Waco, Texas is easy to sum up in one word: Magnolia. If you only have time for two stops, make them Magnolia Market at the Silos at 601 Webster Ave and the Dr Pepper Museum downtown. Magnolia is the shopping, food, and photo hub made famous by Chip and Joanna Gaines. The Dr Pepper Museum is the fun, quirky stop where you can learn how the soda was invented right here in Waco back in 1885.
But Waco holds a lot more than those two spots. This guide walks you through the best things to do for every kind of trip, whether you are traveling with kids, as a couple, or on your own. You will also get real tips on timing, parking, and what to skip if your visit falls on a Sunday.
The Core Waco Experience: Magnolia & Dr Pepper
Most people come to Waco for one reason: Magnolia. And honestly, it lives up to the hype for a lot of visitors.
Magnolia Market at the Silos sits at 601 Webster Ave in downtown Waco. It is open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Inside, you will find the main market store, a garden, a bakery, and a food truck park. Plan on spending two to four hours here if you want to see it all without rushing.
A few tips before you go. Arrive right at opening if you want to beat the crowds. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. And remember, Magnolia is closed on Sundays, so do not plan a Sunday visit around it.
Once you are done shopping, head over to the Dr Pepper Museum. This stop tells the story of how Dr Pepper was invented in Waco back in 1885, making it the oldest major soft drink brand in the country. You will walk through three floors of old bottling equipment, vintage ads, and hands-on exhibits.
Here is something brand new for 2026. The museum just celebrated its 35th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, it added a new permanent photo spot: a 23-foot-tall “World’s Largest Dr Pepper Bottle” standing right in the courtyard. One side shows the drink’s vintage branding, and the other shows its more modern look. It is a fun, easy stop for photos, and it is new enough that most older travel guides will not mention it yet.
At the end of your visit, swing by the soda fountain for a classic Dr Pepper float. It is a small treat, but it rounds out the experience nicely.
Together, these two stops give you a solid half-day in Waco. Magnolia covers the shopping and food truck scene. The Dr Pepper Museum covers the history and the quirky Texas charm. If you are short on time, this pairing alone is enough to say you have seen the heart of the city.
But do not stop there. Waco has grown far beyond these two names, and the rest of this guide will show you where to go next, whether you are traveling with little kids, visiting as a couple, or just passing through for a day.
For current hours and any schedule changes, it is worth checking Magnolia’s official visitor page before you go, especially around holidays.
What to Do in Waco on a Sunday (The Magnolia Rule)
If your trip to Waco lands on a Sunday, there is one thing you need to know before you plan anything else: Magnolia is closed.
Magnolia Market, Magnolia Home, Magnolia Press, and Magnolia Table are all shut on Sundays. This catches a lot of visitors off guard, especially since weekends are the most popular time to travel. There are a few special event weekends each year when Magnolia opens its doors on a Sunday, but you should not count on it. Always treat Sunday as a closed day for anything with the Magnolia name on it.
The good news is that Waco still has plenty to offer, even without the Silos.
Here are a few solid options for a Sunday in Waco:
- Dr Pepper Museum. This one stays open daily, so Sunday works just fine. Walk through the exhibits and grab a Dr Pepper float at the soda fountain.
- Cameron Park Zoo. The zoo is open on Sundays, though its hours shift a bit (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. instead of the usual 9 a.m. start).
- Waco Mammoth National Monument. The grounds are open daily, so this is an easy fit for a Sunday morning or afternoon.
- Cameron Park. The trails, river views, and open space here are free and open every day of the week.
- Waco Suspension Bridge. This historic bridge is outdoors and open to walk across any day, including Sunday.
Build your Sunday around these stops instead, and save Magnolia for another day of your trip. That way, nothing catches you by surprise.
Family-Friendly Waco: Kids, Toddlers, and Teens
Waco works well for family trips, but what your kids enjoy most will depend on their age. Here is how to plan things to do in Waco, TX with kids of any age, from toddlers up through teens.
For Toddlers
If you are traveling with a toddler, keep things simple and low-key. Katy Ballpark, located right at the Magnolia Silos, is one of the easiest wins. It is a small wiffle ball field, and bats and balls are already set out, so you do not need to bring anything. Toddlers can run around and swing while parents relax nearby. Best of all, it is free.
For Kids
For older kids, two stops stand out: Cameron Park Zoo and the Mayborn Museum Complex.
