Coquina Beach Reviews

Walked down the beach until we needed a break and jumped on the Free Trolley back to our rental to drop off the jackets we no longer needed. Great area, loved the Trolley it made it so easy to just head out and explore.

This is my favorite beach on the island. I like the facilities from the restrooms, changing rooms, water fountains, showers and concessions. I also think the chair and umbrella rentals of 20 per day is a good deal.

I took a day out, for some much needed "Me-Time" and headed out to Coquina Beach - it was a great choice. Not to mention, the gorgeous Florida weather in mid-February! This beach is sooo beautiful with white sands, blue skies and its mixture of blue-green waters (courtesy of the Gulf of Mexico). There is so much to do, like biking, surfing, paragliding, swimming (of course), kids play area, picnic area, and pretty much anything that a beach has to offer. There are many shops and restaurants that align the beach, as well as more nearby beaches like Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Siesta Key (all within 10-20 minutes of eachother).

This was the perfect getaway for me - to just relax, unwind and read a book. I felt soo refreshed and Coquina Beach provided the perfect backdrop and retreat!!! I highly recommend!!!

Beautiful beach on which you can walk very long. Many varieties of birds can be observed here. The day we went there the ocean was rough following a tropical storm. Despite everything we were able to fully enjoy the beauty of the place

This has been our favorite public for years. We usually visit in winter, but here for the summer this year. Great seating area at the south end looking at Longboat Bridge where The Manatee River enters Gulf of Mexico. The white sand beaches going back north are super with restrooms, plus changing huts along the way right off the beach. There is a concession stand at the main entrance. Picnic tables are often in shaded areas with beach views with large pavilions at north end. There is also rv parking at north end of Coquina Beach. A great feature is a paved walking trail that extends, a mile or two between beach and parking areas. Yes there is plenty of parking, all free. Unfortunately Red Tide hit in August but everyone is doing there best to keep beaches clean. It will go away in time as Mother Nature has taken care of before. Again this is the best Gulf of Mexico public beach area we have been to in Florida.

Not only is this beach gorgeous, but its amenities are wonderful. It’s clean even over a 4th of July weekend. Nice bathrooms, multiple changing rooms with showers, tons of picnic tables under huge shade trees and grills to make hamburgers and hotdogs. We loved it!

Clean, was very crowded (we went on Easter 2 years ago) but everyone was so friendly and there was plenty of parking.

Great beach good size not too big not too small. Sand is soft and not too shelly. Water is clear and a few waves. Nice to have clean restrooms and a shady area with picnic tables to take a little break from sun

My favorite beach on Anna Maria island. Plenty of free parking. Shady areas with picnic tables if the sun gets to be too much. Gorgeous Gulf sand and water. Changing stations, areas to rinse off and clean bathrooms. Life guard towers and even a small outdoor restaurant. My advice: get there first thing in the morning before 10 o’clock in high season.

Beautiful area of Bradenton Beach. Nice beach, nice facilities. Picnic tables and areas for grilling. Walkway has nice shade. Excellent market on Sundays with many interesting items to buy.

Disclaimer: We are not swimmers or sun worshippers but we LOVED this beach! We like to walk, and the picnic and walking area between the parking and the actual sand were perfect for us. The pathway, the tall pines, the beach views, the breezes, and the chance to walk out and look at the beautiful beach and water were fantastic. There were three or four restroom buildings and they were clean and usable. The snack bar was nice to see. The parking was free and easy. The only issue was the aggressiveness of the little squirrels - but hey, they live there and we were just visiting. THey are used to getting fed and are VERY brazen about coming up to picnic tables. THere is a craft fair here Wed. and Sun. during some months, which was a fun "plus". We loved this place - one of our fave things to do in during our two week stay.

We cycled here from Holmes Beach. Beautiful beach / Park. Loads of birds including pelicans and an osprey.

It's a beach! Has parking and sand and beautiful turquoise gulf water. A life guard and occasional beach patrol. Wish I was there now.

Great beach. Clean with nice facilities, food, pirate ship playground area and home to their local farmers market featuring great food, vegetables and crafts.

This beach offers white sands, shade trees, restroom, changing rooms, places to grill, picnic tables and plenty of parking. Enjoy a fun day at the beach!

It’s another place to go for a quieter beach day in the sun. A walk along the beach will provide for some great shelling, with the chance for shell collectors to find both shells and shark teeth and discover mini coves created by the waves along the coastline.

We were there early in the morning like 8 AM, so soothing experience. Tons of free parking, lots of amenities, and a roomy beach with a large expanse of silky, white sand. White silky sand adorns this Gulf beach. It is more compact than Siesta Key or Clearwater Beach, so it is great for walking. It really is beautiful against the water and blue sky of Florida. There is nothing better than taking long, romantic walks along the beach.

If you get hungry Coquina Beach has a beachfront cafe and you can even order breakfast. Otherwise enjoy salads, burgers, chicken tenders, fish tacos, and more.

What makes Coquina Beach so special is that it has a great combination of mixed activities very close together, and unlike other Florida Beaches and popular areas, it isn’t as crowded during most of the year!

some of the many popular water spots you can try in and around Coquina Beach and the greater Anna Maria Island (like Jet skiing, kayaking, paddle boarding, Scuba diving, fishing, etc..)

Parking: Free, and even space for RV's. The other bonus is there is not a long haul to the shore from the parking lot. Just grab your beach gear and go
Restroom: Yes
Changing Room: Nope
Shower: yes

Wide patrolled beach with adjacent parking. Flea market adjacent to beach on Wednesday and Sunday. Bathroom and changing stations available.

Great location, the water was warm, and sand smooth not a lot of shells throughout. Parking was hard to find, but that was the only issue.

Large Beach! Bathrooms & seperate changing huts available. White powdery sand that is not hot to walk on! They have lifeguards sometimes, not sure of their schedule. Paved walkways between beach & parking that continues north into Bradenton Beach area. Also a cafe for dining. On Sunday & Wednesday they have the 'Beach Market' from 10am - 4 pm. Market features lots of jewelry, clothing, pottery, kettle corn, photography, art & one veggie/fruit vendor. At the very south end of CoQuina Beach is an area for fishing in a channel from the Gulf to the Bay. So great having tons of parking in the shade. There are pic is tables in the shade off the parking lot too!!

Great beach beautiful water the only down side was they are dredging the beach this time of year and so a lot of broken shells on the sand for about 5 feet to get from the nice fluffy white beach to the beautiful water that aside it was the prettiest if beaches we visited during our week long stay on Anna Maria.

The traffic is backed up in the afternoons from the bridge from Longboat Key all the way to the traffic light at the junction with Cortez Bridge in Bradenton Beach. But a day out at Coquina Beach is worth putting up with the heavy traffic. There's plenty of parking, changing facilities and restrooms (can be a queue) and it's a short walk to the bridge and the water separating AMI and Longboat Key. Lots of birds to watch, pelicans fishing, dolphins heading into the lagoon.
Cafe serving food and drinks and ice cream can get busy (might be a good idea to take your own). Plenty of picnic tables and spaces to barbecue.

Coquina is the most crowded spot on AMI, but its lovely and the sand is amazing! The water is clear and beautiful and we always have fun when we go to AMI

Visited this beach for a "sun" day and was so impressed. Plenty of parking (went at 10am), great service at the cafe, walk to water edge from parking was not too bad, and all facilities were clean. Great beach!

This has been one our favorite beaches for years; however, in high season, its really starting to get crowded. It is a great beach usually clear, calm water. Not uncommon to spot dolphins and manatees. Decent bathroom and picnic facilities. Beach has lifeguards.

This beach is so clean and has so much to offer. Plenty of shade if you need a break, picnic tables, changing stations and free parking.
There's a beach market there on Wednesday and Sunday's.
It's a good shelling beach, especially in the morning.

Clean, onsite bathrooms that were clean- changing stations-free parking! this was a family oriented beach that we were glad we chose. We loved it!

Beautiful white sand, clear, clean water and accomodatons to change, etc. We visited the bar for wonderful beach drink. Great sunsets!

Gorgeous white sandy beach, concession stand, picnic tables and shady walking trail make this a great spot to spend a day by the water! Very clean with changing stations and restrooms available as well.

The beach and bike/walk path are clean. Not much of a crowd early morning but, expect a surge from 10 AM - 3 PM. After that, expect it to take 1.5 hours sitting in traffic getting off the island in both directions, if you are not renting a place on the beach.

Beautiful white sand, gentle waters, lots of free parking, picnic tables, bathrooms, changing areas, close to restaurants, and even some seashells--well worth a visit.

Spent a few hours here walking on the beach and then sitting in the sun.

Free large car park and restrooms and a long stretch of lovely beach.

Highly recommended as somewhere to relax

Amazing sunsets on the Gulf side of Florida. Stroll the boardwalk along the beach watching the sunset many restaurants along the way to sit and have some dinner why the Sun is setting.

Vast views, beautiful beach and lots to see.
Good restaurant and bar on site. Parking is very close to the beach so it makes it easy to access your vehicle, even with young kids.

We stumbled across Coquina Beach based on a recommendation from a local boat captain. Clean white sand. Good facilities. Low-key, family vibe. Lots of picnic tables shaded by trees. Simply a perfect beach with a perfect personality.

