This is one of the most beautiful, publicly maintained beach I have ever been to! Here is what to expect: - Free and abundant parking - Clean bathrooms - Picnic tables, grills - Playground And the main star of the show .... the beach! The fine, white sand is made of quartz so it actually stays cools in the summer heat. If your children like hunting for seashells or building sand castles, this place can't be beat. This beach borders Longboat Key and the views going over the bridge of the undeveloped, stretches of pure white sand, and aquamarine water is breathtaking. This truly is one of my favorite places in the US to be. read more

Coquina Beach in Anna Maria Island was beautiful. The sand is soft and white, and the water is clear and calm. It's a great place to relax and enjoy the day. It's also one of the beaches on the island with plenty of parking, which makes it very easy to visit. Everything was clean and convenient, with bathrooms, showers, and changing stations available. A peaceful beach that I would definitely visit again. Highly recommend. read more

Coquina Beach - Coquina Beach! - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

Beautiful Beach, has plenty of parking but you may want to get there early on weekends because it can fill up.

First time at this beautiful beach a few miles south of Anna Maria in Bradenton. Plenty of free parking. Large soft white sand beach. Water color close to the Caribbean. Water stays shallow for quite a distance out. Does eventually get shoulder height. Several lifeguard towers open from 9-5 pm. There is a snack bar, restrooms, showers, and chair rental. Long walk on sand to water. Difficult to pull carts. Easier to carry your gear. Beach gets very crowded by snowbirds in the Winter. On the weekends in the summer beach is crowded by residents. read more

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This free public beach west of Bradenton at Manatee County is a hidden gem. The parking lot is huge and free and we can walk directly to the beach. There are café, washing area, air conditioned restroom ,lifeguard, beach chair and umbrella rental. The beach sand are white, fine and soft with seashells. The water was shallow, clear, green, see through the bottom, not so wavy. It is suitable for beginner swimmers. The beach was not surrounded by high condo buildings, hotels or resorts. So it got less tourists and not very crowded. This is such a beautiful, peaceful, quiet beach. It's only 1 hour drive from my house. I should come back more often. Next time I will bring snorkel gear to see the fishes and mosquito repellent. The summertime could be buggy. I enjoyed my weekend morning beach time at coquina beach. read more

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Best beach and parking lot on the whole island!! The walkways are well maintained. There are bathrooms and playground. They have picnic tables in the shade. Only saw one strange looking person sleeping oddly. read more

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Amazing beach! Spacious, quiet, not too far of a walk to the ocean. Lots of parking and cafe as well. Would recommend.

My fiancé and I wanted a cute little beach town vacay and this was the perfect find. We really enjoyed the beach here and the cafe. It's such a peaceful, clean, and stunning beach. We can't wait to go back and have a beautiful time again! read more

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Decided to come here after seeing the crowd at Anna Maria island beach. We really lucked out with a prime parking spot- pay to park. It's really clean, not as crowded as Anna Maria, and super soft sand. The views are gorgeous.The area is pretty large so there's enough room to not feel on top one another. Quite a bit of food options nearby for takeaway. read more

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Great county park. Enjoy the beach and keep it a secret, as we don't need any more snowbirds here. Let's keep Anna Marie Island quaint, quiet, safe and respectful. Just a thought about respecting the people who live here :-) read more

Coquina Beach was kind of growing on me but not quite. So the good is they have lots of parking, changing rooms, restrooms, picnic tables, grills. With that, obviously the direct result is lots more people and the traffic to get out of the beach is atrocious. You don't really feel the chill beach vibes here bc people are in the water all right next to each other. It reminded me of the shark movie where everyone is right next to each other partying until the shark rampaged. read more

Beautiful beach with plenty of free parking (key for this area). Beautiful water, sand and sunsets. There's also food available to purchase and restrooms. Easier to get in and out than Anna Maria. My new favorite beach in this area. read more

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I really liked this beach. It's clean and was quiet when I was there. It's a pretty big beach, so there's definitely room to spread out. White sands and clear water. Parking is free and the lot is very big. They also have the stations to rinse off, which is always nice. There are some picnic tables as well. I would definitely visit this beach again. read more

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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 read more

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It was very beautiful and they are cleaning as best they can after the hurricanes!! Very lovely beach and good amount of parking and walking space. read more

