Anna Maria Island is connected to the mainland by two bridges: the Manatee Avenue Bridge at the north end and the Cortez Bridge at the south end. Both are roughly 10–15 minutes from the US 41 corridor in Bradenton. The nearest commercial airport is Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), about 25 minutes by car. Tampa International Airport (TPA) is about an hour away and serves far more routes.
There is no public transport directly to the island. A car is essentially required, and parking in season (December through April, plus summer weekends) requires patience — the island is small and the car parks fill up. Many visitors rent bicycles as their primary transport once on the island, which is an excellent strategy: the island is flat, the distances are short, and cycling keeps you out of the parking headaches entirely.