Lovely white sand, fabulous water, lots of room, a great beach cafe with amenities and even plenty of parking, not to mention picnic tables nearby. You can see why people love Coquina. We do too. Your visitors will understand right away why the Gulf side of Florida is close to paradise.

Wow!!! What a great park!!! It has about everything, picnic tables, grills, covered picnic tables, playground, dressing areas, bathrooms, lifeguards, beach, shower for full body and feet, and a lot of parking. Best part it is free. Parking lot is sand if that is a concern for anyone.

just a beautiful beach. calm blue waters just like cancun. some nice places to eat and show very close to the beach

I came here after hearing about the place. It was a 2 hour trip to get here but well worth it. I took my teenage daughter and mother here to have a beach experience since its been years since we visited one. All amenities imaginable were here. Change rooms, restroom, shower, cafe, lifeguards etc. We had a lot of fun memories just remember to bring sunscreen and a beach umbrella and food if you want to save some money.

We ended up at this beach due to the red tide & algae issues at the beaches to the south. We were not sure what to expect & we were pleasantly surprised. There was ample free parking close to the beach. There were restrooms, changing rooms & a snack bar.
The sand was very soft with minimal shells & rocks. The dunes were lovely. We will definitely be back!

This is one of my favorite Gulf beaches, the water is beautiful and the sand is great. Perfect for a beach day!

Once a pristine beautiful beach, still beautiful, but it has become way too managed. Excellent walking and bike path. However, too many obnoxious signs telling tourist; don't do this, and don't do that every 20 feet or so.
This year, during the tourist season, they decided to redo the access roads to the beach, ... brilliant. The sand access and parking was quite functional and in keeping with the area.

No parking.No dogs allowed. Loud ethentic music. Open flames that make so much smoke you cannot breath. Dirtiest beach i have ever been at. Pine tress with above ground roots that are easy to trip over. Sharp pine cones on the ground that cut your feet make it horribly to walk. This is one beach that is not a beautiful beach in Florida. don’t waste you time at this one when there are so many other beautiful beaches

This is a nice beach area on the island. It has lots of parking, public restrooms, picnic areas, and activities. It got crowded fast. My suggestion is to get there early and then leave early. Traffic to the island and from the island can be very backed up!
It was a beautiful day!

Wow what a great natural beach! Palm trees, blue water and easy parking. Definitely a local spot! Perfect for children bc the waves are very calm.

My wife and I visited Couina Beach today and found the beach and surrounding areas extremely clean. We used their clearly marked walking path that parallels the beachand found super clean bathrooms and clothing changing booths dotted along the path. We found it super safe to go for a walk and visit the beach here.

Best time to visit is during the week or else it may get a little crowded on the weekends... good parking, picnic tables & BBQs, feet from the beach. Literally manatee swimming by... and seashells to boot. And free to park unlike Sanibel.

This is a nice beach with more than adequate parking. We enjoyed our time there. Lifeguards are available. There are rocks which are nice but you cannot sit on them.

Plenty of room and shade,even for Sunday crowds. Very interesting vendors' market Wed/Sat for three hours. Best find though is the many little changing huts sprinkled amongst the tree shaded walk.

Ample free parking, restrooms, concessions, clean beach. One of my favorite beaches in the area. Very nice beach!

Parking is packed and you have to arrive early in the morning to be able to park. Beautiful beach. Problem is when you have 3 or 4 groups of people all playing very loud music!
It’s as if they are seeing whose speakers can play at the loudest volume! If you plan on a day to relax and enjoy listening to the water, don’t go here. The music will cut your day short!!! And if they think it bothers you, they turn it up louder!

Gorgeous beach. Clean. Amazing views. Easy to walk and lots of shade in picnic area. Dolphin sightings were an added bonus.

Always love our time at Coquina beach. The bathroom is clean and well maintained. The snack bar employees are courteous.

Absolutely beautiful beach , well maintained. Family friendly. The best swimming beach we visited while on the island. White Sandy Beach with beautiful clear waters.

Found this beach last year & revisited again this year. It is beautiful. Very peaceful in comparison to siesta key.
Changing rooms, toilets ,cafe & free parking.
Went back for sunset.
Definitely worth visiting

One of the best beaches in the gulf. Plenty of shade thanks to the many trees. The water was crystal clear on this day. All areas were clean including restrooms. Plenty of parking and easy access to the beach.

A nice beach - check out the Wednesday (better day to go) and Sunday. Free and convenient parking. Nice for walking too - check out the nearby walking trail..

Wide open beach. Lots of coquina rock and shells - wear flip flops or beach sandals. It was a rough day, so we didn't swim - but the water was clear.

A bit over one mile south of Cortez Beach, we stopped at Coquina Beach that has a very big parking lot on site, easy entrance to the beach, lifeguards on duty, shaded, spacious picnic grounds, info boards with regulations and safety instructions, restrooms, etc.

On the road side, Coquina Beach is lined with well-kept and well-marked Coquina Trail that is used both by bikers and by runners and walkers. On a big lot at Coquina Beach on Sundays and Wednesdays (10 am - 4 pm) there is Beach Market , selling the usual for these types of markets - food, beach wear, jewelry, etc. It's just another feature that attracts visitors to this beach.

The beach itself has very picturesque scenic views, the sand is clean. At the very southern point, Coquina Beach comes close to the Longboat Pass. Overall, this beach a nice place for relaxing and having a good time.

Wonderful beach. Good food stand for drinks and eats. Plenty of parking, something you don't get at the other beaches.

Lots of parking spaces. Beautiful sand. There are shells but not a collector's dream. Beach is wide and long. Of course no shade on beach but so much shade and picnic tables between parking lot and beach. What a relief to go sit in shade. Good facilities. Can buy drinks but they are not allowed on beach. Have to sit under umbrellas by the bar

Quiet, clean, beautiful beaches. Very accessible and not crowded. Located south of Bradenton beaches and north of Longboat key.

Great walking beach. I hear dolphins congregate at the north end by the Longboat Key bridge but I didn't find any the day we visited.

Over the years we have visited this beach hundreds of times to stroll the Australian pine canopy paved walk that parallels the beach, to spend a day in the sun and sand swimming in the waters of the gulf, to sit and watch a spectacular sunset, or spend a few hours at the weekly market of local vendors. For us this was the best public beach in the gulf area fromTampa to Sarasota/Venice and had just about every amenity beach goers of any age could hope for.

Regrettably and sadly the dual hurricanes of Helene and Milton hit Coquina particularly hard destroying much the natural surroundings and beach amenities. The Bradenton Beach community and Manatee County have performed a Herculean task of clearing the parking lot, grooming the beach, and providing portable toilets and hand washing stations until repairs to the permanent restroom facilities can be completed.The small beach side cafe at the central entrance is open and operating. Unfortunately many of the amenities like the numerous grills, picnic tables, changing stalls, open air showers, bike racks, play areas, and shelters will take considerably longer to restore. For this year's tourist and spring break it will be back to basics.

Gorgeous sand! Clean water, not too crowded and just the perfect day. Would definitely make this our favourite on Anna Maria island

We love Coquina Beach itself and have been visiting the area from the U.K. for many years. This year, however, we have found the Beach Market to have changed management and site. It is now at the south end of Coquina Beach and no longer at the centre. There were less stalls and not the variety of goods there used to be pre Covid. Parking is more limited at that end of the beach too after that had been ‘improved’. Very disappointing. Will return to visiting the Red Barn again.

Lots of parking, bathrooms, changing stations. Easy walk from parking lot, beach for everyone, families, couples or solo. Clear, clean, blue water, much smaller than Siesta Key and more intimate and enjoyable.

A very big car park feeds the whole length of this beach,trees give shelter and shade. Cafe on middle of beach, change rooms,showers ,toilets,are dotted along its length.BBQ and shelters for a cook out and life guards too. Swimming is safe here, breakwaters break the beach into sections. Ospreys can be seen sitting in the trees,then flying out to catch a fish, returning to eat it's catch above your head.

Fantastic Beach! Beautiful water, clean & soft sand! Lots of parking, restrooms, showers and changing booths!
If you are driving to a beach in this area- this is the best option!

Coquina beach is super convenient. Free parking (and lots of it). Amenities such as showers, changing rooms and toilets. All this and a really pretty beach which is usually pretty empty during the week (not so much at weekends) and only a short drive to restaurants, bars etc. Perfect!!

Gulf of Mexico, white, powdery sand, large beautiful, clean area for sunning, Coquina Beach Cafe right on the beach for food and beverages - what moer could anyone ask for.

we spent the afternoon at Coquina Beach for Mothers Dad event. weather was perfect. I so love my birth state.

Check for market and shop info - we were fortunate enough to visit during an open bazaar day and it was wonderful - beaches and shopping mg with the shaded tree areas were wonderful

For sunbathing, Coquina Beach is as nice as any on the island. Wednesdays and Sundays are especially nice because of the vendor's market. 30 or more vendors sell everything from jewellery to cell phone cases to shells and more. The little beach cafe also serves some good fare. But if you want to walk the beach, don't start here at Coquina!! The breakwalls (while no doubt necessary) make walking difficult. If you want to simply walk the beach, start at Holmes Beach instead and walk north toward Bean Point. You can walk forever!

