Updated October 19, 2022
A day at the beach can be a great opportunity for recreation or a party, as we all know. If you have a cooler, sports gear, chairs, or some kids to bring along, it can quickly involve quite a load to get down to the shoreside. To make that effort a little less strenuous, one of the best beach carts or wagons could be just what you need.
That’s where we can help out. Ten of the top models with a range of capabilities have been selected for you to consider. First, a comparison table is offered followed by descriptions with key features, photos, videos, and finally a basic buying guide.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For a discussion of some other items you could use at the beach, please check these reviews:
Beach Canopies Beach Tents Surfboards Skimboards Bodyboards Bodyboarding Fins Stand Up Paddleboards Rash Guards for Men Rash Guards for Women Surfing Wetsuits Swim Parkas
Best Beach Wagons or Carts
- Rio Beach Wonder Wheeler Wide Beach Cart
- Timber Ridge Camping Folding Beach Wagon
- Wheeleez Heavy Duty Beach Cart
- Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Beach Wagon Cart
- Beau Jardin Folding Push Wagon Cart
- Mac Sports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon
- Sekey Folding Wagon Cart
- Gorilla Carts GOR400-COM Steel Garden Cart
- Radio Flyer Ultimate EZ Folding Wagon For Kids & Cargo
- YSC Wagon Garden Folding Utility Beach Cart
Best Beach Wagons or Carts Comparison Table
Rio Beach Wonder Wheeler Wide Beach Cart
The Rio Wonder Wheeler Wide Beach Cart is good on all terrain and has oversized rear wheels to keep you rolling over a sandy beach.
With a stroller-like back handle, a front handle, and swivel front wheels, it maneuvers easily with a load of up to 100 pounds of beach chairs, a cooler, and other accessories. These all can be packed using a range of portage options including a bottom tray, removable mesh pouch, rear tote bag, or handy umbrella holder.
It has a durable steel frame and easy fold-up design that makes transporting and storing its 18.3 pounds a breeze.
- Long handle with soft neoprene grip
- Swiveling front wheels and wide rear wheels
- Large mesh pouch, removable tote bag, side umbrella holder
- The bottom tray and rack hold up to 4 folding beach chairs
- Easy fold-up design for storage
- Frame: steel
- Material: mesh pouch
- Weight: 18.3 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 100 pounds
- Dimensions: 32.1 x 20.3 x 5.1 inches
- Wheels: front-wheel diameter – 4.5 inches, rear-wheel diameter – 10 inches
- Price: $$
Timber Ridge Camping Folding Beach Wagon
The Timber Ridge Camping Folding Beach Wagon is a stable and sturdy rust-resistant steel-framed utility wagon for shopping, camping, or beach use.
With no assembly required, you just take this 28-pounder out of its handy carry bag and unfold it into shape. The 8-inch wheels provide good traction that can support 110 pounds on sand or 150 pounds on harder surfaces. The wagon steers easily with a 31-inch retracting handle and 360-degree swiveling front wheels.
Constructed with durable 600D polyester, it has a 3-fold pad in the bottom for organizing cargo, 2 cup holders for drinks, and a side storage bag.
- 360-degree rotating front wheels
- Adjustable retracting 31-inch handle
- Zippered side storage bag
- 3-fold bottom pad
- 2 cup-holders
- Collapsible space-saving design
- Carry bag with hand strap
- Frame: steel
- Material: 600D polyester
- Weight: 24.91 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 110-150 pounds
- Dimensions: 30 x 16.5 x 8.5 inches
- Wheels: diameter – 8 inches, all-terrain
- Price: $$
Wheeleez Heavy Duty Beach Cart
The Wheeleez Beach Cart has a 220-pound capacity for loading a large amount of baggage like a cooler, beach chairs, umbrellas, or skimboards for a family outing at the beach. With that big load, the 16.5-inch polyurethane balloon tires do a great job on sand or a variety of uneven surfaces including in your yard where the huge tires distribute the weight avoiding damage to your garden or lawn.
In addition, it has a durable HDPE tub and anodized aluminum handlebars, and a kickstand that can withstand whatever is dished out. It is large but the tires and axles are removable without tools and the aluminum components fold down to make it easier for storage and transport.
With these high-performance tires, the pricing is high.
- 5 cubic foot tub
- Adjustable folding marine-grade anodized handlebars and kickstand
- Removable wheels and axles without tools for storage and transport
- Frame: marine-grade anodized aluminum and stainless steel hardware
- Material: high-density polyethylene tub
- Weight: 29 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 220 pounds
- Dimensions: 38 x 26 x 16 inches
- Wheels: polyurethane balloon tires – 16.5-inch diameter x 7.9-inch width
- Expensive
- Price: $$$$
Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Beach Wagon Cart
The Mac Sports All Terrain Beach Cart has a durable steel frame and 600D polyester fabric, great for trips to the beach or for a picnic.