Cameron Park Zoo is a hands-on favorite, with animals kids can get close to and plenty of shaded walking paths. Current 2026 pricing is:
| Age | Price |
| Adults | $16 |
| Seniors | $14 |
| Children (3 to 12) | $12 |
| Children (2 and under) | Free |
The zoo is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Mayborn Museum Complex is another great fit, with hands-on science and history exhibits built for kids to explore. Admission runs between $8 and $10 per person, depending on age, so it is an affordable half-day stop. It also sits on the Baylor University campus, so you can combine it with a walk around the grounds.
For Teens
Teenagers usually want something a little more active or social. Here are a few good fits:
- Waco Escape Rooms give teens a fun group challenge, and rooms often have same-day booking available.
- Baylor University’s campus is worth a walk for older teens who may be thinking about college visits down the road.
- Cameron Park’s hiking trails offer a free way to burn energy, with trails ranging from easy to more challenging.
The key with family travel in Waco is matching the stop to the age group. Toddlers do best with simple, open spaces like Katy Ballpark. Kids thrive at the zoo and museum. Teens tend to enjoy a bit more movement and independence. Mixing a few of each keeps everyone happy without packing too much into one day.
Date Nights and After Dark: Waco for Couples and Adults
Waco is not just a daytime destination. Once the shops close, there are still plenty of things to do in Waco, TX for couples and adults looking for a good evening out.
Start with the Waco Hippodrome Theatre. This historic venue has been part of downtown Waco since 1914, and it still hosts movies, live shows, and special events today. It is a great way to end the day somewhere with character, instead of just heading straight back to the hotel.
If you are after something a little more relaxed, Dichotomy Coffee + Spirits is worth a stop. By day it runs as a coffee shop, but it also serves cocktails and other drinks, with a rooftop patio that looks out over downtown Waco. It is a quiet, low-key spot, perfect for a couple who wants to unwind with a drink and a view after a busy day of sightseeing.
For something more active, Waco Escape Rooms is a solid pick for both couples and groups of adults. It is a fun way to spend an hour working together, and it often has rooms with same-day availability if you decide last minute.
These three stops cover a good range of what Waco offers after dark. If you want culture and atmosphere, head to the Hippodrome. If you want to slow down with a drink in hand, Dichotomy’s rooftop is hard to beat. And if you are looking for something a bit more hands-on, an escape room is a fun way to close out the night.
This mix makes Waco a solid stop for things to do in Waco, TX at night, not just a daytime shopping trip. Pair any of these with dinner downtown, and you have a full evening planned without much effort.
Beyond Magnolia: Historic Sites and Outdoor Escapes
If you have had your fill of shopping, Waco has real history and nature to offer too.
Start with the Waco Mammoth National Monument. This spot preserves the fossils of a herd of Columbian mammoths that lived in the area thousands of years ago. Here is something worth knowing before you go: walking the park grounds is completely free. You only pay if you want to go inside the Dig Shelter, where the actual fossils are kept, through a guided tour. That ticket costs $6 for adults, with lower rates for seniors, military, and kids ages 4 to 17. Kids 3 and under get in free. Tours run every 30 minutes and last about 45 minutes to an hour, so you do not need to book ahead.
The National Park Service’s official site has the most current fee details if anything changes before your trip.
Next, make time for the Waco Suspension Bridge. This bridge has been a symbol of the city since 1870, and it crosses right over the Brazos River downtown. If you visited Waco a few years back and remember the bridge being closed, you are not imagining things. It underwent a major $12.4 million renovation between 2020 and 2023, with new cables, decking, and repairs to keep it standing for the next century. The good news is that it reopened in April 2023 and has been open to the public ever since. Today, it is free to walk across, and it remains one of the best photo spots in the city.
Together, these two stops give you a break from shopping and a deeper look at what makes Waco more than just a Magnolia stop. The Mammoth Monument offers a quiet, educational outing, while the Suspension Bridge gives you an easy, scenic walk right in the heart of downtown. Both are budget-friendly, and both help answer the common question of what else there is to do once you have seen the Silos.
Planning a Fall Trip: Things to Do in Waco, TX in October
October is one of the best times to visit Waco. The summer heat starts to ease off, which makes it a lot more comfortable to walk around downtown, explore Cameron Park, or spend a few hours outside at the Mammoth Monument without getting worn out by the Texas sun.
Fall is also a good season to slow down and take in the city’s creative side. Waco has been certified by the Texas Film Commission as a “Film Friendly” community since 2017, and the city hosts an independent film festival each year that draws local filmmakers and small productions. You might even spot a film crew working somewhere downtown during your visit.
