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 25 minutes.
Panama City and Durham (where Raleigh-Durham International Airport is located) are in the UTC-5 timezone. This means you won't need to account for any time differences.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is the most popular route, with four weekly flights to pick from. You can travel from RDU to PTY at 15:08 with Copa Airlines.
Allow plenty of time to make your RDU to Panama City flight. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You can expect bigger queues during popular months like June. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a good idea.
Direct Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City tickets are available for booking. Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY) will be where your journey ends.
Copa Airlines is a popular airline that operates direct flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper plane ticket from RDU to Panama City. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' during your search. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these airports:
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
RDU is around 16 kilometres from central Durham. If you're ride-sharing, catching a taxi or driving from the centre, it'll take you 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 45 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City? Avoid rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these hotels close to RDU:
78% of flights that leave from Raleigh-Durham International Airport touch down at their destination on time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) to Panama City
R 4,642 is currently the lowest price for a one-way Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City flight. A return plane ticket starts from R 8,948. These prices may change depending on demand.
Book four months before you travel. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from RDU to Panama City.
The best month for picking up cheap Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City tickets is September. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then select the dates with the lowest fares.
There's no need to keep checking in to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you the moment there's an even bigger deal on cheap flights from RDU to Panama City.
Tailor your flights with filters. Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City.
Airports in Panama City
Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY) to the centre of Panama City takes about 35 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 24 kilometres away.
Getting there by public transport takes about 50 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy 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:
Reserving your ride from Panama City Tocumen International Airport around three weeks before your flight from RDU to Panama City can help you lock in the lowest rate.
Panama Pacifico International Airport (BLB)
Panama Pacifico International Airport (BLB) is about 6 kilometres from the centre of Panama City. Following your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City, it'll take you around 10 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or taxi.
If you're catching public transport, it'll take around 20 minutes.
You'll find some great places to park your luggage (and yourself) near BLB. Tuck yourself in and get cosy after your RDU to Panama City flight at one of these perfectly located options:
Lock in the best price by securing your ride from BLB one week in advance. You can also expect to have a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Panama City
September is the quietest month for flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City, while January is the busiest. Work out the best time to visit Panama City based on whether you like a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
When booking your Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City plane ticket, think about what kind of weather you prefer. March is the warmest month in Panama City, with temperatures ranging from 21ºC (70ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF).
January sees average temperatures of between 22ºC (72ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF). Look for a cheap ticket from RDU to Panama City around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Panama City
Start your Panama City trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Panama City, browse our range of hotels including:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be difficult to know where to begin. Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedral Metropolitan), Casco Viejo and Independence Square are top sights which should feature on every Panama City itinerary.
Explore more of Panama
Panama City is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of Panama waiting to be explored. Around 322 kilometres west of Panama City, a trip to David will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with popular sights like Museo Antropológico y Etnográfico Dr. Roberto De La Guardia, Raptors To The Rescue and Unachi Botanical garden.
Next stop? Set out for Santiago de Veraguas. It's located about 193 kilometres southwest of Panama City and features highlights like Santiago the Apostle Cathedral, Santiago de Veraguas.