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🏖️ Beach · ✓ Verified

Coquina Beach North

Manatee County · Gulf
FamilyShadedLocal-favorite

Coquina Beach is the broad, Australian-pine-shaded south end of Anna Maria Island, with rare FREE parking, a long white-sand strand, a weekend market, and calm Gulf water — a longtime local family favorite.

Best for: FamiliesPicnickersBudget

Water quality

A
100% of days clean
Excellent · 0% of days under an EPA advisory

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Surf
Water °F
Air °F
Wind
UV index
Air quality

Sand & beauty Verified

Sand colourWhite quartz Wide, shaded by Australian pines
Beauty★★★★★★★★★☆ 85/100 Wide shaded family strand on Anna Maria Island with free parking
🌳 Picnic / grassYes Famous shaded picnic groves under Australian pines + a weekend market

Facilities

Parking100 spaces
RestroomsYes
LifeguardYes
ADA accessYes
Dogs allowed
🌳 Picnic / grassYes
Break typeSandy beach break

🧘 Yoga & wellness nearby Overture

Sea-renity Beach Spa & Bou-tikiSpa / wellness · 1.3 km

🎭 Events & culture nearby Overture

Bayside Banquet HallEvent space · 1.9 km

🎉 Parties nearby sourced

Annual, July 4, ~10am-12:30pm · Coquina Beach to Anna Maria City Pier, via Gulf Drive, FL

🎪 Festivals nearby sourced

Annual, one Saturday in October, 10am-9pm · Pine Avenue, Anna Maria Island, FL

🤝 Community sourced

Weekly, Wednesday/Friday/Sunday 10am-2pm (seasonal, ~Jan-June) · South Coquina Beach, 1800 Gulf Drive South, Bradenton Beach, FL
Weekly, Sundays 10am-3pm, seasonal (November-April) · Historic Bridge Street, 107 Bridge Street, Bradenton Beach, FL

🧘 Spiritual sourced

Weekly, Saturdays 9:30-10:30am · Beach pergola across from Tortuga Inn, 1325 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach, FL

Activities Verified notes

Picnicking
92
Shaded pine groves — built for picnics.
Sunset Viewing
90
West-facing Gulf.
Swimming
86
Calm, shallow Gulf.
Paddleboarding
80
Coquina Bayside has calm water and launches.
Volleyball
75
Courts on site.

Explore nearby real rows + distances

📍 Nearby scenes

🎉 Happenings nearby cc_events

Jul 2 · Salvation Army\, ARC\, 5885 66th Street N\, St. Petersburg\, FL\, 33709\, United States · Ft Desoto Park - Pier/Fort, 18.7 km
Jul 2 · Salvation Army\, ARC\, 5885 66th Street N\, St. Petersburg\, FL\, 33709\, United States · Bay Vista Park, 28.2 km
Jul 2 · Salvation Army\, ARC\, 5885 66th Street N\, St. Petersburg\, FL\, 33709\, United States · Fort Desoto - East Beach, 19.1 km
Jul 2 · Salvation Army\, ARC\, 5885 66th Street N\, St. Petersburg\, FL\, 33709\, United States · Fort Desoto North Beach, 21.3 km

🧘 Lifestyle nearby cc_venues

Sea-renity Beach Spa & Bou-tikiSpa / wellness · 1.3 km
Bayside Banquet HallEvent space · 1.9 km
Aluna Wellness Center & SpaSpa / wellness · 2.9 km
Nia with Gail CondrickYoga · 3.8 km
Pilates Longboat KeyPilates · 6.1 km
Claire Marie SpaSpa / wellness · 6.1 km

Story of this place Verified

Named for the tiny coquina clams in its sand, this shaded south-island strand has been Manatee County's go-to free-parking family beach for decades.

6 local tips Verified

  1. Parking is FREE (rare on the island) — which is why it fills on weekends; come early. source
  2. The Australian-pine shade is the draw — claim a spot under the trees. source
  3. Coquina Bayside (across Gulf Dr) has kayak launches and calm water. source
  4. The weekend Coquina Market brings food and craft vendors by the beach. source
  5. Restrooms, showers, a café and a playground are on site. source
  6. Walk or trolley south from Bradenton Beach. source

Verified sources

Bradenton Gulf Islands · Manatee County Parks

FL Dept of Health water quality →