Pair your outdoor stops with a walk through the Silo District, a visit to the Dr Pepper Museum, or an evening at the Waco Hippodrome Theatre. With cooler weather and smaller crowds than the peak summer months, October gives you more breathing room to see the city at an easier pace, without rushing between stops just to beat the heat.
Practical Tips: Parking and Logistics
Parking is the one thing that catches a lot of first-time visitors off guard at Magnolia Market. There is no large, dedicated parking lot right at the Silos, so people often end up circling the block looking for a spot.
A common mistake is paying to park in one of the nearby church lots. These fill up fast, and they are not your only option. Instead, head straight for the free City of Waco parking lot on 8th Street. It is close to the Silos, it will not cost you anything, and it saves you from wasting time hunting for street parking during busy hours.
If you are visiting on a weekend or during a special event, give yourself a little extra time to park and walk in, since crowds pick up fast. Weekday mornings, right around opening, tend to be the easiest time to find a spot without any hassle.
One more tip: if parking still looks tight when you arrive, some visitors choose to park a few blocks away and walk in rather than waiting for a closer spot to open up. It usually ends up faster in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Waco
How should I spend a day in Waco?
Start your morning at Magnolia Market at the Silos, ideally right at opening to beat the crowds. From there, walk over to the Dr Pepper Museum or stop by the Waco Suspension Bridge for photos. In the afternoon, pick one more stop based on who you are traveling with, like Cameron Park Zoo for families or Dichotomy for a relaxed coffee break. Wrap up the evening with dinner downtown and a show at the Waco Hippodrome Theatre. Just remember, this plan will not work on a Sunday, since Magnolia is closed that day.
Do Chip and Joanna Gaines still live in Waco, TX?
Yes, they still live in the area. Their home sits on about 40 acres in Crawford, Texas, a small town just outside Waco’s city limits. They still own and run Magnolia Market, Magnolia Table, and their other businesses in Waco itself.
What else is there to do in Waco besides Magnolia?
Plenty. Try the Dr Pepper Museum, Cameron Park and its zoo, the Mayborn Museum Complex, Waco Mammoth National Monument, the Waco Suspension Bridge, and a walk around the Baylor University campus. At night, the Waco Hippodrome Theatre and Dichotomy Coffee + Spirits are both solid picks.
Is Waco, Texas worth a visit?
For most travelers, yes, especially if you plan beyond just Magnolia. Some visitors find the Silos crowded or overpriced, but those who build a full day or weekend around the city’s museums, parks, and historic sites tend to come away with a much better impression.
What are the top 10 things to do in Waco, Texas?
Magnolia Market at the Silos, the Dr Pepper Museum, Cameron Park Zoo, the Mayborn Museum Complex, Waco Mammoth National Monument, the Waco Suspension Bridge, Baylor University, the Waco Hippodrome Theatre, Dichotomy Coffee + Spirits, and Waco Escape Rooms.
What celebrity lives in Waco, Texas?
Chip and Joanna Gaines are the most well known, living just outside the city in Crawford. A few other celebrities have roots in Waco without currently living there. Steve Martin was born in Waco in 1945, though he was raised in Southern California. Jennifer Love Hewitt was also born in Waco, then raised in nearby Nolanville, Texas.
What movie was filmed in Waco, Texas?
“The Old Man & The Gun,” starring Robert Redford and Sissy Spacek, filmed scenes in Waco back in October 2017. Waco has been certified as a Texas Film Commission “Film Friendly” community since 2017, so it continues to attract film and TV productions.
Is Waco, TX conservative or liberal?
Based on the most recent presidential election data, Waco’s home county, McLennan County, leans strongly Republican. In 2024, the county voted 64.8% Republican to 34.0% Democrat, a margin of about 31 points. McLennan County has voted Republican in every presidential election since 2000.
Where do Chip and Joanna Gaines live?
They live on a roughly 40-acre property in Crawford, Texas, a small town just outside Waco.
Final Thoughts
Waco is more than just a Magnolia stop. Yes, the Silos are worth your time, and the Dr Pepper Museum earns its spot as a top attraction too. But once you look past those two names, you will find a city with real history, solid outdoor space, and enough variety to fill a full weekend. Plan around the Sunday closures, park smart, and pick activities that match who you are traveling with, and you will walk away with a much fuller picture of what Waco has to offer.
