The Ultimate Guide on the Anna Maria Island Trolley

Anna Maria Island is a seven-mile-long stretch of land just off the Florida coast. A vacation to the island affectionately referred to as AMI, is the ultimate vacation destination for those eager to get back to the “Old Florida” feeling before the state gained huge tourist crowds and touring high-rises. When you arrive, you’ll experience a much slower way of life chatting with the locals and strolling up and down the streets.

While you can reach any Anna Maria Island attraction on foot, you may want to get there a little faster. However, you don’t have to worry about finding parking anywhere or relying solely on your bike rental. One of the island’s best forms of transportation is absolutely free! The Anna Maria Island trolley is a valuable resource that locals and visitors to the island can all take advantage of. This guide is your all-inclusive resource for navigating the Anna Maria Island trolley. 

street in anna maria island

About

The Anna Maria Island trolley is a budget-friendly way to travel all around the island and even onto the mainland! Trolley stops are located all across the island and span from the Anna Maria City Pier down to Coquina Beach. No matter where you are on the island or where you’re looking to go, there’s sure to be a trolley stop right nearby!

The trolley is comfortable and fun for all passengers. Trolleys also have special bike racks in case you’ve been cycling and decide you need a break, as well as wheelchair accommodations so everyone can get on board. When you board the trolley, be sure to respect others by keeping any bags out of the aisle and refraining from yelling, cursing, or playing music without headphones. 

The Anna Maria Island trolley schedule runs daily from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. If you take the service to Sarasota (more about that in a moment), this trolley runs from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. No matter what season you decide to visit Anna Maria Island, you can rest assured that the trolley will be available to take you where you want to go!  

Free Service

Perhaps the best thing about the Anna Maria Island trolley is that it’s a free service! Guests and locals to AMI are welcome to hop on and off of the trolley at their convenience for absolutely no fee. This is an incredible way to navigate the island, especially if you’re on a budget. You won’t have to spend money on gas driving around the island, nor will you need to shell out for a bicycle rental, golf cart rental, or any other form of transportation.

There is one occasion where you may have to pay to use the trolley. While the trolley travels all across Anna Maria Island for free, you will have to pay a fee to take it onto the mainland. However, you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg; transfer to the mainland service is just $0.75 per person! This service is offered thanks to Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) and can take guests all the way down to St. Armands Circle before coming back to AMI. You can make your transfer by staying on the main trolley to the end of the line at Coquina Beach.

Route & Map

Anna Maria Island’s trolley service navigates the entire island with stops at some of the area’s most popular attractions. Starting at the north end of the island, the trolley leaves from the Anna Maria Island City Pier. It then makes a stop at Gulf Drive at 78th Street before moving on to the Island Shopping Center. From there, the next major stop is Manatee Public Beach, a popular attraction with families. 

The next stop on the route is Bradenton Beach City Limits, then the trolley moves on to Bridge Street. This stop gives you the perfect opportunity for shopping, dining, and sightseeing! The final stop on AMI is Coquina Beach at the southern end of the island. If you want to transfer to the Sarasota service, you can do that here.

Even if there’s not a trolley stop at the exact location you’re looking for, you can be confident that there’s a stop nearby. Trolley stops are placed about every 2-4 blocks around the island, so you’ll never have to travel far to reach one. There’s never been a more convenient way to navigate Anna Maria Island! 

When you’re waiting for the trolley, you can expect a ride to show up every 20 minutes until 9 p.m., and then every 30 minutes until the end of the night. You’ll spot the covered trolley stops thanks to the bright green signs with pictures of a trolley. To help you keep track of all the stops, you can pick up an Anna Maria Island trolley map from the local transit authority or access a digital copy through this link. Real-time information can be found at mymanatee.org/mcat.

Plan Your Next Vacation

No matter how many people you’re bringing to AMI or what you’d like to see when you’re in town, we’ve got you covered. Our customer service staff is always here to help with any questions or concerns. Anna Maria Island is the ultimate getaway destination for families of all kinds, and we’re here to make you feel right at home. Ready to plan your vacation? Contact us today to learn more about our AMI rentals

App

We’ve all got our smartphones with us these days, so if you forget where the trolley stops are or you don’t have a map with you, there’s an app for that! In keeping with the free AMI trolley, the myStop Mobile app is free as well. This is an incredibly valuable tool that can tell you exactly when to expect a trolley and can be particularly helpful in case the trolley is running behind schedule.

All you have to do to download the app is search for it in your phone’s app store. A quick free download will have you ready to hop on the trolley in an instant! Once you download and open the app, be sure to select the “5 AMI Trolley” to get specific information on the Anna Maria Island service. If you forget to download the app, you can also visit the Real-Time MCAT website for up-to-date information.

On your next visit to Anna Maria Island, you’ll need a comfortable and safe place to stay. We are proud to be your premier source for Anna Maria Island vacation rentals big and small! For solo travelers, couples, or small families, our 1- and 2-bedroom rentals are perfect. But if you have a bigger group coming along for the adventure, you might be interested in our 3- and 4-bedroom rentals are ideal. Either way, you’ll experience luxurious amenities like high-speed wireless internet access, ample entertaining space both indoors and outdoors, and, of course, close distance to an AMI trolley stop!