With 10-inch plastic all-terrain wheels, it can handle a 150-pound capacity though in the deepest sand that reduces to 50 pounds.
It has a wagon-style adjustable, telescoping pull handle and articulated front wheels for easy maneuverability. Folding into a 10-inch thick package, storage and portability is easy in the back seat or trunk of a car.
- The folding design reduces to a 10-inch thickness
- Collapsible, adjustable, telescoping handle
- Articulated front wheels for maneuverability
- 2 mesh cupholders near the handle
- Carrying case with grab handles included
- Frame: steel
- Material: mildew-resistant 600D polyester
- Weight: 22 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 50-150 pounds (less capacity in deep sand)
- Dimensions: 36.2 x 21.4 x 24.6 inches
- Wheels: diameter – 10 inches
- Price: $$
Beau Jardin Folding Push Wagon Cart
The Beau Jardin Folding Push Wagon stands out for its 300-pound weight capacity and ease of use.
The 7-inch wheels are 4 inches thick to handle sand and a variety of terrain and the 360-degree articulating front wheels make it easy to maneuver either by pushing the rear handle or pulling the telescoping adjustable handle on the front.
If you get thirsty on the fly there are a couple of convenient beverage holders on the front and a handy inner mesh pouch for other bits you want to keep separate.
It sets up and takes down in seconds and stores in a carry bag small enough for any closet or car trunk.
- 360-degree swiveling front wheels
- Adjustable telescoping handle
- Collapsible frame, no tools set up in seconds
- 2 front beverage holders
- Inner mesh storage pouch
- Removable polyester fabric for hand or hose-washing
- Folds away into the included carrying bag
- Frame: steel
- Material: 600D polyester
- Weight: 33.5 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 300 pounds
- Dimensions: 30 x 18 x 11 inches
- Wheels: diameter – 7 inches, thickness – 4 inches
- Price: $$
Mac Sports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon
The Mac Sports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon is similar to the Mac Sports Heavy Duty model above with a few significant differences.
It uses the same durable steel for the frame and 600D polyester fabric with a similar design for the articulated front wheels and adjustable telescoping handle. The wheels are a little smaller and not as suitable for use on sand while continuing to have the same 150-pound capacity.
It folds into an even smaller 8-inch thick package that is a couple of inches more portable and easily stored in its carry bag.
The biggest difference, though, is in the pricing, which runs around 30% cheaper.
- The folding design reduces to an 8-inch thickness
- Collapsible, adjustable, telescoping 30.5-inch handle
- Articulated front wheels for maneuverability
- 2 mesh cup holders on the front
- Carrying case with grab handles included
- Rubber and metal wheels
- Frame: powder-coated steel
- Material: mildew-resistant 600D polyester
- Weight: 22.5 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 150 pounds
- Dimensions: 35.49 x 20.18 x 22.5 inches
- Wheels: diameter – 9.3 inches
- Price: $
The Sekey Folding Wagon Cart is heavy-duty with a 265-pound capacity and 7-inch PU tires that have all-terrain tread, great for uneven ground, grass, or a sandy beach.
The adjustable handle and 360-degree swiveling front wheels make it easy to steer and the sturdy steel frame and 600D double-layered Oxford fabric are versatile and do the job for beach supplies and a cooler or for camping or garden work.
It sets up in seconds without tools and folds away into a 7-inch wide bundle that can be easily carried or stored in the supplied bag in your car boot or closet.
- The folding design reduces to a 7-inch thickness
- Adjustable, telescoping handle
- Articulated 360-degree rotational front wheels for maneuverability
- 2 mesh cup holders on the front
- Carry-bag included
- PU tires with all-terrain tread
- Frame: steel
- Material: 600D double-layered Oxford
- Weight: 22 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 265 pounds
- Dimensions: 41.7 x 21.65 x 40.5 inches
- Wheels: diameter – 7 inches, width – 4 inches
- Price: $$
Gorilla Carts GOR400-COM Steel Garden Cart
The Gorilla Carts Steel Garden Cart is the most durable and heavy-duty beach cart on the list. The powder-coated steel mesh crate design drains automatically and holds up to 400 pounds of beach gear, boogie boards, coolers, and the like. Removable sides make for easy loading or flat-bed use.