We have been to many beaches and this one ranks among the best if not the best one we have visited. In addition to white gulf sand and beautiful warm water, there are changing stations, shaded picnic tables, and public restrooms. We found there to be ample parking.

Such a little gem of a spot to just sit and watch the amazing wildlife that surrounds this beautiful place!

The sand is so white and clean. The beach was very clean. The beach is very long and has plenty of parking. The parking areas and the life guard stands were labeled very clearly from the road to find other friends. One morning the "Turtle Rescue" people came and released a turtle into the sea that had recovered from an illness. There is also a nice area of the beach set aside for fishing. The changing areas were convenient and there were also a number of bathrooms and snack bars. There were also many picnic tables in the shade. There were large family picnics going on all over the park. I would be a regular here if I live near here.

Don't plan on eating at the cafe on the weekend, especially when the Beach Market is going on on Sunday, or you'll have a bit of a wait. Good burgers. We don't eat fish!!! We like to walk the length of the beach towards the inlet on the tree lined path.

First visit to Coquina Beach (adjacent to Cortez Beach) and we were wowed! Lots of nearby free parking but away from the "shopping and bar centers". The beach is clean, aquamarine colored and long with white sandy beach. Just beautiful in a clean safe area.

we love this beach and always visit when we are in the area. There is plenty of parking, showers, changing area and a small restaurant. There is a huge stretch of lovely white, soft sand and the sea is not too rough. Gorgeous sunsets and beats beaches we have seen in many other places around the world

We went for the Sunday market and took the free trolley. Very nice beach and surprisingly big market of predominantly crafts— very small produce offering. A fun way to spend an afternoon

Dunkin’ Donuts and coffee on the beach Christmas morning! My husband and I brought my parents to Coquina Beach this morning. Lovely beach located in the south part of Anna Maria Island. There’s a large parking area, restroom facilities, lifeguard tower, and a small beach cafe. A few people brought Christmas trees to the beach! What a wonderful photo op for them. We just walked along the shore but next time we will bring our bathing suits!

Our Sunday morning visit to Coquina Beach was a double win. We got to stroll among the vendors with a nice variety of offerings, and then we got to stroll along the beach. The market is open on Sundays 10-4, and features fresh produce, homemade arts and crafts, and flea market finds. This beach park includes numerous changing facilities, restrooms, a food concession stand, and several life guard stands, all easily accessed from a large paved parking lot. The beach itself is soft white sand, strewn with tiny bivalve coquina shells, giving the beach its name. There is a delightfully cool paved walkway under the Australian Pine trees with run the length of the beach between the parking and the sand. Highly recommend a visit.

Sugary soft sand, ample restrooms and changing booths. Shells to hunt and Australian Pines to walk under. A beach market on Wednesday and Sunday. Picnic tables and ample parking. What's not to like?
Well, there is the matter of traffic getting there and back but it is definitely a must visit and plenty of restaurant options in Bradenton Beach to the north when you are done.

Coquina beach is a beautiful white and beach. There are nearby restrooms and changing stations. There is a nice wide trail between the road and the beach for walking, and on Wednesdays and Fridays there is a little pop up market. There are tons of picnic tables and grills available for picnicking. I would highly recommend this beach.

My parents just moved to the gulf side from the Atlantic, and we we googled best family beaches in Florida and Coquina Beach came up... wow really great. The greatest thing I think were all the amenities for families. We arrived early on a Friday morning to beat the crowds at 10:30am, and there were tons of parking spots...FREE! if you can believe that. If coming from the north, you have to pass Cortez beach, and then park in the parking lots past the bathrooms. We decided to park in the middle of the north and south bathrooms. In between the parking lot and beach, which is a short walk, there is a walking trail which can take you to bathrooms. On the south end of Coquina Beach there is a cafe with a bar, and outside seating.... and a small gift shop. Next time we are down, we will stop for a drink or two. The sand is white as can be.... and the water clear and blue. It was quiet in the morning but by lunch time, more families arrived. However most families liked to stay by both bathrooms, so the middle was less crowded which was where we camped out, and we loved it. My 10 year old twin boys played football, and in the water for most of the day. You can picnic there under the trees, as they have several picnic tables with grills. The downside is the traffic getting out, but that’s what happen when there is only one bridge in and out.... and its a 2 way road.... this was not a draw back for us, because it made us look at all the small little houses on the beach or other side of the road..... there were no tall condos to speak of... just really small beach houses looking over the ocean. I love this area.... Bradenton is beautiful. We will come again.

We loved this place! they had a nice "farmers and craft market" on Saturday and also do it on Wednesday I think? Very nice beach with plenty of room to not be crowded and great parking. Very nice area

Four of us spent a few hours there. There is a new nature trail on the bay side of the island which is right across from the beach. Well worth an hour or two.
The actual beach was great. Sand was soft and clean and there is a snack bar and bathrooms, all immaculate.

Best beach we have found in all the beach hopping we do. Liked it so much it was the beach we were married at shout out to gulf coast weddings they are fantastic to deal with

🏖️ Anna Maria Island has several beaches to explore. At the southern tip is Coquina Beach.

1️⃣ Lots of parking. There is also a bus stop so you can use the bus service to travel here.

2️⃣ Showers and portable restroom facilities.

3️⃣ Coquina Cafe / Grill (reviewed separately) for snacks or a lite meal.

4️⃣ Rescue crew and safety patrol onsite.

5️⃣ White sand and a shallow entry into the water.

There is a market that runs Saturdays and Wednesdays beginning in December. we stopped in and shopped. relaxing and eclectic atmosphere

Free parking, changing and showering cabins, small local artisan market at the tip of the beach on the south side, this is a magnificent beach where you can slip into crystal clear waters surrounded by birds of all kinds.
The only downside is that uneducated people come there to entertain themselves by turning up the volume on their mega portable amplifier, not caring at all that their noisy hubbub could disturb other summer visitors. But hey… that’s life in Florida…

Great place to sit in soft white sand, swim, or walk beach. Quiet with parking right by beach access.

Beautiful beach with rest rooms, changing room, and plenty of free parking. Boat launch ramp available too. Very enjoyable!

One of our favorite beaches….. siesta key was hit hard with red tide so we drove 11mins down the tide and as always the beach here was blue and clean. A few dead fish washed up from the aftermath of red tide but overall…. They did a great job cleaning up this beach.

We stopped for a quick sunset before dinner, and nearly four hours later, we "closed" the beach. It was a special evening... a few hours after the sun went down, the moon followed and also set. Plenty of free roadside parking, although it was filling up quickly. And although we never made it to dinner, we passed by lots of restaurants and specialty shops nearby. ENJOY!

plenty of parking,plenty of room,gentle surf and you can walk out quite aways....great place to take the kids

We had heard marvelous things about this beach. And, while there were plenty of good things about it, the negatives made it so that we probably won't go back unless we have swim shoes to wear in the ocean. The rocks under the water - even out in the water, away from the beach - were so rough that they hurt our feet! There were life guard towers and people patrolling the beach. This made it feel safe. There were picnic tables with places to grill outdoors in lots of places in the shade. Lots of parking, but you might have to walk a while to get to the beach. There were clean restrooms and changing areas as well as tower showers outside to rinse the salt water off after swimming. It was a very nice beach, but the traffic getting in and out can be very bad. We recommend going either in the early morning and spending the day or in the early evening for just a few hours. The park closes at sunset. There were concession stands for snacks. Parking was free.

White sand, clear water.
Got to see the dolphins running, and we had an amazing day. Respectful beach patrons, clean washrooms and change rooms.

Great beach, with white sand, lots of parking, a restaurant and lifeguard towers. On Sundays and also Wednesdays near Christmas they have a vendor market with about 80 or more vendors. It will take you about 90 minutes just to browse. My favourite is the fresh guacamole guys, wonderful product and salsa.

We had been to Coquina Beach in 2016 and were concerned that the red tide would still be there. Nope. The only things on the beach were people and shorebirds.
This park is outstanding. Lots of shade. The sand, while not as soft as Clearwater or Panama City, is clean and great for walking.
The facilities for changing are well-placed.
Th ere are picnic tables and jogging trails.
The location is just north of the bridge to Anna Maria Island from Longboat Key. We were on the gulf side. There's also a park across the road on the bay side.

We waited and drove around for an hour before giving up and going home. The road in is backed up for miles and there is no parking spaces.

I came to this beach everytime I come to town. Water is green and clear and nice and shallow. They have restrooms, lifeguards, changing stations, showers, picnic tables, and grills. It can get crowded but when I come it's not too bad. Love this beach!

Awesome beach and the amenities of the beach and the island itself. Anna Maria Island free Trolley is fun & convenient. We fell in love with AMI.

Visited Coquina Beach on the first day of our stay on AMI. Free parking in the shade- so nice. Beautiful water with mild waves. They had restrooms, changing rooms and a snack bar. The snack bar had a limited menu as they were undergoing renovations. We were able to order pina coladas but we could not take them on the beach. Great breeze all day.

Drove down from Sarasota for the day and was thrilled. It was raining in the morning so I was a little worried. However as soon as we got to the beach the sun popped out. The white sand beaches are amazing. The crystal clear blue water was warm enough to walk in by the afternoon! If you’re in the area I don’t miss this place.

