A local's guide to the Bradenton-to-Anna Maria ferry: what it costs, when it runs, the new Coquina Beach route, and the trips where it actually beats driving.
You already know the Saturday routine. The Cortez bridge backs up around 11, you finally roll onto Anna Maria Island, and then you spend twenty minutes circling for a parking spot that a family in a minivan grabs three seconds before you do. The beach is right there. You just can't get to it.
The Gulf Islands Ferry is the workaround a lot of Bradenton residents have quietly folded into their weekends. Eleven dollars round-trip, about fifty minutes on the water, and it drops you at the Historic Bridge Street Pier with zero parking to think about. It isn't the right call for every trip. But for the right one, it turns the worst part of an island day into the best part.
Here's how it works, and how to decide when to take it.
What does the Gulf Islands Ferry cost?
Eleven dollars, round-trip, for an adult on the main Riverwalk-to-Bridge-Street route. Kids three and under ride free, and so does anyone 80 or older. Everyone in between falls into a couple of tiers, and the round-trip price is a real discount over paying each way.
The booking system prices each leg separately, then bundles a cheaper round-trip. So you'll see two numbers depending on how you buy.
Main route: Bradenton Riverwalk ⇄ Historic Bridge Street Pier
Rider | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|
Adults (18–59) | $7 | $11 |
Seniors (60–79) | $5 | $7 |
Seniors 80+ | free | free |
Youths (4–17) | $5 | $7 |
Toddlers (3 & under) | free | free |
Active military (with ID) | $5 | $7 |
Compare that to a tank of gas plus paid island parking on a holiday weekend and the math gets friendly fast, especially with two or three people splitting nothing but their own fares. Book ahead. Boats fill on nice weekends, and reserving a seat beats standing on the pier watching a full one pull away. You can call or text (727) 200-6487 with questions.
things to do on Anna Maria Island
When does the ferry run?
Wednesday through Sunday. Not Monday, not Tuesday. That's the detail that trips people up, so plan around it before you build a whole day out.
On the days it runs, boats leave Bradenton at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. Return trips from Bridge Street push off at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. Four sailings each direction, about fifty minutes end to end.
Departure times
Leaves Bradenton Riverwalk | Leaves Bridge Street Pier |
|---|---|
10:00 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. |
1:00 p.m. | 2:30 p.m. |
4:00 p.m. | 5:30 p.m. |
7:00 p.m. | 8:30 p.m. |
One more thing worth building into your plan: weather cancels boats. Strong winds and the occasional maintenance day will pull a route offline with little notice, and the operator posts those changes on the ferry page. Check it the morning you go rather than after you've parked. You can also track boats live through the myStop app, which saves you guessing whether the 4 p.m. is running on time.
Bradenton Riverwalk guide
Where do you board, and where do you park?
The Bradenton side leaves from the Riverwalk Pier at 452 3rd Ave W. Park free at the City Centre garage on 3rd Avenue West, then walk about five minutes down the Riverwalk to the boat. That free garage is the part most first-timers miss, and it's the whole pitch: you park once, downtown, for nothing, and you never touch island parking again.See our downtown Bradenton parking guide.
Right now the route runs between two stops: the Riverwalk and the Historic Bridge Street Pier. The Anna Maria City Pier is closed for renovation after hurricane Milton, and the ferry doesn't stop there yet. It's expected to reopen later in 2026, and service may return to it then.
The new Coquina Beach run
New this fall: a second leg that runs from the Bridge Street Pier down to Coquina Beach, about a twenty-minute ride, four trips each way, same Wednesday-through-Sunday schedule. It's a connection from Bridge Street, not a direct boat out of Bradenton, so you'd ride to the island first and hop on from there.
The fares are lower on this shorter leg:
Rider | Coquina ⇄ Bridge Street (per leg) |
|---|---|
Adults (18–59) | $5 |
Seniors (60–79) | $3 |
Seniors 80+ | free |
Youths (4–17) | $3 |
Toddlers (3 & under) | free |
Active military (with ID) | $3 |
Coquina is the payoff a lot of people are after anyway. Seven miles of white sand, picnic tables, volleyball, concessions, and enough room that a busy day never feels shoulder-to-shoulder. Park downtown, ride to Bridge Street, connect to Coquina, and you've had a full beach day without ever paying for a spot or sitting in bridge traffic.
Getting around once you land
The free Island Trolley meets you near Bridge Street and runs the length of Anna Maria Island, so beaches, shops, and restaurants are all reachable without a car. Ferry plus trolley is the combination that makes a genuinely car-free island day work.
See our Anna Maria Island Trolly guide.
When the ferry beats driving, and when it doesn't
Take the ferry when the day is about the day, not the logistics. A beach afternoon at Coquina, dinner and a couple of drinks on Bridge Street, a sunset ride back with the light going orange over the water. On all of those, the boat is better than the bridge, and the ride stops being transportation and starts being part of the trip.
Drive when you're hauling gear. A wagon full of coolers, chairs, umbrellas, and a stroller does not want to be carried down a pier and loaded onto a boat. Drive when your timing is tight, because four departures a day is a real constraint and missing the 8:30 return means a long wait. And skip it Monday and Tuesday, when it isn't running at all.
One honest heads-up: you might get a little wet. Bring a towel or a light poncho if the chop is up. Nobody's been surprised by that twice.
What to know before you board
A few practical things save you a scramble at the pier. Reserve your seats ahead on weekends. Bring a card; the age brackets on the booking screen are exact, and kids' ages get checked. Keep military ID on you if you're claiming that fare. And put (727) 200-6487 in your phone, it's the same number for questions and for the day a boat gets cancelled.
If you've got a wheelchair, a stroller, a bike, or a dog in the plan, confirm the current policy on those with the operator before you go rather than assuming. Better to ask than to repack on the dock.
Making a day of it
Build the trip around the boat and downtown Bradenton earns its place too. Grab coffee or breakfast along the Riverwalk before the 10 a.m., wander the Village of the Arts if you've got time to kill, then catch the boat out. On the island, split your afternoon between the sand and the Bridge Street shops, have dinner, and take the last boat back with the sun setting behind you.
That's the version of an Anna Maria day that doesn't involve a single argument about parking. Which, if you've done it the other way, you'll recognize as the whole point.
What to do in downtown Bradenton
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Gulf Islands Ferry?
The main Riverwalk-to-Bridge-Street route is $11 round-trip for adults and $7 for seniors 60+ and youths under 18. Kids three and under and seniors 80+ ride free. Active military pay $5 one way with ID. The shorter Coquina Beach leg runs $5 for adults.
What days does the ferry run?
Wednesday through Sunday. It doesn't operate Monday or Tuesday. Boats leave Bradenton at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m., with returns from Bridge Street at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 8:30 p.m.
Where do you park for the ferry in Bradenton?
Park free at the City Centre garage on 3rd Avenue West, between 10th and 12th Streets. From there it's about a five-minute walk along the Riverwalk to the pier at 452 3rd Ave W. Free downtown parking is the reason a lot of locals take the boat.
How long is the ferry ride to Anna Maria Island?
About 50 minutes from the Bradenton Riverwalk to the Historic Bridge Street Pier. The newer Coquina Beach leg, which connects from Bridge Street, runs roughly 20 minutes.
Do you need a reservation?
It's recommended, especially on weekends when boats fill. You can book ahead and confirm your fare tiers on the booking screen. Call or text (727) 200-6487 for help or to check whether weather has changed the schedule.
Fares and schedules can change, and weather affects sailings. Confirm current times and prices on the official ferry page or by calling (727) 200-6487 before you go.
