Anna Maria Island Things to Do

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Anna Maria Island is a seven-mile barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and the best things to do there are short and simple. Pick a beach, ride the free trolley, stay for the sunset and add one boat day. The big beaches have free parking, and the trolley covers the main stretch of Gulf Drive. The island is still rebuilding some landmarks after the 2024 hurricanes, so a few details below need a quick check before you go.

We have done beach days with nieces and nephews along, and the trips that work are the ones with the fewest moving parts. This island suits that. It has three small towns, low beach-town buildings instead of high-rise towers, and one road that runs the length of it. I would pack light here: a bag, a hat and one towel per person, and the beach cart can stay home.

Anna Maria Island Beaches

Three towns share the island. Anna Maria sits at the north end, Holmes Beach in the middle and Bradenton Beach at the south end. The beach amenities and lifeguard hours below come from VisitFlorida’s beach guides.

Beach or attraction	Parking	Best for
Coquina Beach	Large free lot	Space, families, a long walk on the sand
Manatee Public Beach	Free lot, accessible spaces	First-timers, groups, lifeguards and food on site
Bean Point	Limited parking, so plan on a walk	Quiet sand, sunsets, the island’s north tip
Anna Maria City Pier	Nearby streets; follow posted signs	Storm rebuild; reopening was expected in fall 2026, so check status
Bridge Street Pier	Free city lots, closing at 9 p.m.	Fishing, ice cream and a stroll

Coquina Beach

Coquina Beach is the long, roomy one at the south end. It has 22 acres of white sand, lifeguard towers, a playground, picnic areas with grills, showers and a café that rents chairs and umbrellas. The Gulf here tends to be calm, though wind and passing storms can roughen it up.

The parking is free, with no meters and no beach fee. The city of Bradenton Beach lists all of its lots as free, closing at 9 p.m., with no overnight parking. A multi-use trail runs behind the sand under palms and other trees, which is where I would go for shade.

Manatee Public Beach

Manatee Public Beach, at 4000 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach, is the one to pick for a first visit with a group. It has a free lot, lifeguards, a playground, volleyball courts, a beach shop, showers and chair and umbrella rentals. Lifeguards are on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Labor Day to Memorial Day, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in summer.

The Beach Café on site is known for all-you-can-eat pancakes and also lends free beach wheelchairs, first come, first served. The water is calm and shallow, which is why small kids do well here. Get there early on weekends, because the lot fills.

Bean Point

Bean Point is the sandy tip at the north end, where the Gulf meets the mouth of Tampa Bay. It is quieter than the big beaches and better for a long walk than a full beach setup. Parking is limited near the point, so plan on walking in from wherever you find a legal space.

Anna Maria Island Trolley

The Anna Maria Island trolley is free and runs every day from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., according to Manatee County’s Route 5 page. It serves Gulf Drive between the Anna Maria City Pier and Coquina Beach every 20 minutes.

The smart move is to park once at a free beach lot and let the trolley do the rest. You skip the weekend hunt for a space near the pier, and nobody has to be the designated driver after dinner. The trolley does not go out to Bean Point, so budget a walk for that end of the island.

Anna Maria City Pier

The Anna Maria City Pier was damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, and the rebuild uses deeper pilings. Local news reported in August 2026 that it was set to reopen in fall 2026. A restaurant is planned for the end of the walkway. Until the city confirms it is open, treat the pier as a landmark rather than a place to walk out on.

The shops and ice cream near the foot of the pier are a separate matter, and some of them took water damage too. Check the city’s website or city hall for the opening date before you build a day around it.

Bridge Street Bradenton Beach

Bridge Street is the walkable strip at the south end of the island. It runs from the Gulf Drive corner toward the bay, with boutiques, ice cream, fudge, mini golf and waterfront restaurants. Short boat tours leave from the same area.

The Historic Bridge Street Pier runs out over the water at the end of the street, and Manatee County lists it as open and restored. It works as a fishing pier and as a good place to walk off dinner. It is also the island pier to count on if the City Pier has not reopened yet.