The part I liked the most was the squirrels right off the beach. You can buy shelled peanuts at the store and bring them and they’ll eat right out of your hands. Other than that, a beautiful beach but nothing too special!

At the southern end of Anna Maria Island, a beautiful spot with lots of amenities - lots of shaded parking, changing stations/restrooms, lifeguard stations. Beach is soft white sand, not hot even mid-day, and clean.

This is my favorite beach ever. Free parking,washrooms and changing rooms picnic tables and trees to sit under. You can walk on flat sand for a long time

The sand is white, the water green/blue and like a lake!!
Not nearly as crowded as our beaches on HH. Lots of families on the weekend. Picnic Tables, showers, places to change and lots of free parking.

On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday they have the Coquina Beach Market. Fun little booths to look at and also a few food vendors. They also have really nice walking paths here.

Some of the best beaches in the world. Love the white sand and clear water. But know the Florida sun is no joke in July. Bring lots of sunscreen

Enjoyed a beautiful day at Coquina Beach marketplace. There are always lots of vendors selling food, jewelry, crafts, etc. Everything is nice and reasonably priced. Today we bought licorice, as we always do. This is the very best licorice I have ever eaten! Perused the pearl jewelry at the vendor we always buy from. He travels to Thailand every year and brings back pearls and make the most beautiful jewelry. Be sure to check his booth out. We will visit again next year.

Perfect spot to walk and enjoy sunset. Bring your beach chair and a couple of Corona's and sit for a couple of hours watching another perfect sunset day. A few sailboats out on the water and dolphins looking for schools of fish to snack on. Was here in February so water still a bit too chilly for Manatee.

Love Coquina Beach which joins up with Cortez Beach and provides miles and miles of beautiful sand for strolling the shoreline. The dunes at the edges can even provide a little shelter from north winds on chillier winter days. Anna Maria Island has been “discovered,” so the beach is even getting a little crowded in spots in January.

This is a fabulous and very busy beach named for the colorful little coquina clams that dot the sand. The park has several shaded picnic areas, some with grills. There are restrooms, outdoor showers, and lifeguards in season. Watch the flags for riptide and red tide warnings. Some people take sifting scops with them to sort the little shells along the beach to use as mementos or to make jewelry.

This was a well kept beach and offered bathrooms and separate changing stations. It was nice to walk the beach and wasn't overly crowded at this time of year.

Coquina Beach has a lot to offer. First, it is a beautiful beach with tones of parking places in a shady lot. We have often met friends there and used the parking spots as a jumping off point to bike to St. Armand's Circle or even across the bridge to Sarasota.
It is the turn-around point for the island trolley. You can ride free from Coquina to the Anna Maria pier, and back! You can spend at least 1/2 day just visiting attractions near the trolley stops. What fun! There are nice restrooms, if you need to change into your bathing suits. On the weekends, there are exhibitors selling interesting and useful items. On the opposite side of the road from the beach, is a ramp that you can launch waverunners and other small watercraft. Definitely, put Coquina Beach on your list of places to go.

Lovely beach. Went on a weekday and it was not crowded. Quiet picnic area with a nice breeze. Water was lukewarm. It felt great. Didn't like the rocks in the sand. It hurt my feet after a while.

Lots of room to run around play in the sand. Sand is nice and soft. There is a real nice playground as well. Plenty of parking is available - however the traffic coming and going is heavy!

Lovely beach with a park and bike path. On Wednesday and Sunday have venders. Shady. Great place for picnics

It’s a beautiful sandy beach which is beautiful for walking or sunbathing. There are changing booths and several bathroom facilities. The food is excellent in the concession stand! On Sundays and Wednesday’s they have a Beach Market where you can purchase produce, food tens, jewelry, clothing and arts and crafts at reasonable prices.

visited on a Monday, parking was easy tons of free parking,on the north side nice smaller entrance to the beach and was happy to see not such a long walk to the water like siesta is. enjoyed a nice sunset and ended up driving the longboat key version back to Sarasota enjoyable drive compared to the main traffic roads

Brought our family, including a 5 year old and 7 year old. They loved it! We love the easy access, ample parking and cleanliness of the beach area! The turquoise water reminded me of Grand Cayman.

Wonderful gulf of Mexico beach.Flat and broad almost white sands stretching into the distance.Lifeguard stations.
Extensive parking,one basic cafe,small craft and food market in the parking area on Wednesdays and Sundays.
All good fun !

We took a little road trip up from Sarasota, had been recommended this spot. Excellent, area and beach is beautiful, easy, free and plenty of parking. Nice facilities and playground. Also came on a market day which was a nice atmosphere. Did a little fishing; no luck but saw tons of dolphins up close! Definitely recommend and we’ll be back!

Clean, well-maintained, lots of free parking, talcum powder sand, shells, cafe, flea markets (Sunday & Wednesday) REST ROOMS, Kudos

We’ve been coming here every year for forty years. It never fails to be well maintained, clean and welcoming. Red tide has been a problem in past years but it has beautiful sandy beaches and is a great location with ample parking, a nice concession area and a lengthy beautiful beach! If you’re in the area don’t miss it!

Wonderful beach! Shell hunting, soft sand, bird and people watching, wading and swimming…. There is just so much to do and see, and even do nothing! Plenty of parking and even picnic tables. Due to Hurricane Milton, the bathrooms are still being repaired, so porta- potties are available. They are big and CLEAN, didn’t smell at all and there is a nice little hand washing station available as well.

Coquina Beach is a beautiful beach with wide expansive white sand and beautiful auqua blue water. There is a Cafe on this beach with restrooms accessable outside. They also have a very nice Farmer's Market every Wednesday from 10 am to 4 pm. Well worth going to, plus you can enjoy the Beach while shopping at the Market.

Clear blue water and white sand that is so fine it feels more like powder. Most times we were the only people in our area of the beach.

Amazing beach and facilities but our family was coughing from the red tide. It started when we crossed onto the island. We didn't know why we were coughing at first but then a local told us.

After starting the day early at Anna Maria Island, we made our way down to Coquina after reading the reviews.

The market was on so we casually wandered around and ended up buying a couple of fascinating Turtle and Sea Horses made by a local company. Totally unique and from recycled materials.

We then took up our position on the white powdery sand looking out to the Gulf even seeing Dolphins at one point.

Total bliss.....

Beautiful gulf beach with outstanding facilities and plenty of parking. Went there on a Saturday and there was lots of open space on the beach. Highly recommend.

Very clean and well kept beach. Lots of room to stretch out even on a busy day. Soft sand and clean water. Nice little restaurant on site with very reasonable prices.

Stopping to check out the Wednesday Beach Market and discovered a beautiful stretch of beach for strolling!

Lots of parking, big white sand beach, and several areas with picnic tables in the shade of the trees.

I'm incredibly picky about my beaches. Growing up on the water, it takes a lot to impress me. Coquina beach did just that! It was tucked away and quiet. The sand was cool and powder like. The water was clear and relaxing. It wasn't overly crowded at all. There was actually a cute farmers market at the end of the beach. Cute and funky restaurants near by to grab something to eat after the beach. Showers and bathrooms available also. It was just such a nice, clean and beautiful beach. We will definitely be back.

We return to Coquina Beach often and bring our own food, somedays we bring out little camper propane grill or you can use the grills there. We love the shade the trees provide, and the short walk to the beach. Our family has been enjoying the beach, the sand is clean and the water near perfect.

Very clean long walkway, with a great view that is right beside the ocean. Take a stroll, great exercise routine. Beautiful trees surround the walkway, so the sun does not beat down. Always a breeze.

For people who are used to the Atlantic beaches you will be in for a treat unless you like to surf.
The waves are most times so gentle you will hardly notice them. The water so clear you can see your toes.
Last year my wife and I were standing about 50 foot out from the beach when a group of Manta Rays came swimming by and around us. They won't bother you and you shouldn't bother them. They survive on plankton and smaller fish.
There were about 18 that I counted all about a foot and a half long by a foot and a half wide. There big eyes turning to look at me as they swam by.
Not to be confused with Sting Rays, which won't bother you but the small ones will tend to hide along the shallows of the beach, If you step on one they can sting you, during the time of year when the young are around wearing flops or sandals in the water is advised. Also to shuffle your feet. I have been down here for almost 7 years and have not seen any.
My wife and I enjoy walking the beach and there is plenty of beach and plenty of parking all along the Coastal section from Coquina to Holmes to Anna Maria beach.
We will find Sand Dollars, Cats Paws and other shells which we share with the people who are looking for shells.
The only thing I have bad to say about the whole area is to try not to come down on a holiday traffic can be a nightmare if you do. There is one lane north and one lane south. There is a shoulder but usually that's where the tourist are walking.
You don't come to these beaches if you are in a rush you come if you are relaxed and looking for some Fun in the Sun.

This was just a lovely beach and experience. Ample parking, nearby bathrooms (suggestion: make "six pack" gender neutral since they are single stalls), inexpensive chair rentals that are sturdy and high up enough for old ladies with bad knees. I could have visited every day of our vacation and been happy. We did not purchase anything from the concession stand but it was busy and people seemed to be happy. Truly was the highlight of my recent vacation!

