Anna Maria Island is a top tourist destination with its Old Florida charm and unrivaled pristine beaches, and it is frequently visited by tourists and locals alike. Although a relatively small number of people live on Anna Maria Island, most drive or boat to it from surrounding areas.
Anna Maria Island is easy to reach for those who live or reside in the Bradenton and Sarasota area, and in most cases, the island can be reached in well under an hour. If you’re looking to get to Anna Maria Island, you’ll find directions from several nearby areas below.
Lizzie Lu’s Island Retreat is located on Anna Maria Island, about 1 hour southwest of Tampa and about 40 minutes northwest of Sarasota.
We have found that most GPS devices and online map services do an excellent job of providing accurate directions to our location (6000 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, FL 34217). Use the link to the Google map below and plug in your starting address. You should have the appropriate directions ready to print out in seconds!
If you plan to head right for your Anna Maria rental, simply input the address provided on your confirmation in the ‘Traveling To’ box.
From Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
The closest airport to Anna Maria Island is the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport which is approximately 14 miles away and about a 30-minute drive. To get to Bradenton Beach which is located on the southern side of Anna Maria Island, you take US-41 N directly from the airport and turn left on Bayshore Gardens Pkwy.
You then continue west on El Conquistador Pkwy which turns into 75th St W. From 75th St W you turn left onto State Hwy 684/Cortez Rd W, pass over the Cortez Bridge and that will take you straight to Bradenton Beach.
Taking a taxi or an Uber from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is very reasonable in terms of price and offers a convenient option to reach the island without having to rent a vehicle.
From Tampa International Airport (TPA)
The second closest airport to Anna Maria Island is Tampa International Airport. The airport is north of Anna Maria Island the total commute time is about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
From Tampa International Airport you take the George J Bean Outbound Pkwy to I-275S. You then follow I-275 S which is a partial toll road and continue for about 16 miles until you reach Exit 5 for US-19 S toward Palmetto/Bradenton.
Continue onto US-19 S which turns into S Tamiami Trail. Once you reach FL-64 W/Manatee Ave W in Bradenton you make a right and continue which will take you straight into Holmes Beach.
You can take a taxi or Uber to Anna Maria Island from Tampa International Airport but prepared to spend significantly more money compared to the ride from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
From the city of Bradenton
Those who are in the Bradenton area have two different routes that they can take to get to Anna Maria Island. Any route that leads to State Hwy 684 will take you directly to Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island if you drive west. This is generally a good option if you are south of downtown Bradenton.
The other choice is to drive west on FL-64 W/Manatee Ave W which goes directly to Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island from the northern side of Bradenton. If you are in downtown Bradenton, take Manatee Ave West. Follow the beach signs all the way to the island. You will stay on this road until you dead end at the public beach where you will know you have arrived at Anna Maria Island. Our office location and all our AMI vacation rentals are north of the public beach.
Plan Your Trip
There are so many things to see and do with the whole family on Anna Maria Island! Now that you know how to get there, check out our beautiful Anna Maria Island rentals for your next beach vacation.
From the Sarasota area
If you are in the Sarasota area you can reach Anna Maria Island through US-41 N or through Lido and Longboat Key.
Driving through Lido and Longboat Key
The drive through Lido Key and Longboat Key is very scenic and can be reached by taking any route to Bayfront Drive which is located west of downtown Sarasota. Driving west on Bayfront Drive will take you to the John Ringling Causeway which leads into St. Armand’s Circle on Lido Key.
At St. Armand’s Circle, you take the first exit onto N Boulevard of the Presidents and continue onto Gulf of Mexico Drive which will take you into Longboat Key and all the way north across the Longboat Pass Bridge into the Coquina Beach area of Anna Maria Island.
Driving on US-41 N
US-41 N will lead you north toward Anna Maria Island, and it is also located west of downtown Sarasota along the Sarasota Bay. Driving west on multiple major roads will take you to US-41 N including Fruitville Rd and Bayfront Dr.
Once you read US-41 N/N Tamiami Trail, you continue to drive north for about 7 miles until you reach Bayshore Gardens Pkwy in Bradenton. Make a left on Bayshore Gardens Pkwy and continue onto El Conquistador Pkwy which will turn into 75th St W.
From 75th St W you can choose to turn left on State Hwy 684/Cortez Rd W to go to Bradenton Beach on the south end of Anna Maria Island, or if you continue north a little more you can take a left on FL-64 W/Manatee Ave W which will take you straight to Holmes Beach on the island.
It’s easy to get around Anna Maria Island
Once you’ve arrived on Anna Maria Island you’ll find that it’s easy to get around. You have several options available including the free trolley which traverses most of the island, walking, biking, Segway tours, several options for taxi services, taxi apps, and much more.
If you have any questions at all about directions to Anna Maria Island or if you are looking for Anna Maria Island pet-friendly rentals, call Lizzie Lu’s Island Retreat today at (941)-782-8152.