Americans have flocked to the nation’s beaches for rest and relaxation ever since we realized removing our tri-corner hats and bonnets to get some sun on our faces was fun. Of course, today, rather than walk, take some rickety wagon, or ride a horse, we arrive at the beach in a car, truck, SUV, or minivan. No matter. Just as it has been for hundreds of years, we can’t resist the call of the sun, sand, and water. And today, making the most of the trip with the right vehicle can be a big part of the experience.
As life has grown more complex, so has getting to the beach. Now, a beach-appropriate vehicle often must do more than simply get you and yours to the sand. It’s expected to also transport all manner of beach paraphernalia. For example, your beach vehicle might also need to ferry chairs, oversized umbrellas, coolers, a picnic basket, surfboards, body boards, and kayaks. You might even want to tow a boat, personal watercraft, or a camper. Not every vehicle on this list is a packhorse; however, several are.
There isn’t anything particularly scientific about our beach picks. We polled several of Kelley Blue Book’s editors, asking: “If you had to pick one, which would be your favorite beach vehicle?” What you see below are those vehicles. So, here’s our list and some attributes we believe make them the best vehicles for the beach. Some are 2023 models, while others are 2024s.
What to Look for in the Best Beach Cars
Your personal choice of the ideal beach vehicle will vary according to the tasks it will perform. We get that and have split our picks into two categories: the best cars to drive to the beach and those you can drive on the sand. Although some picks can do both, we’ve put each into the group where we think it best fits. Here we list some attributes for each group. We included a few convertibles among our picks because heading to the beach means soaking up plenty of sun. We suggest buying a hat.
What Are Cars to Drive to the Beach?
Although there are a couple of exceptions, the vehicles primarily populating this group are capable of carrying five or more people and, potentially, a lot of the accessories they will require to enjoy the day. That means hauling beach chairs, blankets, coolers, and so forth. Some of them have enough towing capability to pull a camper or a trailer with a boat or a couple of personal watercraft. Keep in mind that a few of our “Drive on the Beach” vehicles can transport several people and plenty of beach gear.
We’ve also tossed three convertibles into this mix because who doesn’t want to get a jump on soaking up a few rays before hitting the sand? Moreover, take it from a guy who lived in South Florida for 25 years: Convertibles are a great way to see and be seen during a trip to or cruising along the beach. For all of our beach cars, we’ve included maximum cargo space. This is enclosed space like car trunks, SUVs with second and third rows folded, and the second-row area of a pickup truck. Each cubic foot translates into something close to the space needed for a regulation basketball.
What Are Cars to Drive on the Beach?
Because driving on them led to the birth of the Daytona 500, the beaches of Daytona and nearby New Smyrna, Florida, are well-known car-accessible beaches. However, there are many more across the country, running from Rhode Island to Washington and from Michigan to Florida. For example, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; Oceano Dunes, California; Malaquite Beach, Texas; and Silver Lake Park, Michigan, are just a few drivable beaches.
Although some of these beaches feature hard-packed sand, most don’t, requiring all-wheel drive (AWD) or 4-wheel drive (4WD) to prevent getting bogged down. All of our on-the-beach vehicles have (and are priced with) either AWD or 4WD.
In addition to a vehicle’s base price, we’ve included the Kelley Blue Book Expert Rating, the maximum cargo space with any rear seats folded, and the government-estimated combined fuel economy.
Let’s get to it.
Best Cars to Drive to the Beach
2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
Expert Rating: 4.8
Starting Price: $28,050
Max. Cargo Space: 4.6 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 30 mpg
If we had a third category for “Cars to Drive Along the Beach,” the Mazda MX-5 Miata would certainly top that list. This is particularly true where a driver and no more than one passenger comprise the entire crew. We named the MX-5 Kelley Blue Book’s Best Convertible of 2023 and 2024. With a top that can be raised or lowered with one hand from the driver’s seat, this roadster makes getting to the beach a hoot. However, the one big downside is, you’ll need to pack light and plan on renting chairs once you reach the sand. The trunk is a stingy 4.6 cu ft.
On the bright side, the Miata is quick enough, and its rear-wheel-drive architecture encourages tossing it around any curves you might encounter. The combination of its athletic chassis and 181-horsepower 4-cylinder engine conspire to deliver an engaging drive. Of course, this Mazda is among our beach picks for its convertible top and park-anywhere size.
2023 Toyota Sienna
Expert Rating: 4.7
Starting Price: $36,885
Max. Cargo Space: 101 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 36 mpg
The Toyota Sienna is the ultimate beach-going minivan. We are so smitten with it we named it the Kelley Blue Book Minivan Best Buy of 2023. Toyota only offers the Sienna with a 245-horsepower hybrid powertrain for far better than average fuel economy. We are big fans of minivans in general for their versatility and practicality. This Toyota can transport up to eight and all their gear to the beach in a comfy, quiet environment.
Available features like a rear entertainment system, 4-zone climate control, and seven USB ports can keep everyone on board powered up and happy. The Sienna’s optional (on upper trim levels) 1,500-watt electric outlet allows you to power a slow cooker, use small appliances, or inflate an air mattress. Now that’s handy for a beach trip.
