Waco Mammoth National Monument

Things To Do Near Waco Mammoth National Monument

The activities found at the Waco Mammoth National Monument are a result of the people of Waco working for 36 years after the discovery of the fossils until President Obama declared the site a National Monument in 2015. Once the community realized the importance of the find, a 100-acre area surrounding the mammoth dig was created to protect the site, which later became a state park with extra security where oak, spruce, and elm trees provide shaded picnic areas alongside the Bosque River. Hiking and biking trails run throughout this beautiful area. Inside the monument, visitors view the remains from a distance while watching paleontologists continue working to uncover and preserve more fossils. The monument offers virtual visits that explain what various techniques have been revealed about the site and discuss what happened, why it happened, when it happened, and how it happened. 

Hiking Trails

• Waco Mammoth National Monument Trail

  The Waco Mammoth National Monument Trail is a loop that travels around the outside of the site. It travels through the forests that surround the monument and is well maintained. Though you do not see any fossils from this trail, it is a calming walk that works out any stress you developed on the road. 

  Location

  622 Steinbeck Bend Drive, Waco, TX 76708

  Length

  0.6 miles

  Intensity

  Easy

• Waco Mammoth Dig Shelter Trail

  The Waco Mammoth Dig Shelter Trail is an in-and-out paved pathway that takes you directly to the original fossil finds. Though the hike is short in distance, it is long in time. This walk takes you back 75,000 years to the instant when a herd of Columbian mammoths perished together in a cataclysmic event.

  Location

  622 Steinbeck Bend Drive, Waco, TX 76708

  Length

  0.4 miles

  Intensity

  Easy

Sightseeing

• Cameron Park Zoo

  After visiting the fossils at Waco Mammoth National Monument, it is time to look at some live beasts from the present day. The Cameron Park Zoo showcases several animals placed in their natural settings. Land animals include an orangutan, lion, and Komodo dragons. An aquarium lets you get close to marine life, the most intriguing of which is the gliding clownfish. 

  Location

  1701 North 4th Street, Waco, TX 76707

• Lions Junction Family Water Park

  Take a short drive south of Waco to the Lions Junction Family Water Park for fun for every family member. The park features swimming pools for kids and adults. Slides, fun water rides, and other activities are enjoyed under the watchful eyes of staff lifeguards.

  Location

  5000 South 5th Street, Temple, TX 76502

Museums

• Dr. Pepper Museum

  Take the time to have some extra fun at the Dr. Pepper Museum. This visit is more than an educational tour. Yes, you discover how the Dr. Pepper drinks came about, but you also get to play with them. You can mix the drinks at the fountain, create a Dr. Pepper float, and grind ice to make a slushy. Whatever you want, it's all good.

  Location

  300 South 5th Street, Waco, TX 76701

• Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum

  At the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, you get the entire history of the law enforcement force that kept peace in the lawless sections of Texas during its young days. Tales of how rangers overcame harsh environments and hostile forces are revealed here. You also get a lesson in what it takes to become a Texas Ranger in modern times.

  Location

  100 Texas Ranger Trail, Waco, TX 76706

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

• The Findery

  The Findery is a unique gift shop that provides those hard-to-find items that add a flourish to a home. Whether you are looking for pillows and throws, cutting boards, or crazy-styled chairs, you will find them here.

  Location

  501 South 8th Street, Waco, TX 76706

• Savage Finds Antiques

  If you ever wondered where the "pickers" send their finds to be purchased, stop at Savage Finds Antiques. At this location, you discover what is hidden in people's attics, garages, and barns across the country. Here you find those exciting oddities to which people become attached and finally let go to have them sold to someone else who will love it as much as they.

  Location

  1509 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX 76701

• Butter My Biscuit Café

  Butter My Biscuit Café is a unique restaurant in Waco that delivers Southern comfort food at its best. Every item on the menu, including coffee, is freshly made on order. Try their cheesy grits bowl for an authentic Southern meal.

  Location

  1427 South Valley Mills Drive, Waco, TX 76711

• Magnolia Table

  The Magnolia Table is an exciting restaurant that focuses on breakfast and lunch. Their items are always created with fresh ingredients. Try their farm breakfast for a traditional way to start your day.

  Location

  2132 South Valley Mills Drive, Waco, TX 76706

How To Get To Waco Mammoth National Monument

To get to the Waco Mammoth National Monument from the state's capital, Austin, TX, find Interstate 35 North (I-35 N) and drive for 102 miles. Take Exit 335 C and follow the signs to South Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard. Turn left on South Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and go for 3.9 miles, at which point it becomes Steinbeck Bend Drive. The monument is 1.5 miles ahead on the left.

Waco Mammoth National Monument is open year-round. Visitors find plenty of parking space when they arrive. 

Address

622 Steinbeck Bend Drive, Waco, TX 76708

Fee: Entry fee $0

Visiting the Waco Mammoth National Monument in an RV is quite simple. Realizing the site's appeal before it became a national monument, Waco provided plenty of parking space for RVs. The monument and the surrounding park are a comfortable place to stop, observe, learn, and rest from the trials of the road. Take the time to visit one of the city's attractions, shops, and restaurants and enjoy a quick picnic after visiting the fossil site. Then, take to the road again in your RV.