The bottom line is, if you can’t find something to do outside in Waco, you’re just not trying!
With 230 sunny days a year, virtually no snow, and a mid-60s average temperature, getting outside in Waco is easy. Baylor University, a Big 12 member, keeps the action going — tens of thousands fill McLane Stadium for Bears football each fall Saturday, and fans pack in for basketball and 14 other varsity sports, from baseball to equestrian.
Prefer to play? Waco has it covered at every age — golf, baseball, softball, biking, skateboarding, kayaking, bowling, horseback riding, swimming, a water park, disc golf, and more, plus youth-specific programs. The Greater Waco Sports Commission, an independent non-profit, attracts and grows sports events to boost the local economy and quality of life.
Cameron Park, one of Texas's largest municipal parks, sits next to downtown and the Brazos River — 400 acres of towering trees, two rivers, dramatic cliffs, and a National Recreation Trail system, donated by the William Cameron family over 100 years ago and still hosting festivals, sports, and the Cameron Park Zoo. Beyond it, Waco offers 30 parks, 20 miles of trails, and the Brazos Riverwalk.
Waco has 30 different parks, 20 miles of trails and the Brazos Riverwalk.
The Army Corps of Engineers built Lake Waco for recreation, water supply, and flood control. Its 7,270 surface acres (85 feet at the deepest point) offer some of Texas's best fishing and boating, plus camping on the north shore. White crappie dominate the catch, with black crappie occasional and spring runs bringing fish into water less than two feet deep.