Getting Around Waco
Waco sits along the Brazos River and Interstate 35, roughly halfway between Dallas and Austin. For a visitor, the single most useful thing to know is that the car is king here: the easiest way to travel around Waco is by car. Public transport exists, but it is limited, so plan your days around either a rental car or a mix of walking downtown and ride-hailing for longer hops.
By Car
Driving is the most practical way to cover Waco and its surroundings. The city is on I-35, which gives easy access from both Dallas and Austin, each about a 90-minute drive away. If you are coming from Houston, State Highway 6 is the preferred route, a drive of roughly three hours. Having a car also opens up the wider region, including the nearby Amtrak station in McGregor, which has no scheduled public transport connection to Waco.
Rail: Amtrak and the Texas Eagle
Waco itself has no Amtrak service. The nearest station is in McGregor, a small community west of Waco on Highway 84, served by the Texas Eagle route between Los Angeles, San Antonio, and Chicago. Trains run once daily, with the northbound train arriving in late morning and the southbound train in late afternoon. Because there is no scheduled public transport from McGregor, you will need a taxi or private transport to complete the trip into Waco. There is no metro, tram, or light rail network in the city.
Buses and Public Transport
The city of Waco runs Waco Transit, a public transportation system, but it has few stops and only runs during the daytime, so it is of limited use for a visitor trying to see the sights on a flexible schedule.
For longer-distance travel, Waco has a Greyhound bus terminal in the center of downtown, on S 8th St between Mary Ave and Jackson Ave. FlixBus also serves Waco with direct routes from a number of cities, including Dallas, Houston, Austin, Oklahoma City, and Monterrey in Mexico. The FlixBus stop is at 1020 S 5th St, where buses board along the Tiger Mart/Exxon gas station curb near the intersection of J H Kultgen Expy and South 5th Street.
- Buying tickets: FlixBus tickets can be booked online, through the FlixBus app (which gives you a digital QR-code ticket, so no printing is needed), or at sales points. Payment is accepted by credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay, with cash possible at sales points. Fares vary by demand, time of day, and how far ahead you book.
- Onboard: FlixBus coaches offer free Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining seats with extra legroom, toilets, and luggage storage. One carry-on and one checked bag are included free, and you can reserve a seat when booking. Buses are wheelchair accessible, with boarding assistance available if requested at booking. Real-time bus tracking is available in the app.
Beyond the urban area, the McLennan County Rural Transit District, operated by Waco Transit System, provides curb-to-curb service for the general public in McLennan County outside the urbanized area. No application is necessary, and trips may originate or end anywhere in the county. Rides must be scheduled in advance based on availability, though same-day service is possible. The fare is $3.00 in-county, or $5.00 for an adjacent county and for same-day one-way trips, paid when the vehicle arrives. Scheduling is by phone at 254-750-1620 or 1-877-875-7433. Hours are Monday–Friday 5:15 AM–7:15 PM and Saturday 6:15 AM–8:15 PM.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
With public transport thin on the ground, taxis and private transport fill the gaps. They are the practical way to connect to the McGregor Amtrak station, and they are a sensible fallback for getting around town in the evening, when Waco Transit is not running.
Walking
Walking works best in the downtown core, where you will find the Greyhound terminal and the Brazos River waterfront. The historic Waco Suspension Bridge, open only to pedestrian traffic since 1971, is a walkable landmark over the river. Outside downtown, however, the city spreads out, and a car or a ride is the more realistic option.
Getting There from the Airport
Waco Regional Airport (ACT), at 7909 Karl May Dr, is the local airport, with American Airlines providing passenger flights between Waco and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. For a wider choice of flights, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Dallas Love Field, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are each about a 1-hour 40-minute drive from Waco, so a rental car or a pre-arranged transfer is the practical way in from any of them.
Arriving by Boat
The Brazos River flows through downtown Waco on its way to the Gulf of Mexico, but reaching the city by boat is a challenge because of the river's shallowness, along with frequent dams and falls. A more practical and entertaining option is to launch a kayak or canoe at the Lake Whitney dam upstream and float downstream to Waco.