This beach was exceptionally well maintained. The sand was clean and pearly white. The water was calm and a beautiful blend of turquoise and darker blues. The sandbar extends a good ways into the water in the marked swimming areas. It's a nice, long beach where people take strolls or fish by the inlet or the pier about a mile away. Everyone there was friendly and very respectful of each other.
The facilities were very well maintained as well.

It's a very nice & relaxing beach.

Easy access roadside beach. Lifeguards, picnic tables, rest rooms and lots of parking. Large white sand beaches. Lovely place to spend day with family and catch an evening sunset.

Great area for running - biking- walking on pathway overlooking beach- shade and picnic tables plus the amazing Gulf beaches
The end / starting at long boat key/ takes your breath away

Great beach,
Let me start by the free parking ! I love the white , soft sand, the beautiful cypress trees. Also it has changing rooms and picnic tables

This is a free public beach with changing rooms, bathrooms, and shade trees. Clean and clear gulf water.

changing rooms, clean bathrooms a few steps away, picnic tables with grills (Charcoal only), lovely beaches

We've been here a few times.
Big car park and plenty of spaces (although we've been lucky to go at non busy times)

Restrooms by the car park as well as water bottle filler and fountains.

Nice looking beach bar with plenty of seats and umbrellas (not bought anything so can't comment)

Massive long stretches of beach and always spaces when we've been.
Nice to walk to the left to the bridge for good views.

A dreary day did not diminish the beauty of this beach. Good shelling! Bathrooms decent. Plenty of room to space out and away from other people.

Seems to be a hidden gem that is quiet except for outdoor market days (Sunday & Wednesday). Clean, lots of facilities for changing, spraying off sand, and restrooms. A cafe on the beach with a nice view, affordable food and adult beverages too.

I love Coquina Beach! It is a beautiful beach, and when we visit the island and aren't staying overnight, we use this beach for the changing/bathrooms, outside showers, huge parking area, and beautiful Gulf waters. Its a really great beach at the southern tip of a beautiful island.

I love this beach and have been going here for years.
The thing that makes this beach special for me is the proximity of the shaded areas to the beach itself. I love the beach but I prefer not to sit in the direct sunlight.
It’s a very beautiful and well cared for beach

WIDE beach with parking (off street). Beautiful sunsets, sea oats (as well as other plants), picnic tables AND take the bus >> drop offs!!

Awesome beach. Great place to walk under the shade trees. They have a fun filled craft show on week ends. You will not be disappointed

This is a public beach at the south end of Anna Maria Island, It has bath houses, restrooms and shaded picnic tables. We find this beach nice for a morning or day trip.

The beach was nice, quiet, and safe. We parked at South entrance, you could walk about 10 minutes in each direction before reaching the end of beach or concrete jetty.

Whether you are single, a couple or a family with children, Coquina Beach is the perfect beach getaway! The beach is white sand and wide open space with a treed shoreline. There is a paved pathway with intermittent changing stations and showering stations too. There are also bathrooms that are maintained. About midway on the beach you will find a a great little restaurant that serves basic breakfast and lunch items. They also have a bar with special drinks and cups you can keep and bring back for a discount on the next drink! There are great pavilions and grills for cooking out, which our family did at least once during January. The park is beautiful and one of our favorites!

My husband Ray and I visited Anna Maria last week and walked Coquina Beach after checking out the Sunday Market. It wad early so it wasn't too crowded yet, but the island is getting more crowded overall. Still nice for a stroll!

Stopped here on a Sunday night to watch the sunset. It was clean with a small amount of people. The sand squished between my toes.

This was a great beach. It was clean, plenty of free parking, bathrooms clean and not busy (a week day).

We will make a point of coming here again.

Beautiful beach! We saw a lot of fish when we were snorkeling!! Beach is clean and there is a lot of parking!!

We spent July 4th here and had a great beach day. The facilities are good and there is lots of parking. With it being the 4th, we had to park in the marina lot across the street but it was no big deal.

We took a bike ride to this beach one afternoon. We walked the beach area and had a beverage in the snack shack which was very nice. A lot of room on the deck and right on the beach. Very clean beach area with lifeguards. That day they also had vendors set up to shop if you wanted.

Really enjoyed the multi use trail for my morning walk. Beautiful area, partially shaded, white sand, Aqua water. Public restrooms, changing rooms, playground, etc. Great amenities.

Great location. Never packed. Tons of parking. My kids love it. Little high on the sea weed but its avoidable.

Well I recently stayed on Annamaria Island and what a beautiful beach Ases picnic tables barbecues a little side beach awesome pearl white sand lotta natural beach habitat still there loved it

I love Coquina Beach. It’s got the white sand and turquoise waters. There is lots of parking but it does get filled up so go early. There is a restaurant/bar and washrooms. On Sundays and Wednesday’s there is a beach market which has been getting bigger every year. Now up to probably 50 vendors. More vendors on Sundays
Its a big enough beach that it doesnt get too crowded. Mostly crowded around the restaurant. Directly across the road is a popular fishing spot and a park you can walk thru with decking over mangroves. February and March are the busiest months though so be prepared. There has been a lot of bumper to bumper getting out of the beach at times

We had very good fishing in November just north of the beach one one of the piers.Mackerels,redfish,ladyfish ,catfish and sharks were present.
It can be crowded in the morning.

The beach was beautiful, with beautifully clear waters and gorgeous white sand. My fiance and I got engaged on November 21, 2019 on the beach and it was the most perfect spot!

Nice sandy beach with lots of space. Kids loved the ocean with the calm waves. Very enjoyable day relaxing at Coquina Beach!

Easily our go to public beach during our two month winter stays. The two mile stretch of beach at the south end of Anna Maria Island has every amenity that almost any type of beach goer could want from families to seniors. The facilities are well maintained with regular maintenance and cleaning. Despite the free and expansive parking availability finding a space after 10 a.m. can be a challenge particularly on weekends and Beach Market Days. (See separate TA reviews for the Beach Market.) Arriving or leaving means crawling bumper to bumper traffic - our experience has been that most drivers exhibit a good deal of courtesy and patience. Note that the free trolley that runs the seven mile length of AMI arrives and departs regularly from the middle Coquina Beach entrance.

This beech is just absolutely brilliant, the sand is like caster sugar, it just falls off you. The sunsets from this beech are just breath taking, we will be back there in May of 2020

We visited here for the day. It's a nice little beach. My kids also liked playing on the dunes nearby. There are public restrooms in the entrance parking lot.

This lovely little beach with sugar white sands has been a favorite since I was a child. The beach itself is a little more laid back. There are lots of shells for the shell seakers and a paved walkway back in the shade of the trees. Lots of parking and there are beach chairs for rent. LOVE it here.

Super nice white powdery sand. My wife and I brought our young kids and they loved it. All the beaches we visited on AMI this was my favorite. We saw two dolphins which was a plus.

Beautiful beach, white sand and soft. Parking stuck on the beach, but hidden by a beautiful row of trees. Clear water. At low tide, almost no waves. I love it! A huge beach for miles. Very similar to the famous Siesta Key Beach, which lacks parking spaces. A few kilometers from Mote Aquarium and St-Armand Circle with its magnificent restaurants and Christmas decorations. I come several times a year! How beautiful and good the sea!

Great beach. Recommend to anyone. Clean, clean bathrooms with toilet paper and soap always, easy access always parking available.

We took the free trolley to Coquina Beach for the day. Did the nature walk across the street and really enjoyed it. We walked down the beach and found lots of small shells. Pretty location. Would recommend seeing it.

Coquina Beach is a very pretty beach with plenty of parking (free) and a small beach cafe. Beautiful white sand to enjoy. There were z lot of people but it didnt seem crowded at all. We are staying in Anna Maria and it was a short drive. It was fun trying different beaches in the area.

Not only did I get to enjoy the beach this year, but I enjoyed the Coquina Market with bands, good food, and Beach Hobo Life jewelry. Fantastic place and fun events.

We never get enough of this beach! Sugar sand, gorgeous water. Plenty of parking, and the trolley stop is very convenient.

Beach was super busy! Parking was ridiculous. I’m used to more of a sugary sand and this was more compact. Probably won’t visit again.

Stayed in unit 2O 4 in this place was very lovely period we had trouble with the front lock immediately upon arrival and had to have someone from Anne-Marie island resort vacations come out and fix it period the headboard in the second bedroom is not attached to THE bed and kept banging into the wall period the bathroom Doesn't have a grab bar and the bathtub is SO high it really needs protection Period upon our arrival the next day I had a note placed on my car about not having A A pass on the windshield which was supposed to be supplied by the vacation rental service. This was a final notice and I was going to be towed. This should
come in the unit upon every arrival period we had an issue with beach chairs period we were not told that they would be putting up the beach chair supplied by the unit And halfway through our visit our towels were placed on the ground And our chairs were taken from the beach we were not allowed to use the chairs the remainder of our visit. I'm thankful the unit had 2 chairs that were left by the owners for us to use, The other 2 people in our party had to sit in the sand. The final straw was I accidentally left my hearing aid in the unit when we were leaving and I was assured that it would be mailed back to me that the maid service had found it. It is now the 6th of May and I never received anything and was told to contact the shipping department on the island and they said they did not have my hearing aid. This truly was my fault but someone had confiscated this piece and now I have nothing . I unfortunately will not be staying at cochina beach resort again due the rude behavior that we exhibited.

