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BY Heather Fishel / LAST UPDATED ON July 14, 2021

Nearly everyone loves spending a day at the beach. Warm sun and sand and cool water for swimming, surfing, and to play in — the beach offers something for everyone, whether you want to get active or relax and catch some rays. But in order to really enjoy the beach, you need to bring some supplies, from beach chairs to sunscreen to towels to skimboards and so much more. And hauling that stuff down to the shoreline can be exhausting. Instead of carrying it all on your back, why not lighten your load and try a wagon instead? Beach wagons are built for hauling all kinds of items, and they’re equipped to roll right over sand without getting stuck. Roomy and durable, a beach wagon can make life a whole lot easier. Check out our picks for the best beach wagons right here.

A roomy, durable wagon that’s equipped for convenience and capacity.

An affordable yet well-constructed wagon that’s built to survive tough use.

A high-quality wagon that can carry both gear and kids in multiple configurations.

Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.

The most common type of beach wagon is the collapsible beach wagon. Also called a folding wagon, these are wagons that can collapse down flat — or to a more compact size — when not in use. They offer both convenient and highly capable storage space and wheels equipped for beach terrain. But when you aren’t hauling gear down to the shoreline, you can easily fold them down so they’ll fit inside your car, garage, or anywhere else.

Non-collapsible beach wagons are just the opposite of collapsible beach wagons. They’re very simple: they offer plenty of storage space, capable wheels, and a push or pull handle for easy hauling. However, they cannot be folded down. Many of these wagons are made out of tougher materials, like metal or heavy-duty plastic, for long-term sturdiness.

While just about every beach wagon features big wheels that are designed to roll smoothly over sand, some are even more well-equipped. All-terrain beach wagons are even tougher than your basic beach wagon. They have larger wheels and tires that are covered in deep tread that can handle everything from sand to gravel to mud to uneven terrain. These are a great option if you want a wagon that’s beach-ready but also tough enough to roll anywhere.

If there’s a brand that’s synonymous with quality wagons, it’s Radio Flyer. Founded in 1917, Radio Flyer created the traditional little red wagon. And today, the company has an expanded line that includes some pretty great red beach wagons. The Radio Flyer Beach & Boardwalk Wagon is a great example of the innovative and capable options available. 

Mac Sports specializes in beach wagons that’ll make every beach trip more convenient. With a collection of cool wagons that are specially designed to transport items like beach chairs, coolers, toys, and more, wagons like the Mac Sports Mac Wagon and the Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible All Terrain Beach Wagon are super capable.

The frame of any beach wagon is the centerpiece of its construction. The frame is what’ll give the wagon its strength and structure. A sturdy, durable frame — metal is good material — will keep your wagon in good shape and prevent potential bending, breakage, or damage as you haul heavy items.

Though the items you're carrying in your beach wagon may be heavy, you don’t want the wagon itself to be too heavy. A lighter weight wagon is easier to maneuver and easier to store. Look for a lightweight beach wagon that’s easy to fold up and lift when it’s empty, and you’ll be able to move it into your vehicle or anywhere else with ease.

A beach wagon is nothing without its wheels, and you want a wagon that rolls easily. Look for larger, wider wheels for extra stability. Tread is also important; good tread will enable you to use your wagon on the sand and other tough terrains. You can even look for all-terrain wheels that are extra heavy-duty yet roll smoothly.

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The Mac Sports Mac Wagon is our choice for the best overall beach wagon because it’s not an average wagon. This beach wagon is designed to carry everything you need and survive all of the potential wear and tear of the outdoors. Whether you’re hauling chairs and umbrellas or need an all-around solution for carrying everything from beach gear to camping gear, this wagon can make it easy. It measures 35 x 20 x 23 inches and weighs 22.48 pounds when empty. It collapses, or folds down, for easy carrying and storage. When collapsed, the wagon measures just 29.5 x 20 x 8 inches. You can carry up to 150 pounds inside this beach wagon, and you’ll love the durable 600D fabric interior that’s easy to clean as well as UV- and mildew-resistant. An adjustable handle and smooth-glide wheels make it easy to pull.

Beach wagons can be a financial investment, but the S2 Lifestyle Brazee Collapsible Folding Wagon offers fantastic value. It’s not only affordable, but it’s also filled with great functional features. This wagon measures 39.4 x 19.7 x 38.6 inches and weighs 21.9 pounds when empty. It’s collapsible, so it folds and unfolds quickly whether you need to store it, transport it, or haul items to the beach. The beach wagon can hold up to 150 pounds, and it’s constructed with a powder-coated steel frame that’s both durable and rust-resistant. The fabric body is made with double layers of oxford material, which is waterproof and easy to clean. A set of 360-degree swivel wheels make hauling easy, and they’ll easily roll over most surfaces and materials.

If you’re looking for a beach wagon that’s customizable and convenient, it’s hard to top the premium features of the Radio Flyer Beach & Boardwalk Wagon. This red beach wagon is both perfect for hauling items and carrying small passengers. It measures 47.24 x 41.34 x 24.41 inches and is made with 100-percent recycled fabric. The wagon rides on a set of extra-wide beach wheels and tires — and those wheels are linked to a steering mechanism that can even function on the sand. It includes a rear storage bar that holds two beach chairs. However, where this premium wagon really shines is its convertible nature. It can be an empty wagon, a wagon with two seats for small riders, and a bench seat for kids to ride on. It even comes with a UV protection canopy so kids (and your beach gear) are shaded.