Coquina Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

Really soft, white sand beach with a beachside market three days of the week. The parking is free. The beach is well maintained and guarded. This is a little closer to Bradenton, so it was nice for a change of scenery but not the closest beach for us. read more

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Beautiful public beach with powdery white sand on the Gulf of Mexico. It has a nice walkway with huge pine trees that provide shade. Hugh parking lot great place for families. read more

Coquina Beach - Walkway with beautiful pine trees - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

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We stopped here on our way home to Orlando from Sarasota. We saw it right off the side of the road and had to stop because of how beautiful it was. They had a shower and a dedicated changing room along with the bathrooms, which is super convenient when you have kids. They also have a playground. read more

Coquina Beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

Quite a lovely beach! Arrived mid-afternoon on a Saturday and had no trouble finding a place to park our vehicle. Beach access is right there, no walk at all. Sand is reasonably fine and soft, very bright. The water in mid-November was cool but plenty swimmable and we enjoyed getting in and out repeatedly. Lots of cute sand pipers running about and herons searching the shallows for food. Very few rules were posted and yet everyone was being well-behaved. The concrete dock was enjoyable to walk out on; you could also fish off it. Lots of small shells washed ashore were fun to pick up and look at. Everything here was A+ but the lack of restrooms or rinse-off station lost it a star. There's also a bustling tourist section nearby a couple blocks north with eateries/souvenir shops/bands playing if you want to check that out. read more

What a terrific beach! I love this place so much! My first time I went on a saturday around 1145 and was worried there wouldn't be parking, but there are two huge lots and there was more than enough space even at a super busy time, plus it was completely free! When going to the beach the parking situation is a big deciding factor for me, so Coquina has it ideal! At the main area there are bathrooms, showers to rinse off, a changing station and even a cute cafe with outdoor seating right on the beach, so if you don't bring snacks you have a quick option. There are also lifeguard shacks all along the beach, and a nice walking path right before the beach which I took a picture of. Every Saturday (or is it Sunday? I can't quite remember) on the path there is a quaint and lovely farmers market that goes on for most of the day. I absolutely love farmers markets and the fact that this one is literally right on the beach only adds to the flair. On the beach itself the sand is just so fluffy and soft, it's like walking on silk, and the water is beautifully clear, turquoise-y, no seaweed or rocks on the floor so it's nice swimming around and standing in the water. Bradenton Beach and downtown is literally right up the street as well, with some super cute shops and cool places to eat, so the location is just great! There's also a free trolley that stops and you can catch a ride to a bunch of different places, including all the way up to the pier on Anna Maria Island. This place has all the details you could possibly want or need for a beach getaway! Definitely give Coquina a try if you haven't before! read more

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The water was absolutely beautiful! It wasn't too cold and it was clear. I normally dip my feet and that's all. But I couldn't help but getting back in the water time and time again here. It wasn't over crowded, moderately spaced and it made the perfect beach day! read more

Coquina Beach - Beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

Lots of parking options. Park near the walking trails, by the snack bar,or way south by the point/channel. I prefer midway close enough to the snack bar, restroom, walkway but away from the channel...too much boat fuel there. Weekend market is fun to browse. Plenty of free parking and shade for your car. Don't forget your sunscreen! read more

Coquina Beach - Turn left from Cortez to the beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

We were in the area and we attended the Wed market. Half the parking was not available since they were doing some construction, so parking was extremely limited. However, there's a small parking lot across the street from the main entrance that we found parking at (Leffis Key). I wish there were more food options, but enjoyed chatting with the vendors there. Beach had lots of amenities and probably has the best one for miles around. There's even a place for air to pump up your bike and beach stuff! read more

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Beautiful beach, ample parking, food shack if you don't bring your own, and clean bathrooms. A great beach for a fun day. read more

Coquina Beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

Super nice beach. It's soft, white sand. The softest sand I've ever seen at a beach. But there are also various pockets of seashells (sucks stepping in these areas, but it's fun hunting for unique shells. The water was a little choppy when we were here but I'd love to see it on a calm day. There are plenty of Little areas to do BBQ with picnic tables. There are also playgrounds for kids to play. There is Free parking, which I'm not used to in south Florida. It's awesome to not have to pay to park. read more

