[eweissenbach]

What are the closest nice beaches to TV. How long to get to them. Thanks

[StarbuckSammy]

Clearwater beach is about 2 hours.

[BaylorBear]

We like New Smyrna Beach on the East Coast. About 1.5 hours away.

[whartonjelly]

Which has the nicest roads to travel?

[bobthebuilder]

Clearwater: I75 and 275. A bit slow after the interstate for about 5 miles as you go through the town to the beach.

New Smyrna: 44 east. Some open roads mostly 2 lane. Some small towns to go through and lights as you get closer to beach.

I find it is kind of a coin toss. Both rides about the same, it's a matter of liking the ocean or the gulf. Have done both on the same weekend and enjoyed them equally.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Here's a recent thread on the same topic. Worth a look:

Beach

Bill

[Francie]

New Smyrna is a beautiful beach and has a lot of access for visitors. Great beach during the summer...water is great. Perhaps Clearwater is better in the winter for water temps.

[Indy-Guy]

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