7 Best Beach Wagons and Carts for a Day at the Water
Wheel your cooler, chairs, towels, and even kids across the sand in a wagon that folds to fit into your vehicle.
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Everyone loves a day at the beach. However, lugging a day's worth of necessities, including beach towels, snacks, chairs, an umbrella, and maybe even kids, can be a lot of hauling. That's why a good beach wagon or cart is crucial. Pulling or pushing one of these (depending on whether you use one that's wagon-style or cart-style) can save you from making multiple trips.
Our top picks:
- Best Overall: Mac Sports Heavy Duty Beach Wagon
- Best Value: Rio Wonder Wheeler Wide Beach Cart
- Best for Soft Sand: Easygo Balloon Wheel Beach Cart
Some hard truth about soft sand: Virtually nothing (save, maybe, a sled) will glide smoothly over the top of deep, soft sand in some places, like the west coast of Florida. But it is possible to find big-wheeled carts that do the job adequately.
Pros
- Doesn't get bogged down in sand
- Holds up to 150 pounds
- Folds up small and comes with a carry bag
- No assembly required
Cons
- Doesn't stand up when folded
BEST FOR: Your average family trip to the beach.
WHY I LIKE IT: Mac Sports makes many popular wagons, but this all-terrain model is particularly good on sand, where it muscles through without getting bogged down to a stop, like a regular grocery wagon would.
You can pile in 150 pounds of cargo, including awkwardly sized things like boogie boards, and it collapses small for storage, fitting in its own carry bag.
TESTING NOTES: There's no assembly required; this arrives ready to go. The fold is my favorite feature: It goes down to about 10 inches thick so it hardly takes up any room in your vehicle or in your home storage. However, it doesn't stand up when folded, so you'll have to lean it against something or lay it down, wheels-up. Most wagons work that way—with no brakes on the wheels, the wagons can't rest on their wheels in folded mode.
According to the brand, the fabric is mildew- and UV-resistant. Two pockets on the front can each hold a water bottle.
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| Capacity | 150 lbs |
| Wagon weight | 23 lbs |
Pros
- Under $100
- Lightweight cart-style beach hauler
- Mesh storage bag helps you stay organized
- Can hang a few chairs off the front
Cons
- Storage capacity isn't as large as a wagon
BEST FOR: Sticking to a budget of under $100. It's also great for older folks who would rather push than pull their beach hauler.
WHY I LIKE IT: This is a lightweight, steel-frame, vertical-storage beach cart. Tip it back on its big rubber wheels to push it across the sand. There's also a bar for pulling it, if that makes things easier.
The Wonder Wheeler doesn't fit as much as some of the wagons, but not everyone is bringing a car load's worth of stuff to the shore. The basket is divided into compartments to help you stay organized. A bar in front holds several beach chairs. The pocket in the back fabric can hold your wallet or keys.
TESTING NOTES: The basket is mesh so at the end of the day, sand and rocks filter out through the material and hopefully don't wind up in your car.
This cart does require some assembly—you have to put the wheels on, for example, but the assembly aspect helps keep the cost down. It folds up for storage.
Features at a Glance
| Capacity | 100 lbs |
| Cart weight | 13.5 lbs |
Pros
- Rubber balloon wheels ride on top of sand
- Dolly-style cart can be tipped and then pushed or pulled
- Comes with a detachable beach bag
Cons
- The front wheels are not as durable
BEST FOR: Navigating soft-sand beaches.
WHY I LIKE IT: Tip this cart back, then push or pull it on the big back wheels. The 13-inch rubber tires are designed to stay on top of soft sand rather than sinking in and getting stuck.
This requires light assembly, including attaching the wheels. The beach bag on the handle can detach. The rubber tires do not need to be inflated. The front wheels are small and plastic, so they're much weaker than the back ones.
TESTING NOTES: My friend who lives in Venice, Florida, and who estimates that he drags his gear roughly 300 yards across the sand during every beach visit tells me, "The bigger the wheels, the better." He recommends balloon wheels specifically to make beach treks easier.
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Features at a Glance
| Capacity | 100 lbs |
| Wagon weight | 19 lbs |
Pros
- Meant to haul two kids
- All-terrain wheels
- Can be pushed or pulled
- Sturdy design
Cons
- Deep, soft sand remains a challenge
BEST FOR: Getting young kids across the sand.
WHY I LIKE IT: This seats two kids and has a snack tray in the middle. The wheels mostly live up to the all-terrain promise and can handle both sand and a muddy parking lot (though deep, soft sand remains a challenge for this and most other beach wagons if loaded with 100 pounds). If you have young kids and anticipate frequent outdoor outings, this may be a sound investment.
The Veer only requires about five minutes of assembly, mostly attaching the wheels.
TESTING NOTES: A mom of three kids was impressed with how this stands up to heavy use. "It's so durable! And shockingly easy to fold," she said.
You can either push this like a stroller or pull it like a wagon. If you think your toddler will need to nap at the beach, you can buy the Nap System insert for less than $100.
