Staying Fit Near Baylor: Gyms, Sports Courts & Outdoor Workouts

If you're heading to Baylor and care about staying active, you've got more options than you might think. Between the free campus rec center, budget-friendly off-campus gyms, apartment fitness amenities, and miles of trails along the Brazos River, Waco makes it surprisingly easy to stay fit without breaking your student budget.

Here's the full breakdown of where to work out near Baylor — from free to $40/month and everything in between.

McLane Student Life Center: Your Free Campus Gym

Every Baylor student gets free access to the McLane Student Life Center (SLC) on Speight Avenue, and it's no joke. This 156,000-square-foot facility has pretty much everything:

• 10,000 sq ft fitness center with three levels — cardio, machine weights, and free weights
• Climbing ROCK — an indoor climbing wall right on campus
• Leisure pool for lap swimming and casual laps
• Indoor jogging track for rainy days
• 4-court gymnasium for pickup basketball, volleyball, and badminton
• Racquetball and squash courts
• Aerobics studio with group fitness classes
• Outdoor basketball and sand volleyball courts

The SLC is included with your tuition — no extra membership fee. It's the obvious first choice for most students. The catch? Peak hours (roughly 4-7 PM on weekdays) get packed, especially on the free weight floor. If you can train in the morning or between classes, you'll have much more space.

Pro tip: Download the Baylor Campus Rec app to check real-time facility hours. Hours change during breaks, holidays, and summer sessions.

Off-Campus Gyms Worth Knowing About

If you want something different from the campus rec center — whether it's 24/7 access, specialized equipment, or fewer crowds — Waco has solid options nearby.

Underground Performance

This is the gym for serious lifters. Located at 5312 Franklin Ave (about 10 minutes from campus), Underground Performance specializes in powerlifting, strongman, and bodybuilding. You'll find specialty bars, multiple deadlift platforms, squat racks, and equipment you won't see anywhere else in Waco.

• Cost: $35/month
• Hours: 24/7 keycard access, 365 days a year
• Vibe: No-frills, hardcore lifting gym — limited cardio equipment by design

If barbell training is your thing, this is worth every penny. The 24/7 access means you can train at 6 AM or midnight without worrying about gym hours.

Planet Fitness

The budget option. Planet Fitness in Waco is 24/7 and starts at just $10/month for basic membership or $20/month for the Plus plan (which adds guest passes, massage chairs, and access to other locations).

• Cost: $10-20/month
• Hours: 24/7, 365 days a year
• Best for: Cardio-focused workouts, circuit training, and casual gym-goers

It won't have the atmosphere of a dedicated lifting gym, but the price is hard to beat on a student budget. It's also less crowded with undergrads than the SLC.

Apartment Fitness Amenities: What Complexes Actually Offer

Most apartment complexes near Baylor advertise a "fitness center," but what you actually get varies wildly. Here's how the major options stack up:

19Eleven Apartments

19Eleven takes a different approach to fitness than most student apartments. Instead of cramming treadmills into a small room, the complex offers:

• Indoor pool — one of the few near Baylor. Great for lap swimming year-round, regardless of Texas weather
• Sports court — for basketball, volleyball, or just shooting hoops after class
• Bark park — if you count walking your dog as exercise (and you should)

The indoor pool is a genuine standout. Most competitor complexes have outdoor-only pools that sit empty from October through March. At 19Eleven, you can swim in January. Combined with the sports court, you've got active recreation options built into where you live — no membership fees, no driving across town.

Union at Waco

Union's fitness center is 2,292 square feet with 17 strength machines, 24 cardio machines, and free weights. They also have a swimming pool with hot tub and a 992 sq ft recreation center with billiards and ping pong.

Addison Waco

Addison offers a 24-hour fitness center, though they don't publish equipment details or square footage. Their focus is more on furnished units and video-monitored entrances than extensive fitness amenities.

The Bottom Line on Apartment Gyms

Apartment fitness centers are convenient for quick workouts — a morning run on the treadmill or a light lifting session between classes. But if fitness is a real priority, you'll likely pair your apartment gym with the free SLC access or a dedicated off-campus gym. The real question is what else your apartment offers for staying active. An indoor pool and sports court at 19Eleven add daily variety that a row of treadmills can't match.

Outdoor Workouts: Cameron Park and the Riverwalk

Waco's outdoor fitness options are legitimately impressive — and completely free.

Cameron Park Trails

Cameron Park is a 400-acre park with 26+ miles of multi-use trails, making it the second-largest municipal park in the country. Trails range from flat riverside paths to steep, technical routes rated like ski slopes (green, blue, black diamond, double black). It's about a 10-minute drive from campus and perfect for:

• Trail running on paths like River Trail, Rinky Dink, and Sidewinder
• Mountain biking on more technical routes like Vortex and Thor
• Hiking to Lover's Leap for views of the Brazos River confluence
• Dog walking — dogs are welcome on all trails

Free guided hikes run Wednesdays at 5:45 PM from March through October, organized by the Waco Parks Department. There's also a free 18-hole disc golf course if you need a break from running.

Waco Riverwalk

The Riverwalk is a 7-mile paved, lighted trail looping along both banks of the Brazos River, connecting Baylor's campus area to Cameron Park. It's flat, well-maintained, and ideal for:

• Running and jogging — the paved surface and flat grade make it a go-to for road runners
• Cycling — wide enough for bikes and pedestrians
• Walking — the 28 animal sculptures between Cameron Park Zoo and Baylor make it a fun casual route

A $27 million riverwalk facelift is adding water features and two new restaurants with outdoor decks along the Brazos. If you live on S 8th Street near 19Eleven, you're close to the trail's Baylor-end access point.

Brazos River Water Sports

For something completely different, the Brazos River offers kayaking and paddleboarding at Pullin Family Marina. Rentals are available seasonally, and it's a solid upper-body workout disguised as a weekend activity.

Building Your Fitness Routine in Waco

Here's a realistic weekly plan using what's available:

• Monday/Thursday: Lift at the SLC (free) or Underground Performance ($35/mo)
• Tuesday/Friday: Run the Riverwalk (7 miles, free) or Cameron Park trails
• Wednesday: Swim laps at 19Eleven's indoor pool or the SLC leisure pool
• Saturday: Hike Cameron Park or kayak the Brazos River
• Sunday: Shoot hoops on the sports court, walk the bark park, rest

The point is you don't need an expensive gym membership to stay fit at Baylor. Between the free SLC, miles of trails, and apartment amenities like 19Eleven's indoor pool and sports court, you can build a varied routine without spending more than $0-35/month.

Ready to See It for Yourself?

If staying active matters to you — and you want more than a basic apartment treadmill room — schedule a tour at 19Eleven to check out the indoor pool, sports court, and bark park in person. Or browse floor plans to find the layout that fits your lifestyle. With Cameron Park trails, the Riverwalk, and a free campus gym all nearby, 19Eleven puts you at the center of Waco's best fitness options.