Surrounded by the Intracoastal Waterway, Tampa Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, Anna Maria Island is the perfect place to visit if you want to experience all that Florida has to offer without all the tourists. Vaunting some of the most pristine seven miles of beaches in the U.S, Anna Maria Island is in an ideal location of Florida, near all of some the major metro areas of Florida. The convenience of Anna Maria Islands location and of course, its natural beauty is why Anna Maria Island can compete to some of the bigger tourist destinations in Florida.
Local Airports
Anna Maria Island is about an hour and a half away from Tampa and the Tampa International Airport. The other main airports near Anna Maria Island are the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and the Orlando International Airport.
If you’re driving from Tampa, your trip will take a little over an hour, but you can make this journey great by enjoying the scenery around you. This drive will take you over the infamous Skyway Bridge which is scary for most people, but you will be able to see the Manatee River along the way. These type of local attractions make the drive much more exciting. Have some change because there is a small toll to cross over the Skyway Bridge each way.
How to Get to Anna Maria
Directions:
Head south on I-275 to George J Bean Parkway
Follow I-275 S until you get to US-19 S in Manatee County.
Continue on US-19 S. Take S Tamiami Trail and FL-64 W/Manatee Ave W to Pine Ave in Anna Maria.
If you are coming from Orlando, you will find that your drive will take roughly two and a half hours, but you will find plenty of attractions along the way that you will want to add to your to-do list during your stay. Once you get to the Gulf Coast, you will find the climate and the beauty of Florida to be addicting. Keep some change on hand because there will be a couple of toll charges along the route.
Directions:
Head south FL-417 Toll Road in Meadow Woods from Jeff Fuqua Blvd.
Follow FL-417 Toll S, I-4 W, and I-75 S to US-41 S/S Tamiami Trail in Manatee County.
Use exit 2 to continue onto US-41 S/S Tamiami Trail.
Take FL-64 W/Manatee Ave W which will put you on Pine Ave in Anna Maria
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is the closest airport to Anna Maria Island so you will be on the Island in little to no time at all after your flight lands. The speed limit is strictly enforced on the island so follow the traffic laws and speed limit signs. If you have a few extra minutes to actually explore Anna Maria Island, try taking the longer route by taking US-41 South towards the downtown area Sarasota to cut through Lido Key so that you can follow FL-789 until it runs you right into the island.
Directions:
Head towards the east until you hit 15th St E/301 Blvd E.
Once you get their take it until you reach US-41 N, El Conquistador Pkwy, 75th St W and FL-64 W/Manatee Ave W which will lead you to Pine Ave in Anna Maria.
