Gulf Islands Ferry adds Coquina Beach as third stop

BRADENTON, Fla. (WWSB) - Manatee County is expanding Gulf Islands Ferry service to Coquina Beach, adding it as the ferry’s third stop, giving beachgoers another way to reach Anna Maria Island without a car.

The county says the move could help reduce the number of cars on island roads.

Linda Cranmer rode the ferry for the first time with a group of friends.

“The scenery is beautiful and it’s well worth a trip and it’s so, so affordable,” Cranmer said.

“Four seniors from our group, one super senior, and we wanted an outing that was affordable and fun and this fit the bill perfectly,” Cranmer said.

Captain says expansion opens opportunities

Lead Capt. Nicholas Francis pilots the ferry’s newest vessel, the Manatee Belle.

“I think it’s going to open more opportunities,” Francis said.

“We always joke that the only free parking on the island is on a Saturday on Cortez Bridge, so it just makes me happy seeing people take the boat,” Francis said.

Ridership numbers

Communications Manager Keenan Singleton said the ferry took 55,000 passengers off the road in 2025.

“2025 we took 55,000 off the road, which our internal numbers indicate that this is 23,000 cars off the road,” Singleton said. “This year we are trending even better. At this point of the month of August we had 45,000 passengers on the service.”

The ferry is funded through the tourist development tax, not local property taxes.

Round-trip fares from the historic Bridge Street Pier to Coquina Beach start at $9 for adults and $7 for seniors, military members and children.

Future expansion

County officials are looking at a possible future stop on the north end of Anna Maria Island, near the city pier.