There are 7 ways to get from California to Panama by plane, bus, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly San Diego International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
best- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY)plane SAN - PTY
9h 11m$182–595Bus
- Take the bus from Los Angeles to Managuabus
- Take the bus from Managua to Terminal NicaBusbus
- Take the bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal de Albrookbus
5d 8h$425–531Drive 6,066.5 km
- Drive from Los Angeles to Panama Citycar 6,066.5 km
3d 5h$830–1,199Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY)plane LAX - PTY
9h 53m$468–603Fly San Diego International Airport to David
- Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to David (DAV)plane SAN - DAV
15h 40m$216–859Fly San Francisco International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY)plane SFO - PTY
10h 40m$201–653Fly Tijuana International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Fly from Tijuana International Airport (TIJ) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY)plane TIJ - PTY
12h 55m$224–813
San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from California to Panama is to fly which costs $180 - $600 and takes 9h 11m.
The fastest way to get from California to Panama is to fly which takes 9h 11m and costs $180 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from California to Panama. However, there are services departing from Spring / 1st and arriving at Terminal de Albrook via Los Angeles, Managua and Terminal Tica Bus. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 5 days 8h.
The distance between California and Panama is 4714 km. The road distance is 6066.5 km.
The best way to get from California to Panama without a car is to bus which takes 5 days 8h and costs $420 - $550.
It takes approximately 9h 11m to get from California to Panama, including transfers.
California to Panama bus services, operated by Buses USA Tours, depart from Los Angeles station.
The best way to get from California to Panama is to fly which takes 9h 11m and costs $180 - $600. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $420 - $550 and takes 5 days 8h.
California to Panama bus services, operated by Buses USA Tours, arrive at Managua station.
Panama is 2h ahead of California. It is currently 5:32 PM in California and 7:32 PM in Panama.
What companies run services between California, USA and Panama?
Copa Airlines, United Airlines, and American Airlines fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) 4 times a day. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Spring / 1st to Fernandez de Cordoba via Los Angeles, Managua, Terminal NicaBus, Terminal Tica Bus, Terminal de Albrook, and Albrook in around 5d 8h.
- Website
- copaair.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 6m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 46m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from San Diego International Airport to David via Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 14h 40m
- When
- Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $210–850
Flights from San Diego International Airport to David via Los Angeles International Airport, Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–750
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Guadalajara
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 53m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–750
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via San Jose Cabo
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 44m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $180–750
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Cancun
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $290–1,400
- Website
- united.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 6m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Houston
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–600
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from San Diego International Airport to David via Los Angeles International Airport, Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $230–900
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tocumen International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 13m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $150–600
- Website
- avianca.com
Flights from Los Angeles International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 52m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $430–550
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via San Salvador
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 1m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $280–950
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from San Diego International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Miami
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
- Website
- aeromexico.com
Flights from San Francisco International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 23m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from Tijuana International Airport to Tocumen International Airport via Mexico City
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 33m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $180–750
- Phone
- +1 213 368 1172
- [email protected]
- Website
- busesusatours.com
Bus from Los Angeles to Managua
- Ave. Duration
- 4d 6h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $330–400
- Schedules at
- busesusatours.com
- Phone
- +505 2222 2276
- [email protected]
- Website
- Nica Bus
Bus from Managua to Terminal NicaBus
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $37–38
- Website
- Nica Bus
Bus from Terminal Tica Bus to Terminal de Albrook
- Ave. Duration
- 15h 30m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $58–90
- Schedules at
- Cristóbal Colón Autobuses (Línea Dorada y Trans Galgos Inter)
- Road
- $60–90
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
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Booking & Getting There
Yes, the driving distance between California to Panama is 6067 km. It takes approximately 3 days 5h to drive from California to Panama.
There are 879+ hotels available in Panama.



