There’s no better place to stop when driving from Dallas to Austin than Waco Texas. Waco is about 95 miles from Dallas, which is an hour and 25 minute drive. And it’s 102 miles from Austin, which is about another hour and 40 minute drive.
As you can see, Waco is the halfway point between both cities, so it’s the perfect place to split up the Dallas to Austin drive (or vice versa!). As a bonus, there’s quite a few fun things to do in Waco Texas, from unique activities like seeing mammoth fossils to indulging in a real Texas lunch!
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10 Fun Things To Do In Waco Texas Driving From Austin To Dallas
Waco is a small city but that doesn’t mean you can’t find things to do while you’re there! To stay organized, take advantage of my Waco city checklist, included in my Texas city guide.
1. Horseback Riding: Brazos Bluffs Ranch
If you’re looking to go horseback riding while in Texas, a good time might be when driving from Dallas to Austin. You can stretch your legs a bit from the car, and enjoy some of the great outdoors!
Brazos Bluffs Ranch offers a 90 minute horseback riding trail ride (or 2-2.5 hour sunset ride!). This is one of the best places I found in Texas to go horseback riding, and if you have the time, it might be worth it.
2. Waco Mammoth National Monument
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is something you can only do in Waco Texas. This is an archeological site where they found the fossil remains of not one, not two, but 16 Columbian Mammoths!
They’ve excavated the fossils so everyone can see exactly where they were found – which is pretty impressive!
While you’re here, you can walk through the trails at the park and stop here for a picnic lunch. If you’re traveling with kids, there are some educational activities, like excavating some fossils of their own!
3. Cameron Park (River Walk)
If you’re looking for a quicker (and cheaper) place to stretch your legs other than horseback riding, head to Cameron Park. Cameron Park is along the Brazos River in Waco Texas, and it’s beautiful!
You can walk along one of the many trails, I recommend the River Stroll! The River Stroll will take you along the river straight to Downtown Waco. Cross the river along the bridge to loop back along the East Side (with views of the cliffs!).
If you’re into water sports, you can also rent paddle boards at Pure Vida River Paddle Rentals. Or simply book a river cruise along the Brazos River with Viator.
4. Dr. Pepper Museum (& Drive By The House!)
You might not know this, but Dr. Pepper is actually from Texas! And not just anywhere in Texas but from (you guessed it!!) Waco!
They’ve set up a museum so you can tour the old Dr. Pepper Factory, which also gives you a free Dr. Pepper at the end. P.S. I recommend upgrading to a Dr. Pepper float – it’s delicious!
While driving from Dallas to Austin, you can also pass by the Dr. Pepper House. This was the original Dr. Pepper founder’s home, which he built in 1885. It was then bought by rock musician David Crowder. Today, you can actually rent it on Airbnb.
5. See The Famous Alico Building
The Alico building might not look like much today, but it’s a surprisingly important part of Waco history bringing business and ultimately success to the town of Waco. This was, and still is, the office building for many businesses in Waco, including the American-Amicable Life Insurance Company (ALICO).
The construction of the building is what sets it a-part from other buildings from this time period though. What started out as a three story building in 1909 had turned into a 22-story building by 1911. At the time, skyscrapers this tall had started popping up, but not in the West. In fact, it was the tallest building West of the Mississippi and South of the Mason-Dixon Line until 1929.
It was also built so sturdily that it was strong enough to withstand terrible weather conditions, including the 1953 tornado.
6. Enjoy Lunch At Jakes Texas Tea House
If you’re in Waco around lunch time on your Dallas to Austin drive, there’s no better place to eat than Jake’s Tea House. What an experience this is!
Let’s just say that after I ordered, our waitress informed me that my meal also comes with a side Cesar salad, but recommended that I don’t get it…. And boy was she right! I got A LOT of food! I recommend ordering one main, and an extra portion of sides for two people (which was also a recommendation from our waitress for next time!).
Plus, you have to of course order some of their homemade iced tea!
7. Shop Through The Magnolia Market For Local Finds (& See The Silos)
The Magnolia Market was a project of Chip and Jo from Fixer Upper (if you don’t know what this is, don’t worry, I didn’t either, but it’s an HGTV show!). All you have to know is that they turned this historical site into a shoppers haven. Equipped with everything you need all in one place.
First, stop for a meal at Magnolia’s Table then head out for shopping. It’s the ultimate place for local souvenir shopping in Texas! They have it all, from home decor, and gardening supplies, to fashion.
Plus, while you’re here, you have to check out the landmark Waco Silos (never thought I’d ever be saying that!). These massive Silos are behind the market used to be filled with cotton seed.
I was of course in Waco on a Sunday, which is the only day they’re closed…
8. Drive By Or Visit Historical Houses In Waco
If you couldn’t already tell, there’s a lot of history in Waco Texas. So, if you’re looking for quick things to do in Waco Texas on your Dallas to Austin drive, why not drive by some historical homes.
I think the most impressive to look at is the Cottonland Castle (which Jo and Chip have also bought to restore… remember, they’re from Fixer Upper!).
