25 Rainy Day Activities In Waco
It can feel like a major bummer when you’re looking forward to a fun day in Waco and then…it starts pouring rain. I get it. But even if the sky is gray and bleary, I promise there are still plenty of fun things to do in Waco when it’s raining! Here are 25 of my favorite rainy day activities in Waco, TX.
About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheAustinThings.com!
Best Things To Do In Waco On A Rainy Day
1. Baylor Bears Basketball Game at Foster Pavilion
Baylor football games are all outdoors which means they’re kind of miserable to watch in the rain…but Baylor Basketball is INDOORS! Both Baylor men's and women's basketball teams play in the gorgeous Foster Pavilion, which opened in 2024 and seats 7,500 fans.
Check out the website to see if there’s a Baylor basketball game tonight. Otherwise, you might be able to find another event happening at Foster Pavilion. It’s an excellent venue!
WEBSITE | 650 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76701, United States
2. Visit A Craft Brewery
There’s no better rainy day activity in Waco, to me, than checking out a Waco craft brewery! I love finding a cozy taproom to visit, ordering a flight of their beer so I can try a bunch of stuff, and then chatting with a friend, playing a board game with my kids, or reading a book solo.
There are several excellent craft breweries in Waco - use this guide + map to find one near you.
WEBSITE | Address
3. Mayborn Museum
The Mayfair Museum is Baylor University’s natural science and cultural history museum. It’s an entire museum complex, including more adult-y museum spaces and a really fun kids museum space for little ones. It’s primarily an indoor museum, making this an excellent option when you’re looking for things to do in Waco on a rainy day.
WEBSITE | 1300 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76706, United States
4. Dr Pepper Museum
The Dr Pepper Museum in Waco allows you to see the actual spot where Dr Pepper was invented in the 1800s! This indoor museum is a fun kid-friendly thing to do in Waco on a rainy day.
The museum itself takes about 1-2 hours to walk through. But if you’re looking to extend your visit and you want a special activity, purchase the make-a-soda or taste-a-soda experience where you can actually create your own custom Dr Pepper soda to bring home. Here's a review of the entire Dr Pepper Museum experience.
WEBSITE | 300 S 5th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States
5. Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
If you’re a Big Texas sports fan, you’re 100% going to want to check out this Waco museum. It’s great for a rainy day as the entire thing is indoors, and it’s very inexpensive.
The museum covers iconic Texas sports figures in both college and professional leagues, covering a range of sports all the way from the iconic (football, swimming, baseball, basketball) to the obscure (rodeo, race car driving).
You can also see the Texas high school sports hall of fame, visit the “Cotton Bowl” wing to see all of the SWC colleges and mascots, and walk through the Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame. Read my full review of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum here.
WEBSITE | 1108 S University Parks Dr, Waco, TX 76706, United States
6. Visit A Waco Coffee Shop
In addition to going to a Waco craft brewery, checking out a local coffee shop is one of my all-time favorite rainy day activities. Whether I need to get some work done or I just want a cozy spot to hang out, I love beautifully curated coffee shops that serve excellent coffee. I’m going to direct you to this guide + map of the best Waco coffee shops so you can find one near you. But….here are 3 of my all-time favorite coffee shops in Waco:
For Keeps: a bright and airy interior with excellent coffee, scrumptious pastries, and a modern feel.
Pinewood Coffee Bar: probably the best coffee roaster and coffee program in Waco. The baristas are awesome, and the midcentury feel of this space is very cozy on a rainy day.
Magnolia Press: while it’s not necessarily the most prestigious coffee program in Waco, the décor and design is beautiful, featuring custom-made tables and cabinetry from right here in Waco. And Joanna Gaines’s chocolate cake is *chef’s kiss perfection.
WEBSITE | 2223 Austin Ave B, Waco, TX 76701, United States & 418 S 8th St, Waco, TX 76706, United States
7. Indoor Shopping at Spice Village
Spice Village is a 2nd story shopping…well, village in Waco. It’s a series of little booths that each feature a different “store.” You could spend hours wandering around and shopping here, and it’s all indoors! When you’re done, go next door to Cricket's to get a burger and drink for lunch.
Spice Village is full of bedazzled drinkware, Baylor University attire, little boutique shops with vintage clothing, kids gifts, cooking items, unique jewelry, and so much more. You can read my honest thoughts about this shopping village in Waco right here.
WEBSITE | 213 Mary Ave entrance located at 2nd &, Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States
8. Fabled Bookshop
If your idea of the best rainy day involves books, cozy reading corners, and a hot mug of hot cocoa, you’ll absolutely love Fabled Bookshop and Café in downtown Waco. It’s the cutest local bookshop with a lovely selection of curated books, an adorable kids corner with a secret Narnia wardrobe entrance, and a bustling café in the center of it all where you can light bites and coffee beverages and cozy up with your new favorite book.
