Typical summer day at Manatee Public Beach

Beaches with Lifeguards and Amenities 

There are so many great beach options available on Anna Maria Island. Manatee County operates Coquina Beach and Manatee Public Beach. Both beaches have full-time lifeguards every day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their amenities include concession stands, restrooms, outdoor showers, playgrounds, volleyball courts, picnic tables and barbecue grills.

Coquina Beach and Manatee Public Beach are the biggest beaches and where most of the tourists go. Manatee Public Beach is located in the city of Holmes Beach and is near the middle of the Anna Maria Island. Coquina Beach is nearby in the city of Bradenton Beach, on the southernmost end of the island. Coquina Beach is much larger than Manatee Public Beach and has picnic pavilions, two boat ramps, a kayak/canoe area and handicap accessible area with picnic tables.

Beaches without Lifeguards (and less crowds)

• Jones Beach
  
• Longboat Key Beach
  
• Palma Sola Causeway (aka Redneck Riviera, our only pet friendly beach)

Prohibited

All Manatee County beaches prohibit glass bottles, alcoholic beverages and dogs/pets (except Palma Sola Causeway, which is pet friendly). If you get caught, it's usually a verbal warning to dump the booze or take the dog home, but you are subject to a fine up to $500. If you're really bored, check out the counties beach ordinances here.

Transportation

Manatee County operates a FREE trolley on Anna Maria Island that connects with both the MCAT & SCAT bus systems. There are both air conditioned and open-air seating trolleys available, and service runs from 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. You can expect a trolley every 20-30 minutes and the stops are 2-4 blocks apart.

There are three main stops on the island: Anna Maria City Pier, Manatee Public Beach, and Coquina Beach. The trolley waits here for a few minutes before they continue the route.

Free AMI Trolley

Trolley stop sign

Covered trolley stop

Interactive Beach Map

View Manatee County Beaches in a larger map

Last modified: October 19, 2014
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