If you’re looking for a tough beach wagon with great storage capacity, the Seina Manual Folding Steel Wagon is a great pick. This wagon is well-suited for the beach, but it’s durable enough to also cart groceries, garden supplies, and more. It’s built with a heavy-duty steel frame and durable 600D polyester fabric. It’ll survive everything from bright sunlight — it’s UV-resistant to prevent fading — to frequent wear thanks to its resistance to tears. You can carry up to 150 pounds of weight in this wagon. It’s beach-ready thanks to its all-terrain wheels, which are covered in rubber so they can push right over uneven ground, sand, grass, and more. Even better, this wagon is fully collapsible and can be stored completely flat.

The Timber Ridge Folding Wagon is both capable and collapsible, and it’s also a wonderfully versatile beach wagon. This wagon is tough enough to keep in your car’s trunk and use any time you need to haul items. It can survive the beach and be a great camping, gardening, picnic, or even grocery shopping companion. The wagon measures 35.5 x 18.4 x 12 inches and weighs 24.91 pounds when empty. It’s constructed to collapse and save space when not in use, folding down to just about 9 inches thick. With flexible 8-inch wheels that rotate 360 degrees and a retractable, adjustable handle, it’s easy to drive or pull this beach wagon over sand or uneven terrain. A sturdy steel frame keeps the wagon in shape, and the heavy-duty fabric is durable enough to withstand everything from dirt to moisture and more.

If you need a beach wagon that can seriously withstand frequent use and rough conditions, the Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible All Terrain Beach Wagon is a great option. Designed for everything from sand to heavy gear to saltwater and so much more, this wagon is built to last. It offers a large capacity, measuring 36.2 x 21.4 x 24.6 inches when open and just 31.5 x 21.4 x 9.7 inches when collapsed. It can carry up to 50 pounds when you’re rolling over deep sand, but it can hold even more — up to 150 pounds — if you’re on firmer sand or paved surfaces. A set of extra-large wheels offers extra stability under any conditions. A heavy-duty wagon frame made out of steel and tough 600D fabric is easy to clean, and they’re also UV- and mildew-resistant. 

Here’s another heavy-duty beach wagon that’ll give you plenty of storage space and all of the adaptability you need when you’re carrying a ton of stuff: the Sekey Folding Heavy Duty Beach Wagon. This wagon is ready for anything, and it offers some impressive room. When open, it measures 41.7 x 21.65 x 40.5 inches, making it a great option for carrying everything from large chairs to full-size beach umbrellas and coolers. It rides on a set of 7-inch PU wheels that offer good maneuverability, and the wagon even rolls quietly on uneven terrain. This wagon does fold down to a more compact size, and the handle is adjustable so you can easily control its direction and steering. With a 176-pound capacity, this is one of the best options if you need to carry heavy items.

The Vivosun Heavy Duty Collapsible Wagon is a strong and wear-ready wagon. It offers great storage space for hauling items from your car to the beach, but it’s also prepared for all of the inevitable damage and use it’ll likely see. This wagon measures 36.22 x 21.65 x 14.96 inches when unfolded and 11.42 z 9.06 x 24.41 inches when collapsed. It features a heavy-duty frame that’s made out of metal, and it can carry over 176 pounds of weight. Now that’s a powerfully strong wagon. The fabric interior is made with 600D oxford fabric and PVC material. That means this beach wagon won’t fall victim to rips and tears — and it’s also waterproof. The wagon features an adjustable handle that rotates for easy pushing or pulling, and you’ll love the 360-degree rotating front wheels as they roll smoothly.

The Snan Push and Pull Collapsible Wagon is one seriously comprehensive beach wagon. It has it all — enough storage space, an impressive weight capacity, and a lightweight build. It can carry up to 250 pounds of weight and measures 31 x 20 x 33 inches. The wagon is made with a strong steel frame with welding and reinforcement. The interior features a built-in PVC board and thickened pearl cotton plus double layers of oxford fabric that’s waterproof and wear-resistant. But the perks of this wagon don’t end there. It also comes with handy accessories like a removable canopy made out of oxford material so you can get shade and rain coverage. Adjustable handles and a set of all-terrain wheels offer better ergonomics, and you’ll easily be able to push or pull this wagon. And you won’t want to overlook the included storage basket and mesh bags.

If you’re looking for the ultimate heavyweight, heavy-duty beach wagon, you’ll be impressed by the Beau Jardin Folding Wagon. While other products have a lot of great benefits, this wagon blows their capacity out of the water. This 34.3 x 20 x 26.4-inch wagon can carry up to 300 pounds of weight, making it a fantastic choice for the heaviest beach trips. It collapses for compact storage and easy transportation. With 7-inch all-terrain wheels, this wagon can ride anywhere. A telescoping handle makes controlling its direction even easier. The beach wagon itself is also made for all kinds of outdoor experiences, with a heavy-duty frame made out of black steel and an interior featuring 600D polyester fabric. The interior fabric is even removable so you can wash it out easily. 

Any beach wagon should be able to easily roll over soft sand. However, a heavy-duty wagon like the Snan Push and Pull Collapsible Wagon or the Vivosun Heavy Duty Collapsible Wagon are built for especially tricky terrain and will make easy work of any kind of sand.

It’s a good idea to store smaller items inside containers like beach bags, baskets, or coolers. That way, you can easily fit each container into the wagon and maximize its available space. Taller items, like boogie boards, umbrellas, and chairs, can stand upright against the frame of the wagon.

The cleaning process can be different from wagon to wagon. You can vacuum sand, dirt, and debris out of the inside, then either spot clean the fabric with upholstery cleaner or simple soap and water or hose a plastic or metal wagon down, then soap it up and rinse it like you would the exterior of your car.

You can’t go wrong with the Mac Sports Mac Wagon, an overall excellent beach wagon that’ll glide smoothly and carry your gear with ease. Another great option is the S2 Lifestyle Brazee Collapsible Folding Wagon, which boasts an affordable price. Let us know which beach wagon you’ll be used on your next trip to the shore.

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