What It’s Like to Drive on the Pan-American Highway in Panama
- Brownie
- Jul 23, 2025
- 2 min read
The Pan-American Highway runs all the way through Panama, stretching from the Costa Rican border in the west down toward the Darién Gap in the east (which, for the record, you should avoid entirely). For most of the country, this highway is the main—and often only—road connecting major regions.
Driving in Panama is very doable, but it’s not quite the set-it-and-forget-it highway experience you might expect if you’re used to road trips in the U.S.
Here’s what to know before you get behind the wheel.
🚗 Expect to Drive Slowly —And Stay Alert
The speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour, not miles (you’ll mostly be going around 60–65 km/h, which is about 40 mph).
While there are short sections where you might get up to 80 km/h (~50 mph), that’s rare.
Police with radar guns are common—especially near curves, bridges, or open stretches. Speeding tickets are real and regularly enforced.
Don’t expect to get anywhere quickly. Leave extra time for your trip and assume slowdowns.
🚧 Road Conditions & Hazards
The highway is well-used and often in need of maintenance, with frequent potholes in some stretches.
You’ll also encounter:
Pedestrians walking or crossing, even on major stretches
Cyclists riding along the edge
Vehicles with no taillights, missing headlights, or no lights at all—especially at night
Because of this, driving at night is not recommended, especially outside of city centers.
⛽️ Gas Stations & Rest Stops
Rest stops are frequent and well-stocked. Some familiar ones include:
Terpel
Puma
Delta
Pedepe (PPP) – These often have a mini-mart, bathroom, and a small eatery
You don’t need to worry about running out of gas unless you’re heading somewhere very remote.
🧭 Navigation: Use Waze
Panama doesn’t use street numbers the way many other countries do. In cities like Panama City:
Addresses are usually based on landmarks or building names, not numbers
Street signs are inconsistent or missing altogether
Your best bet is to use Waze, not Google Maps.
Waze is more up-to-date with road closures, traffic, and detours throughout Panama.
🚦 City Driving Tips (Especially in Panama City)
Traffic in Panama City can be chaotic and intensely congested
Stay calm, take your time, and know that aggressive merging and honking are normal
Pedestrians may cross at unexpected points, even in the middle of traffic
🛑 Final Thoughts
Driving in Panama is totally doable with a little patience and a lot of awareness. Expect things to move slowly, plan ahead, and don’t drive at night if you can avoid it.
With the right expectations—and Waze turned on—it can actually be a beautiful, flexible way to explore the country at your own pace.
