Besides 589 to bypass Tampa construction..... the REAL SECRET to getting to Clearwater Beach, Bellaire Beach or Sand Key is to take hwy 60 across the Courtney Campbell Causeway, but once on the Clearwater side, don't continue on Hwy 60.
Instead, turn south on Hwy 19 and go a couple of miles south until you reach East Bay Drive (Hwy 686). Take East Bay west and you will arrive on Bellaire Beach.
The will be no bumper to bumper traffic like there is in downtown Clearwater getting to Clearwater Beach on Hwy 60 (Gulf to Bay Blvd). We drive that way when we go on the weekends and never go through downtown Clearwater.
Since the Scientologists took over downtown Clearwater in the 80's it has never been the same. With so much property "church owned" the tax base has been flat and traffic improvements have been very slow. If you compare downtown Clearwater to downtown Dunedin or downtown Largo you will see what I mean. But I digress...
Just take East Bay Drive over to the beaches and then you can head north to Clearwater beach or south to Indian Rocks and on to Madiera Beach. Once you are on the beaches it is a barrier island with 20-30 miles of great beaches.
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