Learn more about electric torque in our Horsepower vs. Torque article.
2023 Audi S5 Cabriolet
Expert Rating: Not Rated
Starting Price: $64,400
Max. Cargo Space: 13.2 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 23 mpg
You won’t see yourself coming and going when driving the somewhat rare Audi S5 convertible. It is an ideal pick if you are in a rush to get to the sand and surf. A 349-horsepower turbocharged V6 churns under its sharply sculpted hood. Getting to 60 mph from a standstill takes less than 5 seconds. If you want your trip to the beach with a degree of elegance and ample technology, the S5 Cabriolet fits the bill.
The S5 technically has two rear seats, but they are very snug, making this vehicle best enjoyed by a lucky driver and passenger. But its trunk is large enough for an acceptable amount of beach necessities.
2023 Kia Soul
Expert Rating: 4.4
Starting Price: $19,890
Max. Cargo Space: 62.1 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 30 mpg
What we like about the Kia Soul is its roominess (for a small car) and practical cargo area. Tidy outside and big within, its shape creates a cargo area capable of accepting taller items, plus stuff can be more easily stacked and arranged thanks to the Soul’s boxy shape. Moreover, its ride height is nearly that of a small SUV. Consequently, it’s easy to enter and exit. And its second-row seat has more legroom than the Ford Bronco Sport or Volkswagen Taos. All of that means a lot when you need to move multiple people or gear. Toss in the Soul’s value pricing and the Kia uber-long warranties, and this vehicle is a winner for driving to the beach or anywhere else.
Providing the Soul’s go is a 147-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. Its measured acceleration won’t wow you or your passengers, but it cruises pleasantly and efficiently on the highway. Beach parking is notoriously scarce. The Soul’s tidy size makes squeezing into smaller spaces easier and safer.
2024 Ford Mustang Convertible
Expert Rating: Not Rated
Starting Price: $39,020
Max. Cargo Space: 10.9 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 26 mpg
Ford just released the seventh, and what may well be the last, generation of its iconic pony car. As a matter of fact, the Mustang is the only car Ford still markets; the rest of the Ford lineup is composed of trucks and SUVs. So, we felt compelled to include the convertible version among our beach picks. A staple for cruising along coasts all over the country, the convertible Mustang is a familiar sight at the beach. This latest version sources its power from either a 315-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or a 480-horsepower V8. We find the turbo-4 has plenty of go for cruising around.
The second-row legroom is stingy at best for the two rear seats. However, the trunk can accommodate a cooler and a few other beach accessories. We especially like all the customization opportunities Ford offers to make this droptop your own.
Best Cars to Drive on the Beach
2024 Subaru Outback
Expert Rating: 4.6
Starting Price: $28,895
Max. Cargo Space: 75.6 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 28 mpg
The listed price is for the Outback Base trim; however, we nearly always recommend the Premium grade ($31,195) when discussing a Subaru model. It’s not a huge price jump and provides much more standard content. No matter the model, though, AWD and 8.7 inches of ground clearance are standard for every Outback. Somewhat of a mutt, this half wagon and half SUV offers qualities of both. Its roomy cargo space and easy-to-use roof rack make bringing beach umbrellas, kayaks, or anything else you might need easy to pack and haul. Subaru builds it for adventuring.
With each wheel sharing the torque, driving on sand is child’s play. As for performance, Subaru gives it a 182-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. However, you can upgrade this mill to a turbocharged 4-cylinder for more oomph. It has plenty of cargo space for beach chairs, coolers, and all the other beach paraphernalia you want to drag with you.
2024 Jeep Wrangler 2-Door/4-Door
Expert Rating: 4.0
Starting Price: $31,895/$35,895
Max. Cargo Space: 31.7 cu ft/72.4 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 20 mpg/19 mpg (2023 numbers)
As we do for the Ford Bronco (see below), we include both the 2-door and 4-door Wrangler models here. Both come standard with 4WD. The prices and fuel economy are for models equipped with the 280-horsepower V6 engine and 6-speed manual transmission. Wrangler models feature removable doors and roofs, and a windshield you can fold flat, making for ideal beach cruising. Even the 2-door provides a fair amount of cargo space, while the 4-door allows bringing several people and their beach gear along.
Jeep renovated the Wrangler’s interior for 2024, giving it a more modern design with a backlit 12.3-inch touchscreen that’s much easier to see with the top down and the sun pouring in. Second-row legroom is a bit stingy in the 2-door, and the rear seat only accommodates two. If you need more people room, the 4-door/5-passenger model is your answer. The 4-door also comes as a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that is every bit as capable in the sand as gasoline-only-fueled models. It can travel up to 22 miles in electric-only mode.
2023 Ford F-150 Raptor
Expert Rating: 4.7
Starting Price: $76,775
Max. Cargo Space: 51.9 cubic feet
Combined Fuel Economy: 15 mpg
A high-power, high-speed pickup with amazing off-road chops, the Ford F-150 Raptor is an absolute animal.
