Anna Maria Island, Florida: Local Guide & Homes

Anna Maria Island is a seven-mile barrier island off Florida's Gulf Coast, west of Bradenton in Manatee County. A long-standing height limit keeps the skyline low — you'll find cottages and condos rather than towers — and the result is a stretch of coast that still feels like Old Florida.

Where is Anna Maria Island?

Anna Maria Island sits off Manatee County on Florida's Gulf Coast, just west of Bradenton and reached from the mainland by bridge. Longboat Key lies immediately to the south across Longboat Pass, with Sarasota beyond it; Tampa and St. Petersburg are up the coast to the north. The island runs about seven miles from Bean Point at its northern tip down to Bradenton Beach, and the nearest commercial airport is Sarasota–Bradenton International.

Three towns, one island

The island is shared by three small municipalities, each with its own character:

• Anna Maria — the quiet north end, home to the historic City Pier, Bean Point where the Gulf meets the bay, and the shops and restaurants along Pine Avenue.
• Holmes Beach — the island's commercial heart, with the largest concentration of homes, Gulf-front and canal properties, and easy beach access.
• Bradenton Beach — the south end, with the Historic Bridge Street pier, the free trolley, and a lively waterfront.

Beaches and the outdoors

Coquina Beach, Manatee Public Beach, and Bean Point are island favorites — wide, soft-sand beaches with calm Gulf water. Anglers fish the piers and passes, paddlers explore the bayside mangroves, and the free island trolley runs end to end, so many owners get around by golf cart and bicycle.

What the housing looks like

Property on Anna Maria Island ranges from restored beach cottages and Gulf-front homes to canal homes with private docks and low-rise condominiums. Many owners use their property as a second home, a vacation rental, or both — the island is a well-established vacation-rental market, though each town sets its own rental rules.

If you are weighing a purchase, my guide to buying a vacation home here covers financing, insurance, and flood zones.

Thinking about a place on the island? Send me a note and I'll walk you through what's available and what fits your goals.