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The sand is beautiful and it is easy to walk the path. Parking is free and we had a wonderful time. I will definitely be back as soon as possible! read more

Overall we enjoyed our time on this beach! The café unfortunately was not open and we would have loved to stop in for a drink. Especially on a hot Saturday evening. The café had air pumps at the back of the building which I thought was so convenient for all of those who have inflatable tubes and rafts so that they can pump them up at the beach. The life guard stands are big and in great shape. There was a lot of trash around the picnic areas but that might have just been because a ton of families have circulated through out the picnic area since it was Saturday. If you are wanting to gather multiple people together rather to picnic or hit the café, this is a great beach to do that at! read more

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Beautiful beach. We went early morning to do some shell searching. We found some keepers and really enjoyed our time. We love the park like tree-lined path for strolling when it gets too hot. We were impressed with the cleanliness, bathing suit changing huts, showers and bath facilities. There was ample parking and while we were there, we saw construction going on for additional parking areas. Make sure to go to the Coquina Beach market too. We love supporting local vendors and 'window' shopping too. An impressive market and we found some great treasures!! read more

Coquina Beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

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We love this beach!!!!!! The sand is beautiful and the beach is wide. After Hurricane Eta, they re-did the beach and it's even better than before. The water is clear and we almost always see dolphins, and sometimes even a manatee. Lifeguards are plentiful. There is plenty of parking and lots of access points. There are public restrooms, a cafe, changing stations and picnic tables among the trees. My only wish is that people didn't come and play their music so loud. I come to the beach to hear the waves. read more

White sand, crashing waves, beautiful sea shells, and fun! We hunted seashells for hours and enjoyed getting our feet wet You may find crab claws, sand dollars, seaweed, corral, and other gifts from Mother Nature. Remember to visit during low tide for the best treasures!!! Find plastic? Pick it up! read more

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Beautiful, plenty of parking in the Covid era, even on a Market day. Bathrooms, changing rooms, lifeguards, and a lot of sand. Probably even better after snowbirds evacuate. read more

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Coquina Beach is one of my favorite beaches to visit for a quick getaway! Coquina Beach is located on the southern tip of Anna Maria Island, South of Bradenton Beach area, and North of Beer Can Island and Long Boat Key. Coquina Beach is surrounded by looming Australian pine trees that provide plenty of shade. Coquina Beach is a truly fantastic place to spend a day, as it has a more private, exotic, and laid back atmosphere compared to some of the other beaches in the area. It's often less crowded than Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach, but offers just as many facilities. Coquina beach features sand dunes intermixed with beach grass and sea oats which create a gorgeous shoreline. Amenities include plentiful free parking, picnic tables, grills, restrooms, showers as well as a playground for the kids. The beach is lined with a paved walking/bike path, and there are several volleyball courts. Lifeguards are on duty at Coquina Beach, making it a safe place to swim, snorkel and discover seashells and sand dollars. The Park's southernmost end borders New Pass Inlet which runs from the Gulf of Mexico into the Intracoastal Waterway and is a great spot to shore fish. If you get too hot, cool off under the shady Australian Pine Trees. A boat launch is located just across the street from Coquina Beach on the Intracoastal Waterway side. read more

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Beautiful Gulf beach in Bradenton and not very crowded compared to other beaches in the Tampa Bay Area. Convenient amenities include a nice beach cafe that serves a full breakfast and grilled foods, ice cream, snow cones, and fresh squeezed squeezed lemonade. I had their French toast which was pretty good with just the right amount of egg-milk batter ratio. The sausage patties were a bit over cooked and could be improved by taking them off the grill a little sooner.The tiki hut attached to the cafe serves tropical alcoholic beverages and beer. Public restrooms can be found behind the cafe and just off of the public parking lot. A local non-profit setup a little "library" of books that can be borrowed on the honor system while lounging on the beach. How cool is that? There are lifeguard towers stationed every couple hundred yards, so you can swim in the gulf with a peace of mind. A paved sidewalk parallel to the beach allows you to ride your bicycle or rent one found on the bicycle racks, also found behind the beach cafe. If you love a good work out on the sand, there are two beach volleyball courts setup on the right side of the beach cafe as you face the Gulf. The Coquina Market across the street from the beach is now only scheduled on Wednesdays and Fridays. read more

