Travelling from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Panama City: what you need to know
The average length of a direct flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City is 4 hours 30 minutes.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located in Durham. Following the UTC-5 timezone, Panama City is one hour behind Durham.
With four departures a week between the two airports, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is the busiest route. Catch Copa Airlines's 15:08 flight to get your trip from RDU to PTY underway.
Allow plenty of time to make your RDU to Panama City flight. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Taking off during a peak period like public or school holidays? Expect longer lines at check-in and security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
Begin your trip at RDU and travel straight to Tocumen International Airport (PTY). That's where you can expect to land when searching for Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City tickets.
Copa Airlines is a popular carrier that operates direct flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your trip and perhaps even tick a new city off your list. When searching for flight tickets from RDU to Panama City, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Located around 16 kilometres from the centre of Durham, RDU can be reached in about 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Searching for a hotel near RDU? If you're catching an early flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City, these accommodation options set you up for a seamless send-off:
Raleigh-Durham International Airport scores high marks for on-time performance. 80.09% of flights that depart RDU reach their destination without delay.
How to find the cheapest flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Panama City
$625 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City flight. A round-trip ticket right now is $807. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
To snag cheap flights from RDU to Panama City, reserve your journey five months ahead of your departure.
Organise your trip for September. That's the best month for scoring a bargain on Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City tickets. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Picking up a cheap flight from RDU to Panama City is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic notifications and we'll get in touch as soon as a lower fare pops up.
Select your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with our filters. Then, sort the results for your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Airports in Panama City
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is around 21 kilometres from central Panama City. If you're opting for a ride-share or a cab, the drive will take roughly 20 minutes.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 5 minutes.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City. Reserve one of these accommodation options near PTY instead:
Follow your own route with a Tocumen International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Avis, Dollar or MEX and chase adventure across Panama City and beyond.
To get the lowest price, reserve your ride from Tocumen International Airport around three weeks in advance of your flight from RDU to Panama City.
Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC)
The centre of Panama City is about 2 kilometres from Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport (PAC). Once your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City has touched down and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of around 5 minutes.
If you travel by public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 25 minutes or so.
Following your RDU to Panama City flight, unwind at a hotel near PAC. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
Forget about public transport schedules or slow-moving cab lines. Grab a Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport rental car and take your journey in whatever direction you like. Compare offers from Thrifty, Avis and Alamo.
Call dibs on the best options. Securing your ride from PAC three weeks in advance often means lower prices and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB)
Make your way to the city centre after your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City has landed. Central Panama City is about 16 kilometres from Panama Pacifico Airport (BLB) and takes roughly 20 minutes to reach by cab or ride-share.
If you don't want to travel into the centre, head for a hotel close to BLB. Settle in at one of these options after your RDU to Panama City flight:
Start your travels without stressing about how to reach your destination with a Panama Pacifico Airport rental car. You can book with reliable suppliers here like Sixt, Dollar and Thrifty.
If you're after a vehicle with specific features, lock in your ride from BLB around one week ahead of your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City. This gives you a higher chance of getting your preferred car, as well as a better deal.
Best time to go to Panama City
Before you book your flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City, consider which time of year is best for you. High season in Panama City offers a bustling atmosphere and plenty of things to do, while the off-season means you'll get better deals on hotels and fewer crowds.
When booking your Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City flight ticket, think about what kind of weather you prefer. March is the warmest month in Panama City, with temperatures ranging from 21ºC to 32ºC.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from RDU to Panama City in February when temperatures average between 22ºC and 31ºC.
More about Panama City
Once you've booked your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Panama City:
Casco Viejo and Panama Canal Museum are just two of the major attractions to add to your Panama City must-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Cinta Costera.
Explore more of Panama
David is just one of the many cities in Panama waiting to be discovered after you've seen Panama City. Around 322 kilometres away to the west, well-known attractions include Parque Cervantes, Altos del Rio Park and Coquito Hills Park.
Around 193 kilometres south-west of Panama City, Santiago de Veraguas is another favourite stop in Panama. Get a taste of what this destination has to offer at Santiago the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and La Placita San Juan De Dios.