I am a Florida native. This is my favorite beach. Plenty of parking. The thing I appreciate the most is the mini changing stations with outside showers dotted along the paved path. Most picnic tables have grills. They do have a beach cafe I haven’t tried. They do have umbrellas and such to rent for the tourists. I drive 2hrs here and like to get there 7-8am and leave after lunch. It does fill up and get crowded.

Great for walking, picnicking, and has everything you might need. Great walking/biking trail as well. Plus the trolley drops you off right in the heart of this park.

Best beach on the island. There is free parking,
Cabanas, picnic tables and a nice outdoor market on Wednesday mornings.

Beautiful beach with great facilities and a nice walking path. Highly recommend. Very clean and everyone was friendly.

We took a trip down to Coquina Beach because we didn’t want to visit the highly populated Clearwater area. There was ample parking and bath houses. They had outdoor showers to rinse off the saltwater . We went in July before the red tide. The sand was soft and powdery. I would recommend 100%!

I move to fl couple months ago.My first time at this beach is was great but my son fiancée lost her engagement ring which Made out trip a bit SAD 🥲 if anyone should fine it please call us.Hoping to hear for you all soon.Thank you this means a lot to us .
(917)7800935

Just a really nice beach area with plenty of parking in a lot, restrooms, showers, picnic tables and Australian Pines you can sit close to for shade if you wish. It is a perfect calm water, gentle grade so young children can play, swim and collect shells.

Just driving along tmhe coast line, we decided to give it a shot. Was not disappointed. However, a lot of seaweed along the coast line. Noteworthy, there was a working driving a tractor attempting to clean it up

Lots of parking and looking west out over the gulf is perfect at sunset. Very romantic, remember to bring a towel or chair and a camera.

We are here in December 2020. This is a clean beach with white sands and a walking park before you hit the beach. A great shaded plac to get out of the sun and enjoy a picnic lunch. Not to crowded when we were there.

The sand is white, the water is carribean blue and calm, there are several changing cabins with a shower nearby for each, and there's shade under the casuarinas, along with some picnic tables. Toilets are available too. However, this is a very popular beach with families and some can be noisy. If you walk some you can find areas on the beach that are less crowded. Parking is difficult if you arrive after 10PM on weekends. There's a park with a boardwalk loop just across the street that also deserves a visit (Leffis key) if you like mangroves.

A great beach, often missed by the tourists. Plenty of parking, a snack bar, even some fishing to be had. Don't be surprised if you spot a Manatee in the swim zone.

Loved the white powdery sand and clear blue ocean water! Picked up a few sea shells. We will come back here again.

The beaches are clean, parking is easy, the sand is soft and white beneath your feet.the view is unlike any other and the water calm and temperate.

The beach is clean, well-guarded and family friendly. Better year, if you arrive early enough, you can park in the shade! Updated bathrooms and newer dressing rooms make for an easy transition. Also, fun art fair each Wednesday and Sunday mornings.

This is always my go-to when visiting Florida. Even at Spring Break its not over run with people and LOTS of families just enjoying themselves. Always clean!!!

This public beach can getting rocking busy on a nice day. It is right at the location where you enter Holmes Beach from the mainland and parking after 10 or 11 AM is a challenge. The beach is very wide, is protected (one of the few on the island) has clean bath rooms, playground equipment, located right next to a restaurant and tiki bar and is directly across the street from Skinny's burgers. What more could you ask for. Go there!

Love the white sand on Anna Maria Island! We stopped here for the Coquina Beach Market on a Sunday and bought lots of treasures from the artisans/vendors. I like the fact that this beach has lifeguards as well.

This is a very nice public beach with changing and restroom facilities. There is also an Ice Cream shop and small bar right on the beach.

Coquina Beach is my happy place! White sand, green waters, it just doesn’t get any better than this! We rode bikes or walked on Coquina Beach daily! Saw dolphins, an owl, and all kinds of birds! A must see!

A great beach! Lots of room for everyone .. life guards strategically placed … plenty of parking … good concession stand / restaurant.

Great place to look for shells and see sealife. The sunset is aweome and the sand is very white. we come back every year

Beautiful (and clean) House and everything inside. Beautiful views and in a great area. Beach on the Gulf side was a short walk from our place and we had a beautiful view of the Bay from from the opposite side and an included golf cart that had room for 5 adults. Buses ran approximately every half hour and there was an inexpensive 'Monkey Bus' that would pick you and your group up at your door and could drop you off at your door. We had a full house of our in laws and adult nephews and nieces and their significant others and we all had a wonderful time. Looking forward to doing it again next winter !

Soft sugar white sand, gently sloping into warm crystal clear water. Facilities & changing rooms near the car park. Plenty of free parking & picnic tables in a wooded area with squirrels running around looking for food. Life guards present in designated areas. Lots of families with young children in the water.

They closed the bathrooms an hour before they should have. Would not recommend to my enemy, even they deserve to use the bathroom.

My wedding was beautiful the sand and the sunset was amazing!! It has a natural feel to it. Also it is not that crowded.

I don't agree with other reviews. The quality and amount of sand has deteriorated significantly since we were here last year. There is a significant erosion issue that will be addressed by the Army Corps of Engineers with a sand restoration project in the near future. The rest rooms are convenient and the farmers market is worth visiting on Wednesdays and Sundays. Large parking area is a bonus.

This is our favorite beach to visit when we are in Florida. It's the best beach to walk . It's clean & flat . They do an excellent job in maintaining this public beach . The sand is very soft & fine . The bathrooms are very clean . We have taken a lot of sunset pictures here . They are open until midnight most evenings.

They have good facilities, parking, the beach is large with white sand. They have rentals : umbrellas, chairs, boats.

Great beach that is well maintained with all the facilities you need.
Best of all, the parking is free!

A must visit for anyone visiting the Gulf coast around Anna Maria Island. There are BBQarea's and shady covered area's to take cover from sun or rain. Only one snack shack though. Great beach.

Fantastic beach with a nice café and loads of parking. During the winter season there is also a beach market on Sunday mornings

We got here with the kids and the water was lined with dead fish! The smell was atrocious! Pictures online promised a beautiful clear water. The water was dark and again, you couldn’t even get to the water without the fish being under foot. Absolutely disgusting and awful for this beach.

I loved Coquina Beach for years. It was unfortunate to see patrons posting a terrorist Confederate Flag. I dont feel safe here.

Amazing sand, clear water, changing areas and shade trees if desired. All areas very clean. Not very crowded in Oct.

If i don't feel like the drive down to Siesta Key I am most happy at Coquina Beach. It's family fun will plenty of parking and shaded areas too.

Beautiful, well-cared for city beach. Clean, clear water, chairs and umbrellas available, great little snack bar, bathrooms and ample parking. What more could you want? Oh! Lifeguards? Yep, it has those too! Perfect days on Coquina Beach.

All that parking attracts a lot of cars. And, those cars also including a lot of non-beach-goer-thru-traffic. Coquina is a terrific beach with plenty of shade, walking paths, public BBQ grills, picnic tables, changing rooms, bathrooms, a beach snack bar with canopy rentals, and lots more. There are also several pavilions used by large family groups (reservations required). But the road to the beach is also the only thoroughfare for local non-beach traffic.

The secret to a great day at Coquina is to avoid holidays and Sunday afternoons, because traffic can be a real problem trying to get back to the mainland. What happens is this; people sitting on the beach at 4:00 pm on a Sunday notice other people beginning to leave, and all of a sudden the two lane road leaving Bradenton Beach to the mainland is swamped with a Tsunami of vehicles exiting the beach. Traffic can remain backed up until 7:30pm, or later in the long-daylight summer months. The secret is to either leave earlier (2:30 pm seems safer), or plan on staying on the beach until 6:00 pm and then barbecuing, or staying until 6:00 pm and then walking to one of the dozens of beach-side restaurants in the City of Bradenton Beach.

Before planning a day at Coquina, look at the Google Traffic "History" option for more insight for the typical traffic for the time and day-of-week you are planning a visit.

One way or another, you do not want to miss Coquina Beach, even if you are not interested in sunning on a beach. It's as much as great shaded park with a paved walkway along the beach, as it is a beach.

Stopped by to go to the café - that is a bit of a misnomer. It's really just a food stand with seating at the beach. Chairs/Umbrellas are $20.00 to rent. All the facilities you need; bathroom, changing rooms, picnic tables, plenty of parking and a Trolley stop.

Perfect spot for a beach plus picnic outing . Cotton white powdery sand, clear warm gentle waters and park like setting with trees and lots of public barbecue grills and restrooms

This beautiful large expansive beach has aqua water, cool white sand and something for everyone! Food Shack/Bar/Life Guard Stands/Bathrooms/Areas that are shaded to get out of the sun/Picnic Tables/Grills/chairs and umbrellas for rent/Shower and Changing areas/RV parking down by Causeway (currently closed for construction). Also bocce ball set up and volley ball net. In season, they have a market set up a few days a week as well! Parking is substantial but this beach does get busy! Plenty of places to eat and get out of the sun as well! Amazing sunsets! ENJOY!

