We have done it once and will never do it again Definitely so much better to fly right into Panama City, rent a car and then it’s 30 min drive to the beach. If you do have to drive we stopped overnight in Biloxi on the way there, woke up, drive to Pensacola for breakfast at cracker barrel and then 2 more hours you’re there. On the way home stretch it out and stay the night in New Orleans. But overall flying is so much easier with kids. We’ll never drive again. Not worth loosing 2-3 days of the trip to us. I will mention our kids did great on the drive, we just don’t enjoy sitting in the car loosing vacation days