As I mentioned, you can also drive by the Dr. Pepper House. There’s also the Morrow House and Rotan-Dossett House. These are both rentals as well that you can actually book if you want to stay in Waco.
If you have some extra time and want to go inside a house, check out East Terrace Museum, McCulloch House or The Earle-Napier-Kinnard House.
P.S. Are you a fan of HGTV show Fixer Upper? Book this organized tour that takes you to all the important spots throughout town from the show, like Harp Design Shop, JDH Iron Designs, 3 Little Pigs House, and the Cottonland Castle.
9. For Texas Sports Fans: The Texas Sports Hall Of Fame
If you are a Texas Sports fan, then the place you have to go is to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco Texas! They have all the important memorabilia from Texas sports teams.
10. Mayborn Museum Complex
If you’re looking for more of an educational museum to visit in Waco, head to the Mayborn Museum Complex at Baylor University. They have natural and culture exhibits and even a historical village to explore.
Bonus On The Dallas To Austin Drive: InnerSpace Cavern
Another popular thing to do in Texas is to visit one of the underground caverns. Me being the paranoid, anxious person that I am, stayed far away from these.
But! If you are interested in visiting, Inner Space Cavern is conveniently off the highway when driving from Dallas to Austin.
P.S. Why Avoid The Texas Ranger Museum In Waco Texas?
A popular thing to do in Waco Texas is to visit the Texas Ranger Museum and Hall of Fame. It’s also really easy to do when driving from Dallas to Austin as it’s right off the highway.
But let’s just say, I did it so you don’t have to…
The whole museum felt very dated. It reminded me of a high production grade 4 art project, with text printed in a small font glued on top of coloured paper… They had a cool collection of guns and western memorabilia but it was just lost behind TOO MUCH stuff and contradicting information.
All the information you need are on two plaques right outside the museum. Because it’s an easy on-off from the highway, I’d recommend a quick stop on your Dallas to Austin drive to read these.
Renting A Car In Texas To Drive From Dallas To Austin
I landed at the D/FW airport so rented a car from the Enterprise at the airport. I’m always a big fan of Enterprise, they offer a 5% discount for members and have never had an issue renting from them!
They also have a few locations just outside the city centre if you’re already in Dallas, Fort Worth or Austin.
Parking In Waco Texas
Some of the top things to do in Waco had their own (paid) parking lot, so I had no problem finding a place to park. There’s also street parking on most streets throughout the city.
I also somehow found a free parking garage by following the signs throughout the city for free parking, but for some reason there weren’t any other cars there… so who knows how legit it actually was… I didn’t get a ticket and the car was still there when I got back, so I’d say that’s a win! The free parking was at the Dr. Mae Jackson Development Center, down the street from the Dr. Pepper Museum.
P.S. Alternative Ways To Get From Austin To Dallas
If you don’t have a car in Texas, there are a few alternative ways you can travel between Austin and Dallas. Keep in mind though, you won’t be able to stop in Waco along the way!
One of the easiest ways to travel between both cities is by bus. You can book a ticket through Greyhound. The travel time can be a bit longer, ranging from 3 hours and 20 minutes to 4 hours.
You can also surprisingly fly between both cities (I mean that is what JFK actually did when he visited!). It’s about an hour flight but will cost quite a bit more!
Need A Place To Stay In Austin?
Hotels in Austin are EXPENSIVE! There are a lot of options and a lot of different areas you can stay in so it can also become very overwhelming to find the right place.
I ended up at the Fairmont Austin because I found a reasonable deal and I liked the location. Also… rooftop pool… need I even say more!? See room rates and availability.
If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option with an apartment style hotel, I was considering Mint House At the Hatchery. But you do sacrifice location a bit to stay here (alternatively, they also have a Mint House on South Congress). They offer reasonably priced, modern and updated style apartments, and a more local experience to your stay. See room rates and availability.
For a brand name hotel, I was also considering the Homewood Suites in the Rainy Street Historic District. Homewood Suites offers larger rooms with a full kitchen and even has breakfast included! See room rates and availability.
Or see more hotels in Austin Texas on Booking.
Need A Place To Stay In Dallas?
I didn’t actually stay in the city centre in Dallas, but stayed at the DFW airport in Irving because my flight arrived quite late at night. I stayed at Hyatt Place DFW – and it was perfectly convenient for what I needed!
For the rest of my stay I booked the Homewood Suites in Fort Worth. But, if you’re interested in staying in Dallas, here are a few recommendations that I found.
A very reasonably priced place to stay in Dallas is the Homewood Suites Downtown (with breakfast included!). I always love staying at Homewood Suites because they also have a kitchen in case I don’t want to eat out one night. Plus they also tend to be a bit larger in space. See room rates & availability, on Booking.com.
If you’re looking for a bit more of an upscale stay in a contemporary hotel in Dallas, check out the Joule hotel. It’s within walking distance to all the main sites, and a unique to Dallas stay! See room rates & availability, on Booking.com.
See more hotels in Dallas Texas, on Booking.com.
Texas Mini Travel Guide
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Start planning your perfect trip to Texas, check it out on Etsy.
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