Easter weekend means big crowds at Bradenton beaches, county says. Here’s what to know.
Plan to head out to the beach on Easter weekend?
Well, it seems like a lot of us are.
Manatee County Government expects heavy traffic on Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road, and bridges heading to Anna Maria Island and Coquina Beach, they said this week in a press release.
“Prepare for heavy beach traffic and crowds over the upcoming Easter holiday,” the press release said.
The county leaders expect all of Bradenton’s beaches to be overcrowded with beach parking at capacity.
The county’s public beaches on Anna Maria Island will have additional law enforcement and first responders to assist with the influx of folks seeking sand and sun during the busy holiday weekend, the release said.
Also, the county will provide additional porta-potties on the public beach for beachgoers to use and have frequent trash pick-up to accommodate the larger crowds.
If you want to avoid hunting for parking at the beach or ending up with a goose egg because you spent prime tanning time in a traffic jam on the causeway, here are some options to get around on the beach without driving.
Need an affordable ride to and from the beach?
Try taking Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT).
Park and ride from the Beach Way Plaza at Manatee Avenue and 75th Street on the number 3 bus.
Board at the Desoto Station 301 Blvd w @ 9th St Ext and ride the number 3 bus to Anna Maria Island and Holmes Beach, or ride the number 6 bus to Coquina Beach.
Hop from Anna Maria Island to Coquina beach for free
Ride the free Anna Maria Trolley.
The trolley will shuttle passengers from Coquina Beach to the Anna Maria Pier every 20 minutes.
If the beach is not your scene, but you still want to get out and be active on Easter weekend, some county-owned golf courses, nature perverse, and skate parks will be open in Manatee County.
Other outdoor options include:
18-hole golf courses in Manatee County
- Buffalo Creek Golf Course - 8100 69th Street East Palmetto
- Manatee County Golf Course - 6415 53rd Avenue West Bradenton
Parks and Skate Parks
- G.T. Bray Recreation Center - 5502 33rd Ave Dr W, Bradenton
- G.T. Bray Skate Park - 5502 33rd Avenue Drive West Bradenton
- Blackstone Skate Park - 2112 14th Avenue West Palmetto
Nature Preserve
- Duette Preserve - 2649 Rawls Road Duette, FL -Camping, Fishing, Grills, Pavilion, Restrooms, Trails
- Emerson Point Preserve - 5801 17th Street West Palmetto, FL - Beach, Fishing, Grills, 3-Pavilions, Restrooms, Trails
- Jiggs Landing -6106 63rd Street East Bradenton,FL - Boat Ramp, Fishing, Grills, Open Space, Pavilion, Playground, Restrooms, Trails
- Leffis Key - 2351 Gulf Drive South Anna Maria Island =Trails (no dogs)
- Moody Branch - 13805 Taylor Grade Rd Duette, FL - Pavilion, Trails (no dogs or bikes)
- Neal Preserve - 12301 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, FL Pavilion, Trails (no dogs)
- Perico Preserve - 11700 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, FL -Trails (no dogs)
- Riverview Pointe - 8250 Desoto Memorial Hwy Bradenton, FL - Beach, Trails
- Robinson Preserve - 1704 99th Street Northwest Bradenton, FL - Beach, Canoe/Kayak Launch, Fishing, Grills, Open Space, Pavilion, Playground, Restrooms, Trails
- Rye Preserve - 905 Rye Wilderness Trail Parrish, FL - Camping, Canoe/Kayak Launch, Fishing, Grills, Pavilion, Playground, Restrooms, Trails
- Ungarelli Preserve 4000 Palma Sola BlvdBradenton, FL - Pavilion, Trails
This story was originally published April 15, 2022 at 1:15 PM.
