Visit Coquina Beach During Your Anna Maria Island Trip

Coquina Beach is a ‘must’ when you stay in one of our beautiful Anna Maria Island vacation rentals. There is so much more to Coquina Beach than just swimming and sunbathing. This public beach offers free parking and a huge assortment of amenities, ranging from game tables to a multi-purpose trail to traverse.

Plan on making at least one trip to Coquina Beach while you’re on AMI. It is fun for the whole family but also great if you’re flying solo.

Where is Coquina Beach?

Coquina Beach, Florida, is located in Bradenton Beach along Gulf Drive. This is at the southernmost end of Anna Maria Island and is about a mile south of 5th Street N. If you are not staying within walking distance and do not have a vehicle, you can simply hop the free island trolley to get to Coquina Beach and back home.

coquina beach on anna maria island
Photo from Shutterstock

Directions to Coquina Beach

Getting to Coquina Beach from your rental is simple. You can drive your car there, but since you will encounter a lot of afternoon traffic on the way home, it is a better idea to take the free trolley. This trolley runs daily between Anna Maria (the northernmost city on the island) and Coquina Beach from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and goes at 20-minute intervals. 

There are stops at Gulf Drive/78th Street, the Island Shopping Center, Manatee County Public Beach, Gulf Drive/27th Street, Gulf Drive/Bridge Street along the way. So, essentially, wherever you are staying, you can easily walk to the trolley’s stops. Just make sure you get there ten minutes early.

Things to Do

Coquina is one of the best beaches on Anna Maria Island. Aside from basking in the warm sunlight, jamming your toes into the beach’s soft white sand, and cooling off in the sparkling turquoise waters, there are plenty of things to do at Coquina Beach. There is a path that is great for walking or riding bikes, and if you like volleyball, you can play on one of the courts.

If you are planning on taking a boat out, there is a boat launch right across the street along the Intracoastal Waterway. This makes it easy to get your boat out there on the water. It is also the perfect spot for birdwatching or doing some fishing.

Plan Your Vacation

Looking to plan the perfect Anna Maria Island getaway? We have a great selection of homes and condo rentals for you to choose from!

If you are bringing the family along with you, the playground at Coquina Beach is one of the great kid-friendly activities on Anna Maria Island. There are also barbecue pits and picnic areas available for when you are ready to chow down.

There is a beach market on Sundays and Wednesdays that has grown to be fairly large over the years. These days, there are about 50 vendors selling their foods and wares. Sundays are typically the most crowded day, so plan on having to wait in lines for food.

Fortunately, the beach is large enough that it never actually feels crowded.

Places to Stay

Anna Maria Island has a vast array of gorgeous rentals available. If you’re bringing your pup along, check out these stunning Anna Maria Island pet-friendly rentals. While dogs are not allowed on county beaches, there are plenty of trails and walkways around the Coquina Beach area to keep you and your pooch active. Then, when you are all tired out from walking and playing, you and your pup can return to your rental, fall into a kingsize bed, and relax together in peace. That will leave you rejuvenated for another day of exploring AMI and seeing what Coquina Beach has to offer.