Getting around AMI

Q. What is Anna Maria Island close to?

A. Anna Maria is approximately a 40 minute drive to Sarasota and 1hr 15 minutes to Tampa.

Q. What airport is closest to Anna Maria Island?

A. The closest airport to Anna Maria Island is Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). It is located approximately 15-20 miles southeast of Anna Maria Island. Tampa International Airport (TPA) is a larger airport, located about 45 miles north of Anna Maria Island.

Q. Is Anna Maria Island near Tampa?

A. Yes - Anna Maria Island is located at the mouth of Tampa Bay. It is approximately 45 miles (about a 1hr 15 minutes drive, depending on traffic) over the Skyway Bridge to Tampa.

Q. Do you need a car in Anna Maria?

A. No - but it does give you the freedom to explore beyond the island. On Anna Maria Island itself, there are various transportation options available. Consider renting a golf cart from Hodo Golf Carts, Beach Bums,  or Zoom Around to explore the island at a leisurely pace. Alternatively, rent one of AMIBeachClub’s 6 bicycles - contact us for further details. There is also a free island trolley service which runs daily around the island (approximately every 20 min) with a trolley stop located just outside both properties. Alternatively, there is the Monkey Bus service which operates on a per person fee.

Q. Are golf carts allowed on the Island?

A. Yes - the island is golf cart friendly and all of the roads are 35mph or less. The carts do need to be licensed to travel on any Florida roadway. There are several rental companies on the Island which provide this service - see the Transportation heading in the Practical Information section of the Things to do page for more information.

Q. Does Anna Maria Island have a free trolley service?

A. Yes - with frequent stops from the Northern tip of the Island to Coquina Beach in the South. It runs daily approximately every 20 minutes (visit their website for latest schedules). You can also see the free trolley stop in the image below, just to the left of the blue circle.