A very pretty beach on Anna Maria Island. Picnic tables were available and this beach was clean and there were quite a few shells

One of the finest beaches in the entire world right at my back door!!!! It is natural and has a few quaint facilities but the star here is that clear blue water and sugar sand...

Very nice clean and somewhat secluded beach... Truly enjoyed it. A hidden gem not crowded or dirty. Tons of free parking right at the beach. It seemed like island water almost. It was a lovely anniversary getaway.

This area lacks many of the convenient amenities of the more dominant “manatee beach” such as showers and food…but the lack of public bus access results in lower crowd pressure. The backdrop is the little bridge to long boat key.

We stayed in South Bradenton and thought this was a beautiful beach. Soft white sand, clear water, no buildings in site apart from wooden beach bar that does nice cocktails. Parking much easier than other beaches and not too busy. Toilet facilities and shady space at the back for picnics. Don’t bother with Siesta Key. This is soooo much nicer.

This is one of the nicest beaches in America. We have been vacationing here since the mid 70’s and always return to the fine sugary white sands. Kids always have fun finding sand dollars and the turtle releases are fun to be a part of in season.

Great beach with restrooms and lifeguards. Water was nice. Not too crowded and the sand was nice and white.

I have visited this beach in July, August, September, October, November 2018, January, and February 2019 - it’s a beautiful natural beach lined with pine trees and a park like setting. In the fall/winter they have plenty of parking but in the summer you better get there early to get a spot (before 9am). Love this beach in the fall/winter but not so much in the summer...too crowded, too loud, too many rude people playing their music too loud.

Went when the farmers market was there. There were lots of vendors with great selections. The market is right beside the beach so you could enjoy a day of both. The beach has plenty of changing stations and even a cafe. There are picnic tables and plenty of shade trees as well.

The beach is very nice, parking can be a challenge, the county is updating it, so there will be less spaces available. The parking is right off Gulf Drive

Good beach uncrowded although travel along Cortez to get there was slow due to bridge. Parking is easy and close enough to manage chairs and cooler with ease.

The BEST! Soft,sandy beaches with phenomenal sunsets! Huge local farmers market on weekends just off the beach.

Kudos to the city of Bradenton for the well planned and clean beach with a playground, rental chairs and umbrellas, beautiful sand, picnic tables, lots of areas with shade, several bathrooms maintained and clean for a public beach, concession stand(food was good) and lots and lots of trash cans which definitely are used by all to keep the grounds clean. The free parking lot is large and holds many cars along the length of the
beach which is a very short walk from the car.

Easy parking and a nice, clean beach. We loved the changing stations that are placed outside before you get to the beach, as well as the outside showers. There is a beach cafe and plenty of room to park yourself for the day!

Beautiful beach with soft sand. Had family pictures taken at sunset and they turned out perfect! Will be going back!

This is a very large (length) beach that you can walk along the water and enjoy the view. Plenty of parking (free) and changing booths. There is also a walking path between the beach and parking area if you don’t like sand in your shoes. The sand was clean and there were loads of shells to pick-up to bring home.

Excellent beach. Plenty of free parking, restrooms and changing areas. We visited on a Wednesday and there was very few people on the beach. Sand was nice and packed near parking areas so walking was relatively easy. We will be back!

I have been to AMI three times in the past 2 years and I have never been disappointed. Coquina Beach is really large. I like going to Coquina Beach for the Beach Market, I never miss it when I am there because I can find so many unusual items there. Needless to say, I will be back this year.

Coquina beach is just beautiful! Directly across from the Leffis Key Preserve which we explored & enjoyed, too. Plenty of parking, lifeguards, clean restrooms and picnic areas are nice amenities. We were there on Wednesday for the beach market which was very nice to visit & they had some of everything - art, clothes, jewelry, food & novelties.

We stopped at this beach because we had read that it was wilder and more “natural” than the others. As we arrived early we were able to park without problem. There is ample free parking.
Here the sand is as white as snow and as fine as flour. For me, it is exceptional to find such sand. With the blue water, the landscape is magnificent, especially as it extends over several kilometers.

All of the Bradenton area beaches are very nice, Coquina happens to be our favorite. Its a great spot for a morning walk. If you go before 9:30, traffic is light and the parking lot is mostly empty. We like to walk from the cafe south to the inlet between Coquina Beach and Longboat Key. We have seen dolphins under the bridge a few times, and often see fishermen making catches.
No fees, a great way to start the day.

Coquina Beach is at the North End of Long Boat key and the south end of Anna Maria.
What I like most about this beach is that there is plenty of parking on the Long Boat key side. There are also changing rooms, bathrooms and a food concession. For those of you who want to eat at the beach there are grills (you need to bring your own charcoal), and picnic tables to spread out the food and enjoy it.

We always go at night after work (about 5 or so). The beach clears out about 5:30 or 6 so it’s really empty by the time we get there. It’s a wonderful place to have a cookout, enjoy a walk on the beach and to enjoy the sunsets.

There is no glass allowed, so please bring plastic containers for your food and drinks. There are trash containers but we usually bring an extra trash bag just in case we have more people and more garbage.

It’s a great way to enjoy an evening and of course it’s free. There are no tolls or parking fees.
We have warm water and a mild surf which enables swimmers of all types to enjoy the water.

There is a cool breeze as the sun sets so I recommend you bring a sweater or sweatshirt so you will be comfortable. Might also want to bring some extra beach chairs if you have a big group and want to sit together.

This is a very nice beach. Tons of parking with short walk to the beach. My wife and I walked there each morning and it was never crowded before noon. There was shaded walk path and many access point to the beach.

This is a great beach. Just don't tell anyone!! We don't want anymore visitors, right? It's very clean , very nice.

I love this island and this beach, but... The beach is getting worse... many people do fishing in the middle of swimming crowd.

Gorgeous area -- convenient places to eat, use bathroom and change. Little more rustic than rest of island - great for nature lovers - but still has that gorgeous sand and water. Nature preserve right across street - easy access to restaurants and shops nearby

We stop here at Spring Break every year. It is a nice expansive beach with short piers on which to walk, well guarded by the lifeguards. At times it is a nice place for shelling. Problem is it is becoming popular and therefore busy. Took us an hour and a half to drive from the park to Cortez bridge.

Beautiful clear water, powdery white sand. I felt like I had stepped on a beach in Cuba. Lots of shaded picnic tables to have lunch and lots of room on the beach. Bring chairs and a beach umbrella. Just gorgeous!!!

Has (almost guaranteed) great weather. Fantastic beach, attractive scenery, Nice craft market on Sunday and Wednesdays .

But, it is a victim of the foregoing superlatives, as this corner of paradise is so popular that it is swamped by visitors.
Access roads are a mass of crawling traffic and parking is almost impossible after early morning.
The two main roads and bridges feeding the island frequently (moreso at weekends) can have lines of traffic queuing back 3 to 4 miles onto the mainland following a drawer bridge being raised to let a single small yatch pass.

At late afternoon, the road up from Longboat key can take 35 min to progress the 2 miles from coquina beach to the south Anna Maria / Cortez bridge.

Due to the traffic, the "free bus" is often greatly delayed, resulting in quite large groups waiting at popular bus stops and subsequent slow journey times.

So, give me Siesta Key, anytime.

Clear water, white sand. Free parking. Grills, changing huts, and showers to rinse off. This is a great beach for a day of swimming.

We visited this beach in July and could not have been happier! It was clean, spacious, shady, and family friendly. The water was perfect for swimming, not too cold, not too warm. The beach was perfect for tanning! Easy access to changing rooms and shower stations.

We visited Holmes Beach and preferred Coquina Beach! When we return to this area, we will return.

The water at this beach feels like a lukewarm bath. The shallow area is huge, so it was great to play in. There are bathrooms, changing rooms, and picnic tables set back from the sand with shady trees over them. The beach was clean and the white sands live up to the moniker "sugar sand". So soft.

What a Beautiful beach and restaurant! Everything was well kept, they have chairs and umbrellas to rent, enjoyed yummy ice-cream and made some forever memories! ❤️

White, sandy beach with plenty of parking in the shade. Clean, changing rooms up and down the parking area, showers, restrooms on either end and nice sidewalk to get to them and picnic areas under the trees.

First day was nice and quiet with plenty of room for those who were there to feel spread out. Second day there was a Strong Man competition going on on one end of the parking/beach, but the crowds stayed down there and there was plenty of room for those of us who wanted to enjoy the beach in peace.

This beach has life guards in towers and patrolling the beach. Day one the waves were a bit rough. Day two they were very calm. Lots of shells. Family loved it.

I was at this little festival last year...and I found a vendor that made bowl holders that cradles your bowl...
Can anyone help me with her name and or number?

thank you

this little event was so friendly and the strolling music people were a plus to have about out walk through the vendors. A clean, well kept area.

This is a lovely relaxing beach. The sand is white and there are lots of little shells that we picked up to save. We were able to watch the drawbridge open a couple of times for boats. We saw dolphins playing in the water which was a new experience for us. this beach was recommended by friends as being a favorite beach of theirs. It's now a favorite of ours.

