The Wayro route from Panama City to Santa Catalina is 224 miles (361 km), about 6 h 6 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Panama. Advisory issued: Panama August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Panama: “Use caution on the Pan-American Highway.”
| Distance | 224 mi (361 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 6 min |
| Provinces on the route | Panama, Coclé, Herrera, Veraguas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving Panama City to Santa Catalina: the shape of the trip
It runs through 4 provinces: Panama, Coclé, Herrera, Veraguas. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Panama City to Santa Catalina
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–224 | 224 | Panama, Coclé, Herrera, Veraguas |
- Mile 68 of this route: Panama → Coclé (province line)
- Mile 134 of this route: Coclé → Herrera (province line)
- Mile 140 of this route: Herrera → Veraguas (province line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Panama City and Santa Catalina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. John Baptist Cathedral, Penonomé (mile 94), St. James the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas (mile 157)
- Nature and outdoors: Camino de Cruces National Park (mile 9), Soberanía National Park (mile 12), Altos de Campana National Park (mile 37), El Caño Archaeological Park (mile 108)
- Museums and history: St. John Baptist Cathedral, Penonomé (mile 94), El Caño Archaeological Park (mile 108), St. James the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas (mile 157)
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.
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.
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.
St. John Baptist Cathedral, Penonomé
Also called Penonomé Cathedral, St. John Baptist Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Penonomé, in Panama's Coclé Province.
El Caño Archaeological Park
In Panama's Coclé province, El Caño is a pre-Columbian funerary complex with stone monuments and burial mounds, where gold artifacts of the Gran Coclé culture have been found.
St. James the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas
Santiago de Veraguas Cathedral, dedicated to St. James the Apostle, is the Catholic cathedral of Santiago, a city in Panama's Veraguas province.
More drives to Santa Catalina
- Colón, Panama to Santa Catalina
- Heredia to Santa Catalina, Panama
- Playa Grande to Santa Catalina, Panama
From Panama City to other places in Panama
- Panama City to Coronado
- Panama City to San José, Costa Rica
- Panama City to Limón, Costa Rica
- Panama City to San Isidro, Costa Rica
- Panama City to Alajuela, Costa Rica
- Panama City to Cartago, Costa Rica
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Panama City to Santa Catalina?
About 6 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 224 miles.
How far is Santa Catalina from Panama City by car?
About 224 miles (361 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Panama City to Santa Catalina drive?
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 Panama City to Santa Catalina?
Closest to the road: St. John Baptist Cathedral, Penonomé (cathedral, mile 94, 0.6 mi from the route); El Caño Archaeological Park (archaeological park, mile 108, 2 mi from the route); St. James the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas (cathedral, mile 157, 0.1 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.