Itasca Creek RV Park is on FM 67 just off I-35W in Itasca, TX, about 45 miles north of Waco on a direct interstate route into the city. Waco, the seat of McLennan County and home to Baylor University, has undergone significant transformation since the mid-2010s into a destination city with nationally recognized restaurants, a thriving arts scene, cultural attractions, and the Magnolia Market phenomenon. This three-day itinerary is designed for RVers based about 45 miles north who want to see Waco properly rather than in a single rushed day.
Day 1: Magnolia District and the Silos
Start at the Magnolia Market at the Silos on Webster Avenue, the flagship property of Chip and Joanna Gaines's Magnolia brand. The outdoor market includes the main retail store, multiple food vendors, a garden shop, and the well-photographed grain silos. Arrive before 10am to beat the crowds that peak around noon. Allow 1.5-2 hours.
Walk or drive to the nearby Waco Suspension Bridge (1870), the longest single-span suspension bridge west of the Mississippi at the time of construction. The riverfront park along the Brazos has picnic areas and a water feature. A short drive takes you to Magnolia Table, the Gaines family restaurant, for lunch (note: waits are long on weekends, so go weekday or put your name in before you arrive at the Silos).
Afternoon: Cameron Park Zoo (one of the better midsize zoos in Texas), or Cameron Park itself for hiking above the Brazos and Bosque Rivers, where the bluff trails offer views that surprise visitors who didn't know Waco had any elevation.
Evening: Dinner on Austin Avenue. Vitek's BBQ, a Waco institution since 1915, is worth the line. For something different, Balcones Distillery offers tours and tastings of their acclaimed Texas whiskey.
Day 2: Baylor Campus, History & Culture
Start with a Baylor University campus walk. The grounds are architecturally distinctive with a riverfront location. Baylor Athletics occasionally offers public tours of McLane Stadium (call ahead). The Baylor Art Museum has a strong permanent collection and rotating exhibitions; free admission.
The Dr Pepper Museum (300 S 5th St) is one of the most unexpectedly delightful museums in Texas, housed in the original 1906 Dr Pepper bottling plant. The soft drink was invented in Waco in 1885. The museum traces the history of the company and of American soda culture with genuine artifacts and well-produced exhibits. Allow 1.5 hours.
Afternoon: Waco Mammoth National Monument, a National Park Service site with active excavation of Columbian mammoth remains in the Bosque River valley. Ranger-led tours are the only way in (reservations recommended). One of the most undervisited National Park sites in Texas and genuinely fascinating.
Day 3: Homestead Heritage and Day Trip Option
Homestead Heritage (8 miles west of Waco) is an intentional Christian community that has operated since 1973. They open their working farm, mills, forge, and craft workshops to the public. There's a restaurant serving produce from the farm, a bakery, and shops selling handmade furniture, pottery, and food products. It's unlike anything else near Waco, so plan 2-3 hours and bring cash for the market.
If Homestead doesn't appeal, spend Day 3 at Waco Surf, a cable wake park and surf park northwest of Waco that operates a FlowRider surf simulator and has a full outdoor recreation complex. Or extend north: Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose pairs well with Fossil Rim (both covered in the Fossil Rim guide).
Practical Notes for Waco Day Trips
- Parking: The Silos have a large free lot but it fills by 10:30am on weekends. Street parking on adjacent blocks works. The Dr Pepper Museum has paid lot parking adjacent.
- Reservations: Magnolia Table, Waco Mammoth tours, and some popular restaurants require advance reservations. Book before you arrive.
- Distance from Itasca Creek: about 45 miles on I-35. Allow extra time on weekend mornings, when Waco-bound traffic is heavier.
- Gas: Hillsboro, on the way, has fuel stops.