Waco, TX Road Trips

Waco is now a city of 139,000 people (2020), with 280,000 people in the metropolitan region. Waco has a number of worthwhile attractions. Founded in 1849 near the site of an abandoned agricultural village of Waco Indians, Waco rose to prominence in the 1870s as a major junction for the transport of cattle; by 1871 between 600,000 and 700,000 head of cattle had passed through the city. As time progressed, Waco's location at the crossroads of major railroads and its location on the Brazos River helped the city grow and thrive. The Dr Pepper soft drink was invented in Waco in 1885. Waco came to the world's attention, and is still remembered by many people, for the February 28, 1993 stand-off between federal agents (FBI, ATF) and the Branch Davidians, a Seventh Day Adventist offshoot religious group, led by David Koresh, the sect's leader. It resulted in the deaths of 86 people. The incident took place 15 miles outside of Waco, though - not in the city. When asked about the incident, most residents will answer; just realize that generally Wacoans are tired of the subject and would rather talk about something else. In 2014, due to the immense popularity of HGTV's hit show, Fixer Upper, the Magnolia Silos became a place of pilgrimage for HGTV viewers from all over the world.

1 Armstrong Browning Library, 710 Speight Ave, ☏ +1 254 710-3566. Located on Baylor University's campus, the library contains the world's largest collection of works related to British poets Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The building has 62 stained glass windows depicting themes from the Brownings' poetry. 2 Cameron Park. Cameron Park consists of over 400 acres of trees, trails, and nature that sit in the heart of Waco. Upstream from downtown Waco, the park is lined by the Brazos and Bosque rivers and the trails weave deep into the forest which are perfect for running, walking, biking, and horseback riding. Stationed throughout the park are pavilions, water fountains, fire pits, and public restrooms, making the park a haven for Waco families and visitors alike. Also includes a 23-hole disc golf course, fishing and boating facilities, and a "Spray Park" with water fountains and playgrounds free to the public. 3 Cameron Park Zoo, 1701 N 4th St, ☏ +1 254 750-8400. M-Sa 9AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Waco's zoo is in one of the country's largest undeveloped municipal parks. The zoo is next to the Brazos River and has 52 acres of vegetation. The walkways of Cameron Park Zoo meander through lush landscapes and natural habitat displays featuring animals from Africa, Asia, South America, North America, and Madagascar. An 1880s Texas ranch house serves as an education facility, complete with whitetail deer, turkey, and peccary display. A state of the art Herpetarium opened in 1997.

4 Baylor Bears. Baylor University sports, competing in 19 sports (8 men's, 11 women's) as members of the Big 12 Conference. Football and basketball (both men and women) are traditionally the biggest draws, with basketball being the most successful in recent times (with three national titles for the women and one for the men in the current century). The football team plays in 1 McLane Stadium on the banks of the Brazos River, with one end zone open to the river. For now, the basketball teams are playing at 2 Ferrell Center, but they will move to the new (but smaller) 3 Foster Pavilion in January 2024. Lion's Park, 1716 North 42nd St, ☏ +1 254 772-3541. Ride on a miniature train, play putt-putt, drive a go-kart, or ride on a bumper boat. 5 Hawaiian Falls Waco, 900 Lake Shore Drive, ☏ +1 254 892-0222. Wave pool, slides, lazy river, etc. $24 adults, $19 child. (updated Jun 2020)

Schmaltz's Sandwich Shop, 1412 N Valley Mills Dr, ☏ +1 254 776-3694. M-F until 7PM, Sa until 5PM. Local sandwich shop since 1970s. The owner wakes up every morning and makes the bread fresh - sandwiches are served warm and delicious! There are two soups served daily, one of which is always Wisconsin cheddar cheese soup Dubl-R Burgers, 1810 Herring Ave, ☏ +1 254 235-5577. M-Sa. Lolita's Tortilleria, 1911 Franklin Ave, ☏ +1 254 755-8008. Tu - Su until 2PM. Locally owned Mexican restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch all day, or until 2PM. It's downtown near many of Waco's attractions so you don't have to travel far to start off your day on a full stomach. Must try: the queso is one of a kind - looks different so don't knock it before you try it! under $10. Kitok's Restaurant, 1815 N 18th St, ☏ +1 254 754-1801. Kitok Restaurant is a popular "hole in the wall" restaurant in Waco, Texas. The original owners, Bob and Kitok Moore, sold the restaurant but the current owners maintain the look and feel of the original Kitok restaurant. The prices are very reasonable. One of the most popular, the Lip Locker hamburger, is a double-patty cheeseburger that is a favorite among regulars. The oriental fries are also very popular. The Asian food offered at Kitok's is also very good, but it is the burgers and fries that the restaurant is known for. The staff is friendly and attentive to your needs. The waitresses go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable and even the cooks love chatting with diners. Poppa Rollos Pizza, 703 N Valley Mills Dr, ☏ +1 254 776-6776.