If you drive in over the Cortez Bridge, the old fishing village of Cortez on the mainland side is worth a short stop first. It is a working waterfront rather than a resort strip.

Anna Maria Island Sunsets

The beaches face west, so the sun goes down over open Gulf water. That makes sunset the main event on the island, and it costs nothing. Walk onto any public Gulf-side beach about half an hour early and bring a layer for the walk back to the car.

Check the closing time on your parking lot before you linger for the afterglow. Bradenton Beach lots close at 9 p.m., and a sunset in summer can run late enough to make that matter.

Egmont Key Ferry

Egmont Key is the boat day I would pick near the island, and it is not on the island. The state park sits on a secluded island at the mouth of Tampa Bay, and you reach it only by boat. The ferry leaves from Fort De Soto Park across the bay in Pinellas County. Treat it as a separate outing rather than a short hop from your rental.

VisitStPeteClearwater lists the Tampa Bay Ferry at $45 for adults and $25 for children 3 to 11, with about 30 minutes each way and about three hours on the island. Prices and departure times change with the season and the weather, so confirm both with the operator.

Florida State Parks says Egmont Key State Park charges no entrance fee and is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. All structures were closed to the public as of August 12, 2026. There is no drinking water and there are no stores, so pack water, food and sunscreen. The draw is the lighthouse, the site of Fort Dade, shelling and snorkeling.

Anna Maria Island Restaurants

Eat early and keep it simple. The café at Manatee Public Beach covers breakfast, Bridge Street has waterfront seafood, and ice cream shops cluster near the pier. Pine Avenue in Anna Maria is the shopping street for a browse between meals.

I would book nothing in advance except a big group dinner, and I would eat before the sunset rush instead of after it. The island’s popular spots fill from the early evening on, especially on weekends.

How to Get to Anna Maria Island

Fly into Sarasota-Bradenton International (SRQ) or Tampa International (TPA) and rent a car. SRQ is about 30 minutes away and TPA is about an hour. The island connects to the mainland by bridge, and the two main routes are the Cortez Bridge and the Manatee Avenue Bridge.

Weekend bridge traffic can back up in season, so leave early for the beach and expect a slow crawl out at the end of the day. Once you are on the island, the trolley and a bike can replace the car for most of the day. Our beach vacation packing list covers what to bring, and the Florida springs road trip picks up if you are driving on from Tampa.

If you are visiting in winter, the best time to see manatees in Florida guide covers the cool-season wildlife side of the state.

Anna Maria Island Hurricane Recovery

The Bradenton Gulf Islands tourism site says the area is fully recovered and open, with all public beaches operating and nearly all restaurants and shops open. Its page was last updated May 14, 2025, so treat it as a baseline rather than today’s status. The City Pier rebuild is the clearest sign of how long recovery takes.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Fall is the riskiest stretch for a beach trip, and I would book flexible lodging if you travel then. Check the beach and pier status the week you go.

Anna Maria Island Facts

Is the Anna Maria Island trolley free?

Yes. Manatee County runs the trolley at no charge, every day from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. It comes every 20 minutes along Gulf Drive between the Anna Maria City Pier and Coquina Beach.

Is parking free on Anna Maria Island?

At the big public beaches, yes. Coquina Beach and Manatee Public Beach both have free lots, and Bradenton Beach lists its lots as free and closing at 9 p.m. Arrive early on weekends, because the popular lots fill.

Which airport is closest to Anna Maria Island?

Sarasota-Bradenton International is the closer one, about 30 minutes by car. Tampa International is about an hour away and often has more flight options.

Is Anna Maria Island open?

Yes. The Bradenton Gulf Islands tourism site says all public beaches are open and nearly all restaurants and shops are operating. The Anna Maria City Pier has been under a storm rebuild. Its reopening was expected in fall 2026, so check whether it has opened.

How much is the Egmont Key ferry?

VisitStPeteClearwater lists the ferry from Fort De Soto Park at $45 for adults and $25 for children 3 to 11. The state park itself charges no entrance fee.

Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the retailer before buying.

Published October 21, 2026.