By road, Coronado and Gamboa are about 56 miles (90 km) apart, or roughly 1 h 28 min of driving.
Full advisory: Panama. Advisory issued: Panama August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Panama: “Driving at night can be dangerous, especially on the old Panama City–Colon highway.”
| Distance by road | 56 mi (90 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 1 h 28 min |
| Provinces on the route | Panama, Colón |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 2.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
How the Coronado to Gamboa drive plays out
It runs through 2 provinces: Panama, Colón. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Coronado to Gamboa: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–56 | 56 | Panama |
- Mile 56 of this route: Panama → Colón (province line)
What to see on the way from Coronado to Gamboa
- Nature and outdoors: Altos de Campana National Park (mile 17), Camino de Cruces National Park (mile 48)
- Museums and history: Panamá Viejo (mile 48)
Altos de Campana National Park
About 50 km west of Panama City in Panamá Oeste province, Altos de Campana National Park was established in 1966 and covers 11,901 acres of mountain terrain.
Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo or San Felipe) is Panama City's historic district, settled in 1673 after pirates nearly destroyed the original city, Panamá Viejo, in 1671.
Panamá Viejo
Panamá Viejo is what remains of the original Panama City, the former capital destroyed in 1671 by privateer Henry Morgan, now within the suburbs of the current capital.
Camino de Cruces National Park
Camino de Cruces National Park (Parque nacional Camino de Cruces) is a national park about 15 km north of Panama City, in Panama Province.
Arriving in Gamboa
Gatun Lake
South of Colón, Gatun Lake is a mostly freshwater reservoir about 26 m above sea level that forms a major part of the Panama Canal, carrying ships 33 km of their transit.
Soberanía National Park
Soberanía National Park lies along the Panama Canal in Panamá and Colón provinces, roughly 25 km from Panama City, with the Chagres River flowing through it.
More drives to Gamboa
- Santiago de Veraguas to Gamboa
- San Isidro to Gamboa, Panama
- Alajuela to Gamboa, Panama
- Cartago, Costa Rica to Gamboa, Panama
- Heredia to Gamboa, Panama
- Tortuguero to Gamboa, Panama
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Coronado to Gamboa?
About 1 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 56 miles.
What is the driving distance from Coronado to Gamboa?
About 56 miles (90 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Coronado to Gamboa?
The U.S. State Department rates Panama Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Coronado to Gamboa?
Closest to the road: Altos de Campana National Park (national park, mile 17, 5 mi from the route); Casco Viejo (old town, mile 43, 8 mi from the route); Camino de Cruces National Park (national park, mile 48, 3 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.