Where You Can (and Can't) Drive a Golf Cart on Anna Maria Island
The short answer: yes. Street-legal carts are allowed on most local roads across the three cities that make up Anna Maria Island. The rules below cover which roads are open, which are off-limits, and what to do if you find yourself near a bridge.
This page is part of the Beach Zoomies island rules guide.
Roads Where You Can Drive
Anna Maria Island's local street network is mostly cart-friendly. All three cities permit Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) on roads posted 35 mph or below, and most of the island's interior streets fall well under that threshold.
Gulf Drive is the main north-south road running the full length of the island through Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Restaurants, shops, vacation rentals and beach-access points are all reachable from Gulf Drive. This is the backbone of cart travel on the island.
Pine Avenue in Anna Maria city is the commercial main street at the island's north end. It connects Gulf Drive to the bay side and is lined with shops, restaurants and local businesses.
Marina Drive in Holmes Beach runs parallel to Gulf Drive on the bay side of the island's middle section, connecting to the marina area and surrounding neighborhoods.
East Bay Drive in Bradenton Beach runs along the southern bay shore and gives access to the Bridge Street historic district and its waterfront restaurants.
East-west connector streets link Gulf Drive to the bay side throughout Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. Most are quiet residential streets at speeds well within the legal range for cart travel.
Where You Cannot Drive
These are firm limits, not suggestions.
The beach. No golf carts or LSVs on any beach on Anna Maria Island. This applies in all three cities with no exceptions. The sand is foot traffic only.
Anna Maria Bridge (to Cortez and the mainland). The bridge and the section of Cortez Road on both sides are posted above 35 mph. Florida law does not allow LSVs on roads above 35 mph. Do not take a cart across this bridge under any circumstances.
Longboat Pass Bridge (to Longboat Key). The bridge is posted above 35 mph. Longboat Key's own city ordinances also do not generally permit LSVs on its roads. Both reasons apply. The bridge is a hard stop in either direction.
Cortez Road east of the bridge. Once you cross the Anna Maria Bridge, you are on a high-speed arterial road. A cart cannot legally or safely travel on Cortez Road.
If You End Up Near a Bridge
Both bridge approaches have speed-limit signs and, in many cases, posted advisory signs for cart and LSV drivers. If you miss a turn and find yourself at a bridge ramp, stop and turn around. Proceeding onto either bridge in a cart is a moving violation and a real safety hazard. The turn-around points are clearly marked.
Rules Vary by City
Your rental address determines which city's ordinances apply to you. Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach each set their own cart rules, and the details differ. Check the page for your city:
Not sure whether the cart you are renting counts as a golf cart or an LSV? The difference matters for which roads are legal and who needs a license to drive. See the full LSV vs. golf cart explanation.
Beach Zoomies delivers carts to vacation rentals across all three AMI cities. Rates are on the page. Reserve yours before your trip.