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During quarantine I've been trying to visit all of the beaches in the surrounding Tampa Bay Area and this was one of my favorites! It's a bit of a drive, a little over an hour from Tampa, but totally worth it. Coquina is right down the street from Anna Maria Beach but much quieter and all of the parking is free and shaded, which is amazing! As far as amenities goes, Coquina Beach offers picnic tables, showers, restrooms, and even changing rooms! Lifeguards are on duty at the beach as well. Really anything you could ever want at a beach. They also have a snack shack for any of your beach cravings. The water is so beautiful and clear and the sand is white and soft, which is all you can really ask for. I loved how quiet the beach was compared to Anna Maria and the free parking made it even better. I think this is going to be my new favorite spot! read more

Coquina Beach - Enjoying a pub sub on the beach. - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

Perfect beach, clear water, ample parking, good facilities 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. read more

Coquina Beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

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My new gulf coast favorite beach, Great Free parking W/Restroom facility & snack bar. Velvet soft White Sand ! Very nice on very southern end of AMI !!! read more

This is prob. one of my fav. beaches, even though it's quite a drive for us. I wanted to spend time outdoors on my Birthday - mission accomplished! I was thrilled to be able to find a spot isolated from others. We setup our comfortable (May I add, also cute & fashionable) Pineapple Tommy Bahama chairs & umbrella in a No Swim zone with orange cones to indicate that due to the riptide by the outer current. There was a patrol officer wearing a mask & driving a Gator and effectively using his whistle everytime someone got in the water & explaining that further down the beach it's safer for swimming. It's a win-win for us because this area of the beach allowed us to sunbath without having to worry about people getting too close to us to not be able to safely socially distance ourselves. The many parking lots were full before noon, so recommend coming early in the morning. No worries - there was plenty of parking at the very end of Coquina Beach - just keep driving. I brought my own Frose my hubs made me to quench my boozy thirst on my day off on a Wed. To take in the beautiful colors of the blue/green water & listen to waves crashing while tanning! read more

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06.07 Kids have been begging to play at the beach so we had an impromptu trip. Pulled in around 7:15 pm. Lots of parking available and not crowded at all. The water was fairly warm, sand was a mix of fine sugary soft and lots of shells when you first hit the sand. We hung out till sunset then got the kids all rinsed up and dried. Bathroom area was very clean, though could use a better lighting. We've been to this beach last year and happened to swing by when they had the beach market on a Wednesday. Vendor we're packing up so we didn't get to see much. Will def plan better next time. read more

Coquina Beach - My water babies. - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

Aloha beaches! The parks at Coquina Beach are the closest I have been to finding something that feels like Hawaii in Florida. The biggest difference of course is the crowd level. Other than that this is absolute paradise. The shady coverage provided by the trees is not only great relief from the heat for you and your car, it's also sooo dreamy. The parking is plentiful up and down the beach (I would recommend parking right up next to the beach instead of the big lots). And better yet...it's freeeeee! As you approach the actual parks there are restrooms, snacks, picnic tables, showers, water fountains and wait for it, the smartest addition: changing rooms! These are actual little huts in which you can have privacy to change without having to strategically crouch into your car! Amazing! There is a reason AMI beaches draw such a loyal vacationing crowd. And that reason is: it's fabulous. read more

Coquina Beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida

If you are into the Sun, sand and salty water then you might want to visit this beach next time you are in Florida. The COVID-19 GUIDELINES ARE IN EFFECT AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IS EXPECTED. Life guards are in towers every 100 yards or so and on four wheelers patrolling. No alcohol allowed on the beach. I've been taking my family here since the 1990's and it's as quaint as it was back then. Florida hurricanes have a way of keeping some of our beaches fresh and natural this way. Sorry to say because of this there is a lot of construction going on along the beach and the shops along it. If you are in to beaches that are Old Florida in a natural setting, this beach is almost that with shops and homes that remind you of 1970's Florida. This is not a Daytona or Sarasota or Miami. It's not a Marco Island or Ft. Lauderdale. This is not a party scene. This is not a Spring Break movie set. No huge hotels or resorts. Just a small Florida beach that gives you Sun, sand and saltwater. read more

Coquina Beach - Beaches Near Me - Bradenton Beach, Florida