The Cove, on the bay south of 5th Street east of downtown, is in ZIP 32401, zoned for Merriam Cherry Street Elementary, Jinks Middle and Bay High.

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Sources: the City of Panama City’s golf cart neighborhoods announcement and map and its parks listings, Bay County’s school attendance zone maps, the Florida Department of Education’s 2026 school grades, Zillow Research and OpenStreetMap.

The Cove is the residential area on the bay just east of downtown, south of 5th Street. Its streets run down to the water around Cherry Street and Bunkers Cove Road, with four small city parks among the homes.

What this means for you

  • Zoned high school: Bay High, graded C in 2026.
  • Home value: $217,221 in ZIP 32401 in August 2026, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.
  • Main road: 5th Street (Business U.S. 98) on the north edge.

Part of our Panama City neighborhoods guide.

Where it is

On the city’s golf cart neighborhoods map, the Cove covers the land south of 5th Street from the edge of downtown east toward Millville, down to St. Andrews Bay. Downtown is to the west and Millville to the east. OpenStreetMap marks “Cove” as a named place. The area is in ZIP code 32401.

The main road is 5th Street, part of Business U.S. 98 according to OpenStreetMap’s road data. Inside the Cove, Cherry Street and Bunkers Cove Road are the main neighborhood streets.

The Cove was a golf cart neighborhood before the City Commission’s 2024 and 2025 expansions, under earlier ordinances listed in the city’s golf cart announcement.

Schools

From Bay County’s school attendance zone maps, with grades from the state’s 2026 school grades:

Level Zoned school 2026 grade 2025 grade
Elementary Merriam Cherry Street Elementary, 1125 Cherry St. C B
Middle Jinks Middle, 600 W. 11th St. C C
High Bay High, 1200 Harrison Ave. C B

Merriam Cherry Street Elementary is inside the Cove. Confirm an address with the district’s School Zone and Bus Route search or call Student Services at 850-767-4328. More in our schools guide.

Home values

The typical home value in ZIP 32401 was $217,221 in August 2026, up 1.3% from $214,538 a year earlier, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. It is a modeled typical value for the middle third of homes across the whole ZIP code, not a sale price; 32401 also covers downtown, St. Andrews, Millville and Glenwood, so waterfront homes in the Cove are not singled out. The figure for Panama City as a whole was $284,369. See our home prices guide.

Parks

From the city’s parks listings:

  • Lannie Rowe Park, 1100 Cherry St.: a boardwalk, walking track and picnic shelters.
  • Cove Lane park, 222 Cove Lane, with a playground.
  • Harry Edward park, 699 Bunkers Cove Road, with a playground.
  • Adams Park, Bunkers Cove Road: a small shaded park overlooking the bay.

More in our parks and trails guide.

Getting around

  • Downtown: City Hall is about 2 miles by road.
  • Airport: Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is about 32 miles by road. Both are distances on the OpenStreetMap road network, not drive times.
  • Buses: Bayway lists routes 3 to 7; find the nearest stop with its trip planner or call 850-769-0557.
  • Golf carts: allowed on designated streets, but not on 5th Street or other state and county roads, under the city’s golf cart rules.

Groceries and everyday stores

OpenStreetMap lists a CVS Pharmacy at 660 E. Business Highway 98, just north of the Cove, and the Asian Oriental International Market at 2401 E. 5th St., to the east. The nearest large supermarkets in its data are on 23rd Street: Publix at 650 W. 23rd St. and Walmart Supercenter at 513 W. 23rd St.

Nearby areas

Downtown, Millville and Glenwood.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Cove in Panama City?

On the city’s golf cart neighborhoods map, the Cove is the area south of 5th Street, east of downtown, reaching down to St. Andrews Bay. OpenStreetMap marks it as a named place.

What schools is the Cove zoned for?

Merriam Cherry Street Elementary, Jinks Middle and Bay High, according to Bay County’s attendance zone maps. All three earned a C in Florida’s 2026 school grades.

Is the Cove a good place to live?

The Cove is a bayfront residential area next to downtown with four city parks, including Lannie Rowe Park and its boardwalk. It is in ZIP 32401, where Zillow put the typical home value at $217,221 in August 2026, and is zoned for Bay High, graded C in 2026.

Can you drive a golf cart in the Cove?

Yes, on designated streets. The Cove was designated under ordinances adopted before 2024, but carts may not use or cross state or county roads such as 5th Street.