Ford arms this F-150 model with a 450-horsepower twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine also packing 510 lb-ft of torque. It offers plenty of cargo room inside and out, making it great for hauling almost anything you want to the beach. Moreover, the Raptor has a max towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, meaning hooking up a camper or a trailer with a boat or a pair of personal watercraft is no problem.
When it comes to its off-roading, the Raptor also excels. It delivers standard 4WD with seven different driver-selectable terrain management settings for a range of terrains, including sand. If you want to make a splash while bringing all of your gear, the Raptor definitely gets the job done.
2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz
Expert Rating: 4.2
Starting Price w/AWD: $28,150
Max. Cargo Space: Not Available
Combined Fuel Economy: 23 mpg
The 2024 Hyundai Santa Cruz has a starting price of $26,650. That’s for a front-wheel-drive Santa Cruz SE powered by a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter engine. We wanted to add AWD for some beach driving, which increased the bottom line by $1,500. The top three trim levels get you 281 horsepower with a turbo 4-cylinder engine. The upper trims also offer Hyundai Bluelink with digital key, so your phone acts as a key if you don’t want to take your key fob to the beach.
Getting to the beach, you’ll find extra cargo space in the storage area under the rear seats. You can stash your purse or wallet, a laptop, or whatever out of sight before hitting the waves.
When equipped as the SE or SEL, this Hyundai tows up to 3,500 pounds. That’s plenty to tug along a couple of personal watercraft on a trailer. However, if you need to tow more, opting for one of the upper trim levels with the turbo 4-cylinder with AWD increases towing to 5,000 pounds.
2024 Land Rover Defender 110
Expert Rating: 4.0
Starting Price: $60,600
Max. Cargo Space: 78.8 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 18 mpg
The versatile Land Rover Defender 110 can take you from the mountains down to the beach without missing a beat. Land Rover built this SUV with off-road enthusiasts of all stripes in mind. It has standard features that include AWD with terrain modes, including sand, and a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that’s good for 296 horsepower. An available turbo 6-cylinder engine brings even more punch. However, if you want more power yet, you can opt for an optional supercharged V8 engine that delivers 518 horsepower.
The Defender can transport the entire family. It has 7-person seating in the 4-door model, while the 2-door Defender 90 can seat five or, uniquely, up to six, thanks to an available 3-person front bench. The Defender convenience touches like a permanent ladder for accessing the roof. If you want more cargo and passenger space, we recommend the extended-length Defender 130 ($69,100).
2023 Ford Bronco 2-Door/4-Door
Expert Rating: 4.2
Starting Price: $34,890 (2-door) and $38,040 (4-door)
Max. Cargo Space: 52.3 cu ft/83 cu ft
Combined Fuel Economy: 20 mpg/20 mpg
We include both the 2-door and 4-door Bronco models as a single pick. The prices here are for the base model, which is in very short supply. The next trim level up is the Big Bend, with pricing of $38,880 (2-door) and $39,870 (4-door). The prices are for the standard 275-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. A 315-horsepower twin-turbo V6 is available for a $1,895 upcharge. With the 4-cylinder, the Bronco can tow up to 3,500 pounds, regardless of the door count. Every Bronco comes with a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. (go over any terrain) modes, including one for sand that’s ideal for conquering beaches.
As with its primary rival, the Jeep Wrangler, the Bronco has removable doors and roof for serious ray catching. The 2-door model seats four while the 4-door can handle five. We found the Bronco to be noisy on the highway, but it does provide a somewhat smoother ride than the more truck-like Wrangler.
2023 Jeep Gladiator
Expert Rating: 4.0
Starting Price: $38,990
Max. Cargo Space: Not Available
Combined Fuel Economy: 19 mpg
There’s something about a pickup truck with removable doors, and roof, and a windshield that can be folded down, that screams, beach! That’s the Jeep Gladiator. Standard power comes from a 285-horsepower V6 linked to a 6-speed manual transmission. An 8-speed automatic is optional, as is a V6 diesel. There is plenty of space for up to five with some of the most generous rear-seat legroom among midsize trucks. The 5-foot cargo bed can accommodate lots of beach goodies and a couple of dirt bikes when the tailgate is lowered.
With a maximum tow rating of 4,000 pounds, the Gladiator won’t have an issue tugging along a small boat or camper. If you somehow overshoot the beach and wind up in the drink, the Gladiator can handle water up to 30 inches deep. Jeep even offers the Gladiator in Mojave trim ($51,245) with unique suspension components engineered for sand. Yep, the Gladiator screams, beach!
Best Beach Cars
1. Ford Bronco
2. Jeep Wrangler
3. Ford F-150 Raptor
4. Hyundai Santa Cruz
5. Land Rover Defender
6. Mazda MX-5 Miata
7. Ford Mustang Convertible
8. Subaru Outback
9. Toyota Sienna
10. Audi S5 Cabriolet
11. Jeep Gladiator
12. Kia Soul
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