15 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Waco as a Baylor Student
If you think Waco is just a small college town with nothing going on, you haven't been paying attention. Between the parks, the museums, the river, and all the weird little spots that only locals know about, there are more things to do in Waco as a Baylor student than you'll have free weekends to do them — and most of them won't cost you more than a few bucks.
Here are 15 of the best free and cheap things to do around Waco, ranked by how much your wallet will thank you.
1. Hike Cameron Park (Free)
Cameron Park is 416 acres of trails, bluffs, and river views — and it's one of the largest municipal parks in the country. There are 26+ miles of multi-use trails ranging from flat riverside paths to technical single-track that'll humble your mountain bike. The trails use a ski-slope rating system (green through double black diamond), so you can pick your difficulty.
Highlights: Lover's Leap overlook where the Brazos and Bosque rivers meet, Miss Nellie's Pretty Place for bluebonnets in March through May, and a free 23-hole disc golf course that's legitimately one of the best in Central Texas. The park is open 6am to midnight, and dogs are welcome.
If you want a deep dive, check out our complete Cameron Park trail guide.
2. Walk or Run the Brazos Riverwalk (Free)
The paved Riverwalk runs along the Brazos River through the heart of Waco, connecting parks, bridges, and some of the best views in the city. It's flat, scenic, and perfect for a morning run, an afternoon walk, or a bike ride between classes.
The Indian Spring Park section near downtown has the suspension bridge and connects to the Waco Sculpture Zoo — a collection of bronze animal sculptures along the trail. Totally free, zero excuses.
3. Explore the Mayborn Museum (Free for Baylor Students)
This 142,000-square-foot museum sits on Baylor's campus and covers natural history, science, and Central Texas heritage. There are 17 themed discovery rooms and a 13-acre outdoor historic village with restored pioneer buildings.
The best part: admission is completely free for all active Baylor students. Just show your student ID at the front desk. You can't buy the tickets online — it's an in-person perk. The historic village closes at 5pm daily.
4. Browse the Martin Museum of Art (Free)
Also on Baylor's campus, the Martin Museum features rotating exhibitions of contemporary and student art. It's small, quiet, and free — a good 30-minute reset between classes when you need to think about something that isn't a textbook.
5. Visit the Armstrong Browning Library (Free)
This is one of Baylor's hidden gems. The Armstrong Browning Library houses the world's largest collection of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning's works, but you're really going for the building itself — 62 stained glass windows, ornate ceilings, and a reading room that looks like it belongs in a European cathedral. Free admission. Seriously underrated for a study break or a visitor tour.
6. Meet Joy and Lady at the Bear Habitat (Free)
Baylor's two live North American black bears, Joy and Lady, live in a habitat along the Brazos River on the southeast edge of campus. It's a short walk, completely free, and genuinely fun whether it's your first visit or your fiftieth. The bears are most active in the morning and evening.
7. Wander the Magnolia Silos (Free to Enter)
Magnolia Market at the Silos is Waco's biggest tourist draw, but entry is free — you only pay for what you buy or eat. The grounds include the iconic silos, a manicured lawn with games, food trucks, and shops curated by Joanna Gaines. Silos Baking Co. cupcakes and biscuits are the main draw (budget $5–8 for a treat).
Local tip: Go Tuesday through Thursday morning for a completely different experience than the packed Saturday crowds. Also, check downstairs in the main market building for The Sale Shop — clearance home goods at steep discounts. Great for decorating your first apartment.
The Silos are at 601 Webster Ave — about 1.3 miles from campus, closed Sundays.
8. Browse the Waco Downtown Farmers Market (Free)
Every Saturday from 9am to 1pm (year-round) at Bridge Street Plaza, local farmers and artisans set up with fresh produce, baked goods, honey, plants, and handmade crafts. In summer, hours shift to 9am–noon. There's also a Wednesday evening market from 5–8pm during warmer months.
Even if you don't buy anything, the atmosphere is worth the walk — live music, free samples, and a good excuse to explore downtown.
9. Play Disc Golf at Cameron Park (Free)
If you've never played disc golf, Waco is a great place to start. Cameron Park's course has 23 holes winding through wooded trails and open fields, and it's completely free. Borrow discs from a friend or buy a starter set for under $20 — that's your only cost, ever. The course is open dawn to dusk.
10. Tour the Dr Pepper Museum ($12)
Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885, and the museum at 300 S 5th Street walks you through the full history inside the original 1906 bottling plant. Admission is $12 and includes a free Dr Pepper from the old-fashioned soda fountain. Budget about 90 minutes. Open Monday–Saturday 10am–5:30pm, Sunday noon–5:30pm.
11. Spend a Morning at Cameron Park Zoo ($14)
This 52-acre zoo packs a surprising amount into a small footprint — Sumatran tigers, African lions, Komodo dragons, and a solid reptile house. General admission is $14 for adults and $10 for kids 3–12. It's not free, but for a full morning of entertainment, the price-to-fun ratio is hard to beat. The zoo sits right next to Cameron Park, so you can combine the two into a full day outdoors.
12. See the Waco Mammoth National Monument ($6)
This National Park Service site preserves a nursery herd of Columbian mammoths discovered in Waco in 1978. The dig shelter tour runs every 30 minutes, lasts about 45 minutes, and costs $6 for adults ($5 for students, military, and seniors). The grounds are free to explore. Plus, the NPS runs several free admission days throughout the year — Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day among them.
13. Read at Fabled Bookshop & Cafe (Free to Browse)
Fabled Bookshop on Austin Avenue downtown was named one of Forbes' best new bookstores in America. Two floors of curated books, a cafe with solid coffee ($4–5), and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay for hours. Browsing is free. If you're looking for a study spot that isn't a library or a coffee chain, this is it.
For more study spots off campus, see our guide to the best study spots near Baylor.
14. Kayak or Paddleboard the Brazos River ($)
Baylor runs the Pullin Family Marina on the Brazos, where students can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. Rental fees apply but are reasonable for a campus recreation program — check with Campus Rec at (254) 710-7533 for current pricing. Waco Paddle Company is another option downtown if the marina's booked.
On a warm afternoon with no class, two hours on the Brazos is hard to beat. The river is calm through the Waco section, so no experience required.
15. Surf at Waco Surf ($$)
This one isn't cheap, but it's on the list because it's a bucket-list experience you can only get here. Waco Surf is one of the world's largest inland surf destinations, with a wave pool that generates real surfable waves. Sessions start around $50–80 depending on wave type and time slot. If you split an afternoon session with friends, it's a memorable splurge once or twice a year.
The Student ID Advantage
Your Baylor ID works like a discount card around Waco. Flash it at the Mayborn Museum (free), check for student pricing at the Dr Pepper Museum and Cameron Park Zoo, and ask about discounts at local restaurants and movie theaters. The Baylor Student Activities page maintains a list of Waco Perks — student-specific deals around town that most people never check.
Living Close to All of It
One of the underrated perks of living near Baylor's south campus is proximity to everything on this list. From 19Eleven on S 8th Street, Cameron Park is a short drive, the Riverwalk is bikeable, downtown is barely a mile away, and the Magnolia Silos are a 5-minute trip. Having all of this within easy reach turns Waco from "college town" into a place you actually enjoy living.
Check out what the neighborhood looks like around 19Eleven, or browse floor plans if you're planning your move to Waco. Living close to campus — and close to everything worth doing — makes the college experience better in ways the dorm never could.