If going to the Beach for a day I prefer Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs on the Gulf. It is easy to get to without hitting alot of large city traffic. It is not easy to find so you will need good directions using a google map or GPS. Where it is located you go through some neighborhoods in Tarpon Springs.
There are no hotels and usually not crowded. The beach is located out in the Gulf about a mile on an island and you drive there via a causway. The beach is very nice. This is a hidden gem in my opiniion. If you go there you will go back. Fred Howard Beach is 90 miles from Wildwood of which 53 miles is on I-75.
Link below.
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/06_Howard.htm
Link to beach view below.
http://www.pinellascounty.org/virtua...ward_beach.htm
Photo of Island see link below.
http://pinellaspeach.com/files/2009/...h-resized1.jpg