10 Best Beach Wagons and Carts of 2024, Tested by Experts

MacSports makes a lot of popular wagons, and this heavy-duty one, which can hold up to 150 pounds, is no exception. More than 2,600 shoppers gave it a five-star rating on Amazon and said things like, "It's great for hauling heavy loads" and that they could "enjoy the beach without the hassle." According to our own tests, the big wheels make it easy to pull this wagon, even across soft sand.

Our favorite feature is that when you're done using the wagon, it folds up to only 9.7 inches thick and comes with a carry bag for storage. It takes up hardly any room in a garage or trunk, though do note that it doesn't stand up when folded, so you'll have to lean it against something or lay it down in your car or on a shelf. According to the brand, the fabric is mildew and UV resistant. Two pockets on the front can each hold a water bottle.

This beach, park or garden wagon from Whitsunday costs a fraction of the price of other wagons. Its wheels are smaller, which lowers the price, so it's best for pulling down a paved path or across hard-packed sand. The wheels do swivel, though, so it has a good turning radius. It can't hold quite as much as our top pick, though it can still handle a big load of up to 120 pounds.

The handle is adjustable, and the wagon folds up small, though it does not come with a carry bag. Reviewers give this wagon high praise for its easy assembly and use. Note that it comes in a bunch of fun colors too.

If you're a person who looks like they're setting up their home on the beach and you need a spacious cart for your umbrella, chairs, food and more, this one has a capacity of seven cubic feet, which is two times larger than many other beach wagons. Expandable side storage pockets can hold items like magazines and sunscreen, and the side slots are perfect for holding foam noodles.

Rugged all-terrain wheels allow you to navigate many surfaces, including hard sand, gravel and grass, yet this wagon is significantly lighter than others. It's also collapsible for easy storage. In fact, many reviewers were surprised by how small it folds up, considering how much it can hold. The only reason it's not our best overall pick is that not everyone needs this much cargo space, and although the wheels are good, they're no match for deep, soft sand.

Our Lab experts found that this is an excellent choice for traveling with kids, since it's compatible with an infant car seat (adapters are required), it can seat up to four children, and it features reclining seats if a kid needs a rest. It also has two large canopies that easily cover both sides for sun protection.

A cup holder and a storage container for small items like keys are attached to the handle for easy access, and a storage basket can be clipped onto the end of the wagon. It folds relatively flat, making it easy to transport and store (though it's heavy). Finally, the giant nubby wheels work on almost every kind of terrain. Though it's pricey, our testers got use out of it not just for the beach but also for heading to outdoor events, parks, the farmers' market and more.

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Families can use this Radio Flyer wagon as a traditional wagon to haul beach gear or as a two-seater for children. Plus, the side panel can be zipped down to turn it into a bench. It has extra-wide wheels for stability if your kids use this for a non-beach activity, like for sitting in while they watch a parade go by. During testing, our Lab experts liked that the zipped panels made it easy for kids to climb in and out.

A U-shaped bar on the back can be flipped up to hold beach chairs, which is a clever addition not found on many other wagons. You might need it, because if you have two kids in the wagon, there's not a lot of room to store much else. It also features seat belts rather than a full harness, like some other models.

Veer makes wagons with kids in mind. Its regular Cruiser (shown) seats two kids and, for another $100, you can get a Cruiser XL that can seat four. With an extra adapter, you can attach a car seat to either one and take along an infant. In tests, we appreciated that you can push it like a stroller or pull it like a traditional wagon. The canopy easily flips up or folds down. Additionally, it comes in two different camo prints and colors such as red, blue, orange or green.

Good Housekeeping Institute Chief Technologist & Executive Technical Director Rachel Rothman, a mom of three young kids, remains impressed with the durability of this wagon, which stands up to heavy use. "It's so durable! And shockingly easy to fold," Rachel says. "I was concerned that the four-seat version would be less maneuverable, but it works as well as the regular Cruiser."

The wheels live up to the all-terrain promise more than most 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 more than 100 pounds). If you have young kids and anticipate frequent outings in the near future, this may be a sound investment.

All the wagons on our list can handle hard-packed sand. But many have to be dragged through very soft sand because the wheels get stuck. This beach wagon has four-inch-wide wheels, which help it roll through soft sand with ease, even when the wagon is loaded down with stuff. One frequent beachgoer was extremely pleased with their purchase, saying, "It is sturdy, the wide wheels are easy to pull in the sand, and the steering is also easy."

This frame on this wagon is made of steel, and it can carry more weight than any other beach cart on our list: a whopping 300 pounds. Just keep in mind that once it's folded up it, it won't stand on its own, since the wheels don't have brakes.

Stack your stuff with this rolling vertical-storage beach cart that can hold a bunch of shore essentials. It comes with a zippered cooler tote and has a side umbrella holder. You can sling up to four beach chairs over the metal handle. Mesh sides help you see what's at the bottom of your cart, and a side zipper helps you fish things out more easily.

Tip this cart as you roll it through sand so that the big wheels can cut right through. This cart does require some assembly — you have to put the wheels on, for example — though we found the process to be fairly easy (the assembly aspect helps keep the cost down). It folds up for storage.

If you use the kind of camp chairs that fold up into long, tubelike bags, this double-decker wagon not only has an open compartment but also features a lower shelf to store your chairs — or perhaps boogie boards or a beach umbrella. This lets you separate stuff a bit better so you can quickly unload it and set up camp when you stake out your beach spot.

It has a heavy-duty frame that nevertheless folds up small, like a stroller does, for easy storage and transport. The top compartment can't hold as much as some of the deeper wagons, but we suggest using the brand's buckle straps, sold separately, so you can load it up but not have your things tip out. If you want an aesthetic choice other than teal (pictured), the wagon also comes in red, blue, purple and other colors.

With this combo, you get a beach cart and comfortable folding lounge chair in one, which means there's no need to carry a separate chair for yourself to the beach. The cart has a 3.9-cubic-foot capacity and can hold 100 pounds of stuff; the chair can support an adult up to 225 pounds. Note that it has only two wheels, so you tip the cart to pull or push it along.

We like that you can easily see through the mesh walls and that there's a mesh storage pocket to keep track of small items, such as sunscreen. The only bummer is that you have to empty out all of your things to use this as a chair. But the bonus is that it's easy to pack up at the end of the day.