These Fun Beach and Sand Toys Are Perfect for Vacations, Staycations, or Backyard-Cations

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Long, hot summer days are the best time to bust out the outdoor toys to break away your children from their screens — and fun beach and sand toys are the perfect way to turn a mundane afternoon digging around in sandboxes (or mud) into a day of imaginative play.

The sky's the limit when it comes to variety, so for this guide, we're focusing on durable beach toys along with several eco-friendly options that have a smaller carbon footprint. Kids tend to amass a ton of plastic playthings, so many of these sand toys are more sustainable toy alternatives. We know that parents are (rightly) concerned about how much plastic and disposable toys they buy every year, and we're addressing that.

Whether you're scrounging up the kids' suitcases and packing up the family for a vacation, heading to a local beach for a day trip, encouraging your kids to play in their outdoor playhouse in the backyard for them to get their energy out, or buying gifts for your grandkids, these 15 fun beach and sand toys will make their summertime memorable.

Read on below for our editor-curated list to discover lots of fun toys they'll love.

Beach Toy Essential Set

Your child or your giftee will be playing with these beach toys year after year because Hape makes sure to build durable toys that will survive heavy use.

This 11-piece set includes a sweet watering can and bucket, several sand molds, a shovel, and a sieve so your little explorer can sift out all the best seashells. The mesh bag is the perfect storage tote, allowing wet, sandy toys to dry and shake clean.

Shark Toss and Catch Net Pool Game

This toss-and-catch net game is waterproof, so you can play with this beach toy on the sand or in the water. Plus, the shark theme makes it an ideal beach toy for some summer fun.

Sand Toys Set

We love that this 19-piece set has a real "toy" element to it with the water wheel. You can have fun at the beach and learn all about the power of water at the same time. Plus, it's just a really deluxe kit.

Collapsible Beach Sand Toys for Kids

We love a collapsible bucket for space saving — especially on trips or when it's likely going to live in your trunk between trips. This kit has everything from bulldozers to buckets to dino-shaped sand molds. It's a comprehensive kit.

Ice Cream Beach Toys

If you've never been given an ice cream cone made of sand, you're missing out on some fun pretend play. Not to worry, though. If your little one is way into their play kitchen, this set with cones, scoops, and other fun molds for them.

Dinosaur Claw Beach Play Set

So, you're getting a gift for a dinosaur-obsessed kid? Look no further! This kit has two adorable dinosaur claw digging tools. Any little one can really get down in the dirt with these.

Sandcastle Building Kit Snow Brick Maker

Get multi-season play out of this toy that works as well in the snow as it does in the sand. It makes perfect bricks without much effort, so whether your giftee wants to make a castle on the beach or an igloo in their yard, they're ready.

Shelling Tools for Beach

Our kids are huge shelling fanatics, and if yours are, too, they need this kit that's designed to find shells easily. There's a long-handled sifter, a spade, a short sifter, a bucket for collecting, and a bag for choosing the perfect ones.

Sand Baking Play Set

This sweet sand baking set by Melissa & Doug will inspire your little darling to mix up some yummy treats out of the sand.

It's so fun to use the shell-shaped measuring cups to determine the perfect portions and then use the sea creature mixing utensils to stir it up.

Deluxe Beach Toy Set

We're not going to lie — we love the little flags included in this set. Plus, the spinning tower, pyramid, and domed turret molds are just plain neat. The collapsible bucket helps for packing sand and toting water, but it can also be used for smart storage.

This beach toy set is a great value considering you're getting all that plus a shovel and rake for well under $20.

Sand Castle Beach Bucket Toy Set

Building a sandcastle has never been easier, thanks to these epic molds. Your kids will be playing Knights of the Rebellion in no time, thanks to the easy-to-build castles in this kit.

This set includes four castle molds that can be used separately or together to build one massive beast of a castle. Unfortunately, dragons are not included.

Beach Sand Toy Set

Your children won't get bored with this massive 18-piece set. It includes molds, shovels, a bucket, a mesh carrying bag, sieves, and an adorable rake.

It's a huge set made to keep your kids busy for hours and hours, making sandcastles, mansions on the beach, or just making shell bras for their dad, who's once again fallen asleep in the sun. Your kids will be amped to have all the tools they need.

Tide Pool Bath Set

Green Toys is a brand that transforms ocean-sourced plastic into eco-friendly, colorful toys for your kiddo to play with. These toys are designed to be used for a long time and easily recycled when they're too worn to be useful.

These deep sea-inspired shapes will get your tot in the vacay mood, even if they are only using them in their backyard sand table.

Sandcastle Molds

If your child wants to build the biggest, best sandcastle ever, this 6-piece classic set can't be beaten. This six-piece set includes long border tops, turrets, and square tops for the most impressive look imaginable.

This set eventually leads to sandcastle competitions with family and friends, and frankly, we are ready for them.

Sand Molds Beach Toys

For sandcastle pros, you can't do much better than this massive, 23-piece beach toy set. It has carving tools, rolling tools to flatten surfaces, and a ton of molds that are perfect for adding a little something special to their sandy structure. It's all in smaller sizes, too, so it's great for the littlest builders.

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