Thursday-Sunday sailings between the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier and the Historic Bridge Street Pier, read from the operator's booking calendar for October 1-4, 2026 (identical on every day, and matching the ferry page banner). No regular Monday-Wednesday service. Checked September 28, 2026.
Departures 1–10 / 10
Departures 1–10 / 10
Crossing time
~50 min
Operator
Gulf Islands Ferry (operated by Gulf Coast Water Taxi LLC for Manatee County)
Map – Gulf Islands Ferry
| Fare type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult (18-59), one way, Riverwalk or Bridge Street | $7.00 |
| Senior 60-79, active military or youth 4-17, one way | $5.00 |
| Adult (18-59), round trip, Riverwalk or Bridge Street | $11.00 |
| Senior 60-79, active military or youth 4-17, round trip | $7.00 |
| Adult, one way, Bridge Street to or from Coquina Beach | $5.00 |
| Senior, military or youth, one way, Bridge Street to or from Coquina Beach | $3.00 |
| Adult, round trip, Bridge Street to Coquina Beach | $9.00 |
| Senior 80 and over, or child 3 and under | Free |
Paid service; it was never a free ferry for the general public. After Hurricane Milton the county announced free rides for Anna Maria Island residents, island workers and contractors beginning November 1, 2024; that was a temporary storm-recovery measure reported by local news, and no current free-fare program appears on the official pages. Fares below are for the Riverwalk and Bridge Street stops; the short Bridge Street-Coquina hop is cheaper. Round-trip tickets are discounted, and the ferry page warns that service fees may apply at checkout. Tickets are sold through the operator's FareHarbor booking page (cashless: cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay) and can also be bought when boarding if seats remain; reservations board first. All fares in US dollars (USD).
The Gulf Islands Ferry is Manatee County's passenger boat between downtown Bradenton and Anna Maria Island, started in January 2024 and paid for with the county's tourist development tax. Boats leave the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier, near 3rd Avenue West, and take about 50 minutes down the Manatee River and the Intracoastal Waterway to the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach. A short shuttle then links Bridge Street to a third stop at the Coquina Bayside South Boat Ramp, which opened on September 2, 2026.
The stops are not what the old advertising says. The Anna Maria City Pier, long the island end of the route, has been shut since Hurricane Milton in October 2024, and the ferry page still calls that stop temporarily closed. If you are looking for the City Pier, you will get off at Bridge Street instead, a walkable strip of shops and restaurants where the free Anna Maria Island Trolley picks up.
The service is Thursday through Sunday at the moment. Each day has six sailings from Bradenton, starting 9:30 a.m. and ending 7:00 p.m., and six from Bridge Street, starting 11:30 a.m. and ending 8:30 p.m. Coquina departures add four more trips each way in the middle of the day and around 5 p.m. The county says more than 55,000 passengers rode in 2025, and a third vessel, the enclosed Manatee Belle, joined the two open-air pontoon-style boats in 2026 for rougher water.
There are three practical limits. Bicycles cannot come aboard because of Coast Guard rules, and only service animals are allowed. Parking is free at the City Centre Parking Facility on 3rd Avenue West, a five-minute walk from the Riverwalk pier, but scarce at Bridge Street. And because only 49 people fit on each open boat, weekends and holidays fill; booking online through the FareHarbor page is the safe route, though walk-ups are accepted when seats are left.
- Arrive at the terminal several minutes before departure; vehicle lanes close earlier than the foot-passenger gate.
- Check the operator's service alerts before you set out — weather, tides and vessel maintenance change sailings.
- Confirm accepted payment methods: some crossings are card-only and some take cash only.
Frequently asked questions
Between Bradenton Riverwalk and Bridge Street Pier an adult (18-59) pays $7 one way or $11 round trip; seniors 60-79, active military and youths 4-17 pay $5 one way or $7 round trip. Seniors 80 and over and children 3 and under ride free. The Bridge Street-Coquina Beach hop is $5 for adults one way and $3 for the discounted groups. Service fees may apply.
Thursday through Sunday. The banner on the ferry page says so and the booking calendar shows no bookable Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday in October 2026, apart from Monday, October 12. An FAQ further down the same page still says Wednesday-Sunday, which looks out of date.
The first boat leaves the Bradenton Riverwalk at 9:30 a.m. and the last at 7:00 p.m. From Bridge Street Pier the first boat back is 11:30 a.m. and the last is 8:30 p.m. Riverwalk departures are 9:30, 10:00, 1:00, 3:00, 4:00 and 7:00; Bridge Street departures are 11:30, 1:00, 2:30, 5:30, 6:30 and 8:30.
About 50 minutes each way between the Riverwalk Pier and Bridge Street Pier. The Bridge Street-Coquina Beach shuttle takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on which page of the operator you read.
No. The City Pier stop has been closed since Hurricane Milton damaged the pier in October 2024, and the ferry page lists it as temporarily closed for repairs. Boats use Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach instead, and a Coquina Beach stop was added on September 2, 2026.
Booking ahead is recommended, especially on weekends and holidays, through the operator's FareHarbor page. You can also buy a ticket when boarding if seats are left, but reserved passengers board first. Payment is cashless (card, Apple Pay or Google Pay).
No bikes: the operator says U.S. Coast Guard regulations keep them off the boats. Service animals are welcome, but pets are asked to stay home. Beach chairs, coolers, towels and picnic baskets are allowed.
In Bradenton, free parking is available at the City Centre Parking Facility on 3rd Avenue West between 10th and 12th Streets, about five minutes on foot from the Riverwalk Pier. Parking near the Bridge Street Pier is limited to a few spots along Bridge Street.