Marketed for industrial applications, the large pneumatic wheels perform well on sand and a variety of surfaces. Note it does require assembly and no tools are provided.
- Removable crate sides
- Padded-grip handle
- Pneumatic tires
- Assembly required, no tools provided
- Frame: powder-coated steel mesh crate
- Material: no fabric
- Weight: 37.5 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 400 pounds
- Dimensions: 34 x 18 inches
- Wheels: diameter – 10 inches
- Price: $
Radio Flyer Ultimate EZ Folding Wagon For Kids & Cargo
The Radio Flyer Ultimate EZ Folding Wagon meets ASTM Toy Safety Standards and is a great wagon for taking a couple of kids and some toys and accessories to the beach for a day of fun. It has a UV-blocking canopy and a durable frame that supports up to 120 pounds.
There are comfortable seatbacks and seatbelts for safety and you can turn it into a bench after unloading. With an easy one-hand folding design it packs away into a small space for easy portability
- Passes ASTM F963-16 Toy Safety Standard
- Easy one-hand folding design
- Telescoping handle
- UV-blocking canopy
- Comfortable seatbacks and seatbelts for 2
- 2 outer and 2 inner cup holders
- Frame: steel
- Material: DuraClean TM UPF 50+ fabric
- Weight: 24 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 120 pounds
- Dimensions: 45.28 x 21.65 x 44.49 inches
- Price: $$
YSC Wagon Garden Folding Utility Beach Cart
The YSC Wagon Garden Folding Utility Beach Cart is an especially lightweight and durable model that sets up in seconds without assembly. When it’s time to go home the folding design breaks down into an easily portable 8-inch thick package.
The all-terrain wheels work well on most surfaces and on the beach and the 150-pound capacity holds up well with all your beach accessories except in deep sand. Steering is easy with the telescoping handle and there are a couple of mesh cup holders for beverages.
- The folding design reduces to an 8-inch thickness
- Adjustable, telescoping handle
- 2 mesh cup holders on the front
- Frame: steel
- Material: 600D polyester fabric
- Weight: 15.84 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 150 pounds (50 pounds in deep sand)
- Dimensions: 32.3 x 19.7 x 22.6 inches
- Price: $$
Best Beach Wagons or Carts Buying Guide
Capacity
What items are you planning to transport on your cart or wagon? Coolers, sports gear, chairs, umbrellas, water, kids? You should make sure the weight capacity and size of the storage compartment(s) match up. Typically the dimensions and maximum weight capacity are well described.
Materials
Durable, high-quality materials are the foundation to look for in the selection of a beach cart or wagon.
- Frame – Because these vehicles are asked to safely carry a substantial amount of weight including kids, strength is important. The best frames are usually made of steel. Powder-coating is a way to increase resistance to saltwater, heat, weather, and rust, adding some color and style.
- Fabrics – Also important for load bearing is a quality, tear-resistant fabric like 600D (denier) polyester. Look for a rating like this or something even sturdier.
Pockets and Compartments
Aside from the basic storage area where you basically load in all your stuff, extra options for storing items separately add to the convenience. Pockets, waterproof zippered compartments, cup or bottle holders, and locations for personal items, cell phones, etc. make your cart much more user-friendly.
Ease of Use
How well the cart or wagon functions and moves from A to B when loaded is essential. Some factors to consider are:
- Weight – You would like to keep the weight of the cart down while still being sturdy enough to carry the required load. Some heavier models will pose problems in portage after you’ve finished using them.
- Wheels and Terrain – Since for beach use we are dealing with sand, the wheels should be big and wide enough that they won’t sink in and bog down too much under the load, the wider the better on sand. A further consideration is how well the wheels will perform on any other terrain you plan to cross for camping or trekking, for example. Manufacturers’ descriptions and customer feedback are good sources for research.
- Maneuverability – Take a careful look at the steering design in addition to the size and width of the wheels. Adjustable telescoping handles and wheels that swivel 360 degrees are useful and can add greatly to ease of use.
Assembly and Storage
Look for wagons and carts that set up quickly and easily and pack away into a small enough size to be easily stored in your car. Many models literally take seconds to assemble or fold back for portage or storage. There are models that reduce to a thickness of 6 to 10 inches. Most heavy-duty models will not have such easy breakdown and storage options.
Understanding Beach Carts and Wagons
For a discussion of some other items you could use at the beach, please check these reviews:
Beach Canopies Beach Tents Surfboards Skimboards Bodyboards Bodyboarding Fins Stand Up Paddleboards Rash Guards for Men Rash Guards for Women Surfing Wetsuits Swim Parkas
Feedback and Comments
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