Since Dr. Pepper originated in Waco, it is the "primary" drink to try. "Dublin Dr. Pepper" is made using the original sweetener—pure cane sugar—which makes it different from other soft drinks that now use the less expensive high fructose corn syrup. 1 Common Grounds, 1123 S 8th St, ☏ +1 254 757-2957. M-F 7AM-11PM, Sa Su 8AM-11PM. Common Grounds is a local coffee shop and site for many concerts, primarily of local artists and bands. The shop offers free Wi-Fi. (updated Nov 2019) Dancing Bear Pub, 1117 Speight Ave (on Speight Ave. close to 12th St.). M-Th 4PM-midnight; F-Su noon-midnight. Locally owned, small pub. Ambience isn't great, but the selection is nice. Next door is Food for Thought, from which you can get sandwiches. (updated Feb 2023) 2 Scruffy Murphy's, 1226 Speight Ave. M-Sa 7p-2a, Su 9p-2a. Classic college dive bar. Popular with Baylor students, especially on its frequent karaoke nights. (updated Feb 2023)

Knights Inn Franklin Ave Waco, 3829 Franklin Ave, ☏ +1 254 754-0363, fax: +1 254 752-1318. Hampton Inn Waco South, 2501 Market Pl (I-35 and Hwy 6), ☏ +1 254-662-9500. Hilton Waco, 113 S University Parks, ☏ +1 254 754-8484. Comfort Suites, 2700 La Salle Ave (IH 35 & LaSalle Ave. Exit 333A.), ☏ +1 254-537-0413. 100% nonsmoking all-suite hotel with free hot breakfast & outdoor swimming pool. Opened in 2006. Studio 6, 1430 IH 35 South (IH35 & 14th St. Exit 334), ☏ +1 254 752-1991. (updated Dec 2017) Hampton Inn Waco North, 4259 North I-35 (exit 339), ☏ +1 254-412-1999. The closest hotel to the Waco Regional Airport. La Quinta Inn & Suites, 6003 Woodway Drive, Woodway, ☏ +1 254-772-0200. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: noon. Pet friendly. $106-146. Fairfield Inn & Suites Waco North, 4257 North I-35 (exit 339), ☏ +1 254-412-2535. 1 Holiday Inn Waco NW, 1801 N Development Blvd (Exit 339), ☏ +1 254 799-9997, [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Full service Holiday Inn. Features 122 guest rooms, including suites, jacuzzi suites and family suites. Hotel features indoor pool, hot tub, dry sauna, fitness center, and an on-site full service restaurant. Not pet friendly. (updated Dec 2017) SpringHill Suites by Marriott Waco Woodway, 200 Colonnade Parkway Woodway, ☏ +1 254-732-7979. (updated Mar 2021) Colcord House Bed & Breakfast, 2211 Colcord Ave, ☏ +1 254-753-6856.

1 Waco Regional Airport (ACT IATA), 7909 Karl May Dr, ☏ +1 254 750-8656. American Airlines provides passenger flights between Waco and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dallas Love Field, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are each about a 1-hour 40-minute drive from Waco. Waco is along I-35, thus allowing easy access by car from Dallas and Austin. On I-35, it is a 90-minute drive south of Dallas, and a 90-minute drive north of Austin. State Highway 6 is the preferred route to reach Waco from Houston, a three-hour drive. Waco has a 2 Greyhound Bus Terminal in the center of downtown, on S 8th St, between Mary Ave and Jackson Ave. While Amtrak does not service Waco directly, there is a nearby station on the Texas Eagle route between Los Angeles, San Antonio and Chicago in McGregor, a small community 15 miles west of Waco on highway 84. 3 McGregor station is at 1 Amtrak Blvd. Trains run once daily, with the northbound train arriving in late morning, and the southbound train arriving in late afternoon. There is no scheduled public transport from McGregor, meaning that a taxi or private transport is required in order to reach Waco. The Brazos River flows through downtown Waco and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Reaching Waco by boat will be a challenge due to the shallowness of this river, along with frequent dams and falls. A more practical (and entertaining) way of reaching Waco by boat would be to launch a kayak or canoe at the Lake Whitney dam, (approximately 40 miles upstream) and float downstream to Waco.

The easiest way to travel around Waco is by car. The city of Waco does run a Waco Transit public transportation system; however, it has few stops and only runs during the daytime.

Waco has a reputation for a higher-than-normal crime rate for a small to medium size city. Visitors should exercise normal caution. That said, most violent crime occurs in residential areas, away from most areas visitors may visit. If you do find yourself in such an area (usually for dining), use normal caution. Drive with the doors locked, do not draw attention to yourself, and do not make prolonged eye contact (i.e. stare at other drivers). It is strongly advised not to be at Cameron Park at night unless you are with a large group. Waco, and Texas in general, is not frequented by pedestrians as much as a lot of other places. If you decide to walk, be careful, as the drivers are not used to pedestrians and may not see you, and be aware that many sidewalks are in poor condition, if they exist at all. Tornadoes are not a frequent occurrence in Waco, but when they do hit, they tend to be very strong. Do not panic if a tornado warning is issued. If such a warning is issued, turn on the local news and keep updated. The weatherperson will explain what cautions need to be taken, and who should take them. If the weatherperson, any hotel staff, or public officials give you directions, follow them. It should go without saying that you should not go outside during a tornado. See the tornado safety article for more information. If on the Baylor campus, while you can call 911, a faster emergency response can be obtained by calling the emergency number for the Baylor Police, ☏ +1 254 710-2222.