vacations PCB ResortPier Park · 17001 Front Beach RoadWalk to Pier ParkTo Pier Park20 min walkBeachOn the sandParkingFreePrices
  8. TownePlace Suites PCB Pier ParkPier Park · 16000 Panama City Beach ParkwayTo Pier Park21 min walkBeachNot on the beachParking$10 a day, self-parkingPrices

Where to stay by area