RELATED: Best Stroller Wagons
Features at a Glance
| Capacity | 110 lbs |
| Wagon weight | 32.6 lbs |
Pros
- Wide wheels help you pull this even when it's loaded up
- 500-pound weight capacity
- Folds up
- Arrives assembled
Cons
- Heavy and not especially maneuverable
BEST FOR: Carrying a lot of heavy things, like coolers full of drinks.
WHY I LIKE IT: This beach wagon has four-inch-wide wheels, which helps keep it sturdy even when you load it up with stuff.
If you do put hundreds of pounds of supplies inside (it can carry up to 500 pounds!), you'll be dragging it through the sand more than wheeling it. But it works. It collapses to be easy to store, and arrives ready to go out of the box.
TESTING NOTES: The frame on this wagon is made of steel, and it's a heavy choice, but that helps it support more weight than any other cart on our list. Users note that the front wheels are not very maneuverable—you won't be making tight turns with this.
| Capacity | 500 lbs |
| Wagon weight | 27.8 lbs |
Pros
- Cart folds out into a lounge chair
- Mesh basket makes it easy to see what you have
- Storage pocket for small items
Cons
- Must take everything out to sit in chair
BEST FOR: Versatility. This beach cart turns into a pillowed lounge chair.
WHY I LIKE IT: There's no need to carry a separate chair for yourself to the beach. It has only two wheels, so you tip the cart and pull or push it along. You can see through the mesh walls so you can spot what you've got in there, and there's an additional mesh storage pocket to hold small items, such as keys or sunscreen.
The only bummer is that you have to empty out all of your things to use this as a chair. But then when you fold the chair up it's easy to throw everything back in and return to your car.
TESTING NOTES: My college roommate, who lives on Cape Cod, swears by this for getting herself to the shore and then having a place to rest. The cart can hold 100 pounds of stuff; the chair can support an adult up to 225 pounds.
| Capacity | 100 lbs |
| Wagon weight | 21 lbs |
Pros
- Side folds down to form a bench
- Comes with a detachable cooler
- No assembly required
Cons
- Reviews say it does better on hard surfaces vs. soft sand
BEST FOR: Having bench seating once you've found your spot.
WHY I LIKE IT: Your wagon becomes your sofa with this clever cart. Once you empty it, you can fold down a side and have a place to sit. It comes with a detachable cooler.
There's no assembly required, and this does fold for storage.
TESTING NOTES: I don't personally know anyone who uses this one, and reviews are mixed about how it does on sand. From what I can tell, from online reviews and the sight of the relatively small wheels, it probably does better on hard sand and rocky beaches (such as at a lake) than at a soft-sand ocean beach. It could be fun for camping, too.
How I chose the best beach wagons and carts
I evaluated the Veer All-Terrain Cruiser in our Lab and through family testing. Other picks, including the Easygo and Mac Sports Lounger, were recommended by parents and colleagues who regularly use beach wagons. I also analyzed retailer reviews and compared products across the category, considering factors like wheel performance on sand, storage capacity, portability, and durability. Based on this research, I found the Mac Sports Heavy Duty Beach Wagon to be the best option for most beachgoers, while the Wonder Wheeler stood out as a top-reviewed budget pick and the Beau Jardin wagon offered one of the highest weight capacities in the category.
What to look for when shopping for the best beach wagon
My main advice is to look for products designed for the sand. A garden cart, by comparison, will not roll across beachy terrain. Also think about:
✔️ Wagon vs. cart: Wagons are horizontal storage bins and you pull them across the beach. Carts are built to be more vertical and you can tip them to roll on their big wheels while you pull or push them across the sand. Some wagons can hold kids or even dogs—carts can not, but carts can sometimes be easier for one person to manage by themselves.
✔️ Weight vs. durability: Often you have to sacrifice one for the other, but ideally you want a beach wagon that strikes the right balance for your own purposes. If you tend to wheel around a heavy load, you'll want something more durable, maybe with a steel frame, which usually means it is also heavier. An aluminum frame is lighter but can't hold as much weight.
✔️ Extra storage space: If you carry a lot of smaller items, consider a beach wagon or cart that has side slots, additional baskets, cup holders, or pockets.
✔️ Large wheels: The larger the wheels, the easier to navigate different types of terrain, including sand.
✔️ Collapsibility: All the choices on our list can fold up for storage. Our list is specific to wagons and carts for the beach, but we also have another list of collapsible wagons if you're looking for other choices to take to parks or sporting events.
Do you really need a beach wagon?
If you go to the beach by yourself most of the time and bring just a bag and a beach chair, no. If you bring more stuff than a bag and chair (like an umbrella and a cooler), or if you bring kids and their toys, a beach wagon makes your life easier.
The average folding grocery cart or standard stroller will come to a stop when you try to get it over soft sand, which is why something made specifically for the beach is preferable.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Contributing Writer Jessica Hartshorn has several decades of experience evaluating home and parenting products. She previously worked for Parents magazine and is a judge for the annual Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards. When she visits the Jersey Shore with her kids, she carries everything in her arms and always regrets it.
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