As passengers board the Miss Anna Maria, a 49-passenger open-air catamaran, they’re greeted by a take-it-easy playlist of The Beach Boys and Van Morrison as the boat pulls away from the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier. A light mist lifts off the water, softening the heat. The Manatee River widens ahead. Conversations quiet as the shoreline recedes, replaced by the hum of the engines and the occasional gull overhead. Some passengers lean against the railing, others settle into their seats with iced coffees or cold beers. The atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried, the vibe somewhere between a daily commute and a mini vacation.

If this doesn’t sound idyllic, then you’ve never driven a car to Anna Maria Island. For drivers, reaching this popular barrier island often means sitting in gridlocked bridge traffic and circling for scarce parking once you reach the island. But, finally, fortune smiled on island travelers, when, in 2024, Manatee County launched a new, more scenic, stress-free option: the Gulf Islands Ferry, a 50-minute water taxi that motors from downtown Bradenton to the island’s Historic Bridge Street Pier. Miss Anna Maria is one of two catamarans carrying people back and forth. 

Early in the ride, the ferry drifts past sprawling coastal mansions—homes rarely seen from land. Dolphins frequently break the surface, and, according to the crew, sea turtles sometimes appear as nesting season winds down. Unlike narrated tours, the ferry is a true taxi service, offering a peaceful, unhurried ride.

Captain Jonathan Davis often shares bits of local history between trips. His grandfather captained boats transporting goods from Tampa to the Manatee River, docking along seawalls that Davis now passes daily. His family once owned Cattle Cove, part of a Bradenton shoreline where cows were shipped to Cuba in the 1940s. He shows passengers old family photos his grandmother kept, adding a personal layer to the region’s past.

Those family stories echo a longer history of water travel here. Before the first Cortez Bridge opened in 1922, the Favorite Line steamships ferried daytrippers from Tampa and St. Pete to Anna Maria Island Pier, where visitors would walk down Pine Avenue to the Gulf, according to Dave Haddox of the Anna Maria Island Historical Society. The river has always been a connector.

Halfway through the journey, the ferry passes De Soto National Memorial at Palma Sola, marking the 1539 landing of Hernando De Soto’s expedition. Onshore, a large cross at Riverview Pointe Preserve commemorates the friars and priests who accompanied the conquistadors. Further along, the mangroves of Robinson Preserve wrap around the river’s mouth as it opens into Tampa Bay, framing the approach like a living gateway.

As the ferry nears the island, mainland high-rises give way to brightly painted, two-story buildings—what locals call Old Florida. The boat now docks at Bridge Street Pier after Hurricane Milton destroyed the original landing at the City Pier in 2024. In the storm’s aftermath, the ferry ran free routes for island workers in reconstruction and hospitality, helping reconnect communities cut off by damaged roads. That quick pivot cemented its role not just as a convenience for visitors but as essential infrastructure during a crisis. Schedule changes remain common during adverse weather, a reminder of how tightly water travel is tied to nature.

Many riders are retirees and locals. Regulars come for the water, grab a few beers on the island and ride home. From the Bridge Street Pier, passengers can hop on the island trolley to explore beaches, restaurants and boutiques, car-free. On sunny days, crowds gather before boarding, snapping photos as pelicans perch on pilings. The atmosphere blends tourists and locals, creating a shared ritual as everyone waits to cross the water together.

Ticket prices are subsidized by tourist taxes, keeping adult round-trip fares at $10, according to Elliott Falcione, director of the Manatee County Convention & Visitors Bureau. In 2024, roughly 25,000 passengers rode the ferry, taking an estimated 13,000 cars off the busy roads. By early 2025, those numbers had already been surpassed.

During the holidays, volunteer ambassadors from the Manatee Performing Arts Center board the Miss Anna Maria, sharing local history with passengers. On summer weekends, the boats carry as many as 500 passengers a day. Officials plan to increase service during peak times, and a third, larger ferry is under construction in Louisiana, slated to begin service this fall. It will double capacity and better handle bad weather. Officials have also floated a nonstop “Anna Maria Express” from Fort Hamer and Parrish.

Water travel is always the best way to see Florida, and the Gulf Islands Ferry offers a scenic, efficient passage. So ditch the car, climb on board and enjoy the ride.

What About a Sarasota County Water Taxi?

Water ferries from downtown Sarasota to Anna Maria Island have been discussed by the City of Sarasota and Sarasota County for almost a decade. City leaders actually gave “initial approval” to a plan in 2017, but the project never moved forward. An update in October 2025 from the Sarasota County Transportation Authority (the lead for all things transit within the county), says county staff has been coordinating with the city on a “feasibility study of city-owned properties that might be useful for future water landing spots.” We’re not holding our breath.

​​The Gulf Islands Ferry operates Wednesdays through Sundays between the Bradenton Riverwalk and the Historic Bridge Street Pier on Anna Maria Island. Call or text (727) 200-6487 with questions. Advance booking is recommended. Bradenton departures run from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with return trips from Bridge Street between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The trip takes approximately 50 minutes, and passengers should bring a towel or poncho, as they may get wet during travel.