WWingAwayWEEKENDSFly to lunchDestination guide 274
Florida · Couples · Two nights

Anna Maria Island

Old Florida beaches, no high-rises.

Anna Maria Island is seven miles of white sand and low-slung beach cottages on the Gulf, with a free trolley running end to end and no building taller than three stories. Land at Sarasota-Bradenton, stay at the Tortuga Inn or Tradewinds, ride the trolley, walk to Bean Point at the island’s northern tip, and watch the sunset from the Sandbar or the Beach House.

BeachIslandSunsets
See the weekend itineraryFlight & arrival details
Bright beach umbrellas on white sand at Anna Maria Island
The beach on Anna Maria Island.
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KSRQ
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~421 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~2 hr 52 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car and free trolley

Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.

01 / Aviation & getting around

Land at Sarasota-Bradenton.

KSRQ, Sarasota-Bradenton International, is a towered airport at 30 feet with a 9,500-foot main runway, about 30 minutes from the island.

The FBO

Sheltair Sarasota

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, Sarasota, FL

941-274-5100

Other FBOs: Atlantic Aviation (941-358-9600) and Ascension FBO (941-355-2902). Birds on and near the airport. No live fuel price is shown.

Florida Gulf Coast flying: daily summer thunderstorms from June to September, morning fog in winter, sea breezes, and hurricanes from June to November. About 420 nm from Myrtle Beach.

02 / Where to stay

Small beach resorts and cottages.

Rates and availability need travel dates. Winter and spring book early.

03 / Where to eat

Beachfront dinners, oysters and island cafés.

Reserve weekend dinners.

04 / Things to do

Beaches, piers and sunsets.

The trolley is free and runs all day.

05 / What’s happening

Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.

This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.

Concerts, festivals & local happenings

Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.

Browse Anna Maria events
06 / Suggested itinerary

Friday in. Sunday home.

A sample island weekend. No bookings or availability confirmed.

DAY 1

Arrive

  1. Arrival

    Land at KSRQ, subject to weather, density altitude and your actual flight plan.

  2. Afternoon

    The beach and the trolley.

  3. Evening

    Sunset dinner at the Sandbar.

DAY 2

Explore

  1. Morning

    Bean Point.

  2. Afternoon

    Bridge Street and the piers.

  3. Evening

    Dinner at the Beach House.

DAY 3

Morning & home

  1. Morning

    One more beach walk.

  2. Before leaving

    Compute takeoff performance and allow time at the FBO.

  3. Fly home

    Summer storms build by afternoon; leave in the morning.

07 / Good to know

Keep the weekend easy to change.

These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.

Book in this order

Lodging, then a car.

Flight

About 420 nm from Myrtle Beach: an easy morning.

Island time

Use the trolley instead of parking.

Best seasons

February to May and October to November.

Reviewed · Destination 274

Reviewed November 6, 2026.

Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking.

WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.