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Both teams already were assured of places in the knockout round. The American victory finished it atop Group B with six points from two games, earning it a meeting on Wednesday with the runner-up from Group A - either host Guatemala or Honduras.
Panama, which split its two opening matches, will face the Group A winner. The quarterfinal winners will qualify for the U-20 World Cup in Colombia July 29-August 20.
Rowe, one of the four different scorers in the United States' opening 4-0 win over Suriname on Tuesday, twice finished American displays of well-coordinated passing and off-the-ball movement.
The Americans went ahead in the 13th minute when Perry Kitchen sent a ball down the left to Eder Arreola, who freed Greg Garza along the touchline with a backheeled ball. Garza crossed to the far post, where Rowe streaked in and volleyed the ball from just outside the six-yard box.
Rowe scored his second five minutes later. Arreloa played a diagonal ball from the left to a trio of teammates streaking in from the right at the top of the area. Conor Doyle dummied the play, allowing the ball to go between his legs to Sebastian Lletget, who one-touched it forward to Rowe.
The UCLA midfielder took a touch and finished with a flick of the outside of his right foot.
Panama, which played without Cecilio Waterman - who had all three goals in its 3-0 victory over Suriname on Thursday, had about an equal share of the possession over the 90 minutes, but generated little that appeared dangerous.
Gabriel Avila, who replaced Javier Caicedo in the 34th minute, was the most visible Panamanian threat in the offensive third, but could only muster chances from distance.
The Americans suffered a loss when Arreola pulled up in the 84th minute chasing a ball into the Panama penalty area. He grabbed his right hamstring and left the match, forcing the United States - which already had made its three substitutions -- to finish the game with 10 men.
The United States is looking to qualify for the U-20 World Cup for a ninth straight time and 13th overall. It has never won the CONCACAF title but finished runner-up four times, including in 2009.
Panama qualified three straight times between 2002 and 2007, but failed to qualify for the CONCACAF finals two years ago.
