It's about a 90 minute to 2 hour drive from the attractions area. This beach is near a small tourist center with quaint stores, restaurants, buildings and inexpensive tourist trinkets. You also can go out on a dolphin watch cruise or a Deep Sea Fishing boat from here. Sunsets on the beach here are beautiful. One feature which may be positive or negative to you is that there are many sea-shells at this beach.
Hotels here are plentiful, also low-key, reasonable and cater to every budget and taste.
This type of insect swarming is rare and normally not a problem . Before you actually get to downtown St. Petersburg you will see signs directing you to the Gulf Beaches. See directions to Madeira Beach, then go North on Gulf Blvd. Fine powder-white sands endow this splendid spot. Avoid stepping on the Sea Oats, a prized sand dune protecting grass.