If you are looking for the best water, the best sand, the best free parking, good food, a Sunday shopping market, shaded eating areas.....what more can I say!
If want to feel it you have to go! You will love your experience. End of ?February and March can get really busy and the traffic is heavy, just choose your times right and you will have an enjoyable time.
Coquina has food at the beach, and washrooms in two locations. The city also provides lifeguards. Have fun here.

very nice beach and good restaurant with a bar! We will be going back!! Be ready to drive around to find a parking place though, everyone is there!!

Not very crowded, also larger then a lot of Beaches, has a place to change and has public Bathroom, easy to get there, you can go from Cortez or from Ana Marie

Beautiful beach- white sand and clear water- with changing stations, concessions, bathrooms and adequate parking- nice picnic area and not overly crowded like siesta beach- love coquina beach

Coquina Beach is by far a much better beach than the highly rated Siesta Key Beach. The sand itself is much whiter and softer. The beach is closer to the parking area. It seems like ya have to walk a mile or more at Siesta Key. There are lifeguards at Coquina just like SKB. Workers have done an excellent job in their restoration of AMI and its beaches following last year's storms.

Great clean beach,plenty of shaded areas.One of the beautiful picturesque beaches of the Gulf coast.

We were licky to find a market going on and was very good! Great vendors. Beautiful beach, clean bathrooms, parking spaces, nice public beach and well taken care😀

Sand is too soft, sky is too blue, water is too clear and water temp is better than all right. Parking is too many, grills are kept in too good of condition, people indeed pickup after themselves and who wants that. Bathrooms are taken care of by patrons, food is consumed and paid for by beach goers. Who needs it.
Best if y'all just go someplace else for your good time. No need to thank me.

This is one of my favorite beaches anywhere! It’s not overcrowded. There are places that provide respite from the direct sun. You can take a walk not only on the beach but can choose to walk the paved path too. Restrooms are very clean. There are changing rooms along the paved pathway. Plenty of picnicking choices. Two farmers markets a week and art fairs. It’s a safe place to hang out. No problem with parking.

It’s a secret don’t tell anyoneTo me this is one of the nicest beaches. Lots of parking lots of open space all kinds of events going on. People fishing off the shore. And people have a lot of fun.

Terrific beach with excellent amenities. Easy parking. Umbrella and lounger service was a breeze to use. Went here 2 days in a row and will be back tomorrow. Much more scenic and less crowded then manatee beach.

We watched the sun set and saw a very rare bird a red egret or heron not sure which but it was the most unusual bird sighting.

We went over Christmas in December of 2022, it was a spectacular and beautiful beach, just wish it was warmer. Can’t wait to go back when it’s warmer

We always like the farmers market on Wednesdays and Sundays. White sand beach that is second to none!!

Coquina beach is a beautiful wide beach with lifeguards, concession stands and lots of areas to picnic. I love everything about Anna Maria Island!

Lovely beach, with great changing rooms and plenty of parking. Bathrooms available, a cafe/bar, playground for the children and a market on Wednesdays & Saturdays.
The beach itself is wonderful, and the sea is amazing. A must visit.

The sand is white and the beach is groomed which provides a clean, smooth surface. It is a larger beach and also offers a shop and restaurant.

Soft, white sand, lot of activities. Great place to visit. You can hear live music, play beach voleyball, swim in the sea's clear waters, have a drink or a lunch with a spectacular view.

This county beach is not only beautiful & extensive, there is abundant shade adjacent. Changing rooms, showers & bathrooms are also provided. Exquisite!

A beautiful beach to visit with the family. There are plenty of parking spaces in a large parking lot. Prior to entering the beach, there are numerous changing rooms and bathrooms for your convenience. Plenty of space on the beach to choose from. Lifeguards are on patrol. There is a convenience store and a cafe/bar. Alcoholic drinks have to remain in the bar area unfortunately. I highly recommend.

Extraordinary beach with white sand and a very nice sea to swim. Very quiet and nice walk in the shade of trees. Free parking

love this beach!! been coming for over 10 years and I love all the little "coquinas" that you see in the sand that bury themselves. They are so beautiful and litter the beach with an array of colors. The water is gorgeous and the sand is so soft!!

Coquina beach is a beautiful beach: it’s wide and a great place to swim because of the gentle slope into the Gulf. In addition, it is a better place for parking than Cortez beach, because of the large number of trees and the shade. However, the City of Bradenton should be ashamed of themselves. The parking area has huge potholes everywhere. The first time we came here was in July a couple of days after a typical Florida summer rain. Half the parking lot was submerged under water. Came back a week later, the same thing. Surely the City can spend some money to level of and fill in the the huge potholes.

With not nearly the crowd of say Siesta Beach you get a pristine white sand beach with lots of sea shells, including the ones the beach is named for Coquina Shells in all kinds of colors from pink to yellow to vivid purple, some people have been known to make Coquina Soup out of them!

This is a great beach with soft powdery sand. Restrooms are available and parking is free and plentiful. Only drawback right now is construction on the Cortez bridge which
makes the trip from Bradenton almost unbearable. If you take another route, you will be glad you made it to this beach.

There are 3 really great beaches in the area Siesta Key, Lido, and Coquina. This is my favorite. Parking is plentiful and adjacent to the beach. Unlike the other 2 beaches, the concession stand is right on the beach. Renting umbrellas and chairs are much cheaper. It is a better beach for shelling especially at its south end. Changing booths are plentiful. If the sun becomes too much, you can pull your chair under the shade of palm trees on the edge of the beach.

Coquina Beach has some of the most beautiful sand, fine and white. Never a bad day to visit the beach even if the weather isn’t cooperating. Absolutely gorgeous.

Beautiful white fluffy sand and clear water. This is a big, wide beach. There is a big parking area with lots of trees and picnic tables. There’s a cafe for food and drinks and chair rentals at this beach. There’s bathrooms and changing stations. Lifeguards are on duty here. At the far south end is Longboat pass where we saw a lot of people fishing. There is a walking and bike path here.

Lots of parking, life guards, and bathrooms. The beach is stunning!! Easy to find some shade and everyone there seemed to be really friendly. It was nice to be at the end near the inlet and watch the boats go in and out.

Superb beach only a stones throw from the car park, very clear sea now that the red tide has gone. Lots of parking, lots of shade just off beach under trees and also May wooden tables/benches. Also plenty of showers to clear off the sand before getting back in the car and also showers and changing rooms! What more could you ask for? Excellent.

One of the best beaches in the area. You can always find a spot that's not crowded and the shelling is GREAT! Named for the small coquina shells that populate its' shores.

We love his beach. It is popular with both tourists and locals. Our favorite time to visit is Sunday. That day the beach area is filled with picnickers. The smells from the grills are super with fajitas and other Latino specialties wafting through the air.

perfect beach.. white sands, blue sea, not to busy, what else would you want for your beach pleasure.

We love this beach in the mornings, afternoons and at sunset in February and March. We take snacks and drinks and settle in with a good book or walk to find shells and sand dollars. There's plenty of parking, new manned life guard stations and plenty of sprawl so folks are not on top of one another. A restaurant near the southern end of beach serves simple things as well as sodas, beer and adult beverages and has plenty of seating if you care to eat or drink there. Picnic tables and changing huts are strategically placed along the walking path that runs parallel to the beach. Driving to the beach can be easy or can take a while depending on the time of day and if construction is taking place on or before the island. Also the light on the island at Gulf Drive N and the Cortez Road W bridge can cause traffic to backup in any or all three directions.

Beautiful and tranquil with white sands and crystal clear blue water. Great for beach-combing and shelling.....we found some awesome little treasures here (all returned to the sea when we were done admiring them!) Great amenities - shelters, lifeguards, showers, and bathrooms.

My partner and I were holidaying in Sarasota and staying with a friend. We had decided to take a drive out and it was the dign fir the Music and Seafood Festival that took our eye. We parked up (easily) and ended up spending the whole of the afternoon there.
We took a walk on the beach, had a drink at the cafe and spent time at the Sunday Markey (10am - 4pm). A wide range of goods at reasonable prices. Lots of stalls. I bought a pair of trousers and 3 Crystal's from the mineral stall at a very reasonable price.
The music and seafood Festival was terrific!
Superb choice of food anddrink at a fair price.
Great music! Loved the Billy Rice Band 🎵🎶🎶🎵
A terrific day out 👍

This beach is PERFECT. There are hanging areas, clean restrooms, free close parking, tall pine trees to sit under if you desire shade. We sat our elderly family and grands under the trees to protect them from the sun and heat while the other family ram back and forth form the ocean. Water is clear and the sand is nice. Slight drop off, not a gradual slop into the water like other beaches. Lots of sea shells to look for. Water was much warmer than it was in October.

Clean Beach . with Police around all the time ,make people feel more safe and protected.
great area with bathrooms around free parking lots of small stores and shopping areas.

This is a great public beach, plenty of parking including some limited day only RV parking in the south lot. There is a great shaded walking trail under the pines, plenty of restrooms and changing stations and outdoor showers. The beach is beautiful with lifeguard stations all along the gulf. I have visited this park all of my life, it appears Manatee County has done and is doing a number of major upgrades to the park. I love the tons of free parking. Also lots of picnic tables and grills.

Beach always clean and safe. Great for families. Could use more ladies bathrooms. Snack bar food excellent, but could use an efficiency expert to speed up service.