Your stay on Anna Maria Island (AMI) is sure to be full of fun in the sun between the gorgeous white-sand beaches and the stunning natural sites. But one of the best ways to experience the outdoors while getting some exercise and moving from place to place at the same time is by biking! It’s an inexpensive and eco-friendly way to get around the island, or you can simply head to a local bike trail to have a fun day outdoors with the ones you love.
During your stay in one of our Anna Maria Island rentals, refer back to this guide for everything you need to know about biking on the island!
Anna Maria
One of the best areas to ride a bike is Anna Maria City. It is located at the northern end of Anna Maria Island. Traffic levels on this section of AMI are relatively low. The area is incredibly bike-friendly, so you’ll probably find yourself cycling right alongside the locals. Bike along the various streets of the city and enjoy the shaded areas you find along the way.
If you’re looking for an incredibly scenic route, head down Gulf Drive. Despite being the main thoroughfare of the island, there’s still not a lot of traffic here, giving you an uninterrupted view of your surroundings at all times. Finally, if you want to take a rest and simply enjoy the beach, head up to Bean Point for a secluded and peaceful experience. While you’re biking in the city of Anna Maria, just be aware that many of the bicycle paths are shared with pedestrians, so be sure to give everyone plenty of room.
Bradenton Beach
On the south side of the island in the city of Bradenton Beach, you’ll find even more biking opportunities on Anna Maria Island. This city has 5 miles of paths that loop around town and connect to more than 50 miles of similar paths throughout the rest of the island and into Longboat Key. Bradenton Beach is home to beautiful stretches of scenery such as Coquina Beach, where you’ll find the Coquina Bike Path. Just like in the city of Anna Maria, the bike paths you’ll find at Bradenton Beach are multi-use, so be sure to share the space with any pedestrians.
Most of the bike paths in Bradenton Beach take you down on Gulf Drive until it connects with the Longboat Pass Bridge. This is a great place to stop and admire the gorgeous view of the water, or you can head on and continue biking at the next stop on our list: Longboat Key.
Longboat Key
Though Longboat Key is not on Anna Maria Island itself, it’s definitely a destination that’s worth the extra trip. Traveling to this area on a bike allows you to experience all the hidden nature trails, mangroves, and secret corners of the key that you wouldn’t be able to spot from a car. The main biking trail here will take you throughout Longboat Key over 9.47 miles. As you’re biking, be sure to follow the 10 miles per hour speed limit and use the ding bell on your bicycle to warn any pedestrians that you may be coming past.
But your biking adventure doesn’t have to stop there! There are quite a few other spots where you can bike near Anna Maria Island. South Lido Park is home to the famous Legacy Trail covering 12 miles of coastline between Sarasota and Venice. If you really want an intense look at nature, head to Bradenton on the mainland, where you’ll find bike trails at Lake Manatee State Park and Robinson Preserve. And this is just the beginning! No matter what kind of nature you’re looking to see for how long you want to ride, there is an Anna Maria bike path just for you.
Bike Rentals
Of course, you can’t start experiencing any of these bike trails without a bike! Luckily, you don’t have to lug your own bike and equipment with you all the way from your home. It’s easy to find affordable Anna Maria Island bike rentals for the entire family.
One of the easiest ways to secure bikes for you and your group is by using our convenient bike rental concierge service! That’s right; you don’t have to visit shop after shop searching for the right price or browsing through lots of bike options. You can simply let us know what you need, and we’ll deliver it right to your rental.
We have a wide selection of Jamis bikes that are always stored indoors to keep them looking and riding like new. Our bikes include various sizes of men’s or women’s Jamis 7 speed beach cruisers. If you are traveling with children, we can take care of them, too, with our selection of kids’ bikes and WeeHoo trailers.
Additionally, each adult bike you rent will come equipped with a basket, lock, and helmet. When you rent a children’s bicycle or a WeeHoo, you’ll get a child’s helmet as well, ensuring everyone is totally safe as you ride around the island. Adult bikes are available for as little as $45 per week. Children’s bikes start at $30 per week, single WeeHoo trailers are available at $35 per week. Finally, double WeeHoo trailers are available at $40 per week.
Plan Your Visit
When you’re looking to enjoy the sunshine, partake in exercise, and spend quality time with your family, biking through Anna Maria Island is a great way to do it. First, you’ll need a place to stay! We are proud to offer luxurious and affordable rental options for any family, including our popular Anna Maria Island pet-friendly rentals! Contact us today to learn more.
Use the Trolley
Biking around the entire island or onto the mainland sure sounds fun in theory, but what if you start biking and get tired more quickly than you expected? Or maybe you want to bike in an area that’s further away, but you simply want to get your bike there without actually having to ride it all the way there. You don’t have to worry about renting a car with a bike rack; instead, Anna Maria Island has a convenient and free solution!
The Anna Maria Island trolley is a free service available to all residents and visitors of the island. The service is available every day and can take you all the way around the island. It will take you also onto the mainland for a small fee. You’ll find a trolley stop every couple of blocks on the island, and you’ll never be waiting more than 20 minutes for a ride.
One of the best parts about the Anna Maria Island trolley is that every vehicle comes with convenient bike racks attached to the rear. All you have to do is hook up your bike and grab a spot on the trolley, then enjoy the ride as you get wherever you need to go. Then, just hop off and get to biking! Like we mentioned, the Anna Maria Island trolley takes you all around the island for free. If you ride it to the end of the line at Coquina Beach, you can switch over to be brought onto the mainland for less than $1 per person.