I Rode Cartzilla: The Strip Famous Shopping Cart

First, a non-disclaimer. I have no affiliation with or promotion for Cartzilla. I paid for my ride, and everything below is simply my personal experience.

From https://cartzillaride.com/

Riding down the Strip in a shopping cart isn’t something I would normally do in Vegas—especially on a solo trip. But when an attraction is as popular as Cartzilla, I felt obligated to check it out myself. If you’ve done any recent Stumbling, you’ve probably seen the cart roll by and maybe waved or laughed. Cartzilla is exactly what it sounds like: a massive, souped-up, street-legal shopping cart that somehow feels both ridiculous and perfectly at home in Las Vegas.

I booked a 7pm time slot based on my schedule and a Vegas Valuations suggestion to go at night if possible. Booking was easy, a reasonable (for Vegas) rate at $59 and clear instructions were sent in advance about where to meet (near Treasure Island and Fashion Show Mall).

I had a pretty busy day before my planned ride. I was staying at Paris, went for brunch at the Venetian, Oz at Sphere 2pm, then headed to the Rio to meet the Mehaffeys from Vegas Advantage before heading back to the Strip. The day itself was great. I even won a little money at Treasure Island while killing time & getting my rewards card.

I arrived about 15 minutes early, as suggested, and was greeted by a group yelling my name. For a brief moment I thought my Strip Stumble fame had exploded. Turns out I was just the last to arrive, and everyone was told they were waiting for “Greg.”

That’s when the staff explained there was an issue. A woman arrived with three kids but had only booked two seats for them, thinking kids under four rode free. Whether that came from a third-party site or a misunderstanding, the result was eight people and seven seats.

Since I was solo and hungry, I offered to rebook for the next day. They offered me an 8pm slot, but I wanted time for a meal without rushing. Kurt and the team handled everything well and were very appreciative. Kids of course do not ride free, and there’s nothing on the Cartzilla website that suggests they do—though kids do get free hats.

The next day I rode at 4pm. Night slots were available, but there was a Patriots game at 5:30pm I wanted to watch, so it worked perfectly. The group included a family of four, two women, me flying solo, and our driver, Dave. We were handed water while boarding, and each seat has a cupholder, which was a nice touch. Moments later, we were rolling with music playing at a fun but comfortable volume.

Dave of course let one of the kids pick music first and we get . . . Christmas music. And then . . . more Christmas music. I am not a fan of Christmas music, but it was a week before the Holiday and it made the kids happy so whatever. It did actually make me think that Cartzilla could offer a Christmas themed ride specifically. Throw some fake snow down, give out hot chocolates and keep the cheerful folks isolated from the rest of us.

Anyways, after that the music greatly improved especially when I hit the cart with some Tom Petty & Talking Heads. I wanted to request a 15 -20 minute live version of a Grateful Dead tune, but I thought that would be selfish. Maybe they wouldn't know Help, Slip, Frank was 3 songs & we can wrap this up without hearing Silent Night?

The ride itself was great, offering a unique view of the Strip. The pace is slow and safe, giving you time to actually look around. You’re higher than pedestrians, more open than a car, and moving at the perfect speed to soak it all in. Seeing the Hard Rock guitar taking shape was impressive, as were the beautiful F1 barriers & fences. The reactions from folks Stumbling the Strip varied from waving, looking confused, taking pictures and dancing as they crossed in front.

The route heads south first, turning around just past the Welcome to Las Vegas sign before heading north past Wynn and looping around the Sphere. There’s a great selfie opportunity just before the turnaround where you can get the sign over your shoulder. “Can” being the key word—I tried and failed. Heading north felt a little repetitive since the southbound views were already so good, but there’s really no way around that. If I had one minor critique, it might be that the ride felt slightly long—but that could also be the Christmas music talking & I am sure most would prefer as long for the money as possible.

One important thing to consider is the weather. Cartzilla is open-air, which is part of what makes it so fun, but you’re exposed to the elements. Vegas weather can be extreme, and since you’re moving, it can feel colder than expected on cooler days. In summer, it's going to be hot. Plan accordingly—layers, water, maybe even a small fan.

Overall, it was a fun and genuinely unique experience. It’s easy to see why Kurt and the team have been so successful in such a short time. They’re already working on Cartzilla 2.0 to increase their capacity and some cool upgrades. The website notes that rides often sell out, and even during the quiet week before Christmas, many slots were full. Booking a solo seat was easy, but if you’re traveling with a group, book early.