WEBSITE | 215 S 4th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States
9. Cocktails at Sam’s
Sam’s Cocktail Bar is a fun little drinking spot in downtown Waco. They always have friendly bartenders, seasonal menus, and a fun vibe! If you’re looking for something to do before/after dinner on a rainy day, stop by Sam’s for a cocktail.
WEBSITE | 720 Franklin Ave Suite 400, Waco, TX 76701, United States
10. Tour Cottonland Castle
Cottonland Castle is the Waco castle from the 1800s that Chip and Joanna Gaines renovated in 2022. It’s modeled after a German castle, and Chip and Joanna meticulously designed the entire thing (6,176 square feet, 3 stories and a basement, 8 fireplaces) and now guests can tour the castle for a ticketed fee.
Nothing like touring a gorgeous historic castle for a rainy day activity in Waco!
WEBSITE | 3300 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76710, United States
11. Texas Ranger Museum
The Texas Ranger Museum is among the most popular museums in Waco. It’s a tribute to the Texas Rangers Division of the law and features the history of the Rangers and a hall of fame of the most notable and famous Texas Rangers.
This museum definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you enjoy learning about Texas law enforcement and history, you’ll find a lot of interesting information here.
WEBSITE | 100 Texas Ranger Trail, Waco, TX 76706, United States
12. Breakfast at Magnolia Table
Be sure to make a reservation (because you won’t want to be stuck out in a line in the rain!) the day before. But if you see rain in the forecast in Waco, a big hearty breakfast at Magnolia Table is just what you need.
WEBSITE | 2132 S Valley Mills Dr Waco, TX 76706
13. See A Show at the Hippodrome
The historic Hippodrome Theater in downtown Waco has seen its fair share of musicians, comedians, and even circuses (back in the day!), but it currently operates as an event venue for live music. It’s a Waco icon and definitely worth checking out on a rainy evening in Waco when you need an indoor activity.
WEBSITE | 724 Austin Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States
14. Waco Escape Rooms
Waco Escape Rooms are lots of fun! They’re a pretty typical escape room experience where your group will be locked into a room for a set amount of time with the ultimate goal of getting out of the room.
WEBSITE | 711 Washington Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States
15. Yoga class at Yoga8 Waco
While you probably won’t want to go on a run at the riverwalk or find an outdoor hiking spot in Waco, an indoor heated yoga class is one of the most wonderful ways to treat yourself to exercise on a rainy day. Yoga8 is a beloved studio with a wide range of classes available.
WEBSITE | 5100 Franklin Ave D, Waco, TX 76710, United States
16. See A Movie at Cinemark Waco
A movie on a rainy day? Not a novel idea, but a good one. Cinemark Waco is probably the best theater in Waco right now, with excellent sound and reclining seats.
WEBSITE | 2400 Creekview Dr., Waco, TX 76711, United States
17. Balcones Distilling Tasting Room
While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a distillery tour at Balcones on a rainy day (because you’ll be outside for a lot of the tour), you can stop by the Balcones tasting room any day for a whisky tasting…no reservations! Whisky tasting seems like a good rainy-day activity because it will warm ya right up.
WEBSITE | 225 S 11th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States
18. Take a Beer Bath at Pivovar
Want to know one of the best rainy day activities in Waco that you can’t find anywhere else? Taking a beer bath at Pivovar brewery!
Pivovar is an authentic Czech brewery, restaurant, and hotel in downtown Waco near the Magnolia Silos. You can reserve a single or double tub and soak in an hour-long hot “beer bath” with brewers yeast and water. They claim all sorts of health benefits to it, but honestly? Just soaking in a hot beer bath with a cold beer in hand sounds relaxing!
WEBSITE | 320 S 8th St, Waco, TX 76701, United States
19. Martin Museum of Art
The Martin Museum of Art is a totally free art museum in Waco at the Baylor University art building. It’s inside the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building at Baylor and features a rotating selection of visual arts exhibits. They’re open every day except Mondays.
WEBSITE | 60 Baylor Ave, Waco, TX 76706, United States
20. Wine Tasting at Segovia Wine Bar
Gather up some friends and go get a flight of wine and some tapas at Segovia Wine Bar! It’s one of Waco's best wine bars, and it's a cute spot to get cozy indoors on a cold rainy day in Waco.
WEBSITE | 300 S 6th St suite f, Waco, TX 76701, United States
21. Painting with a Twist
No matter the city, Painting With A Twist is a fun (and often hilarious) adult activity on a rainy day. Paint, drink wine, laugh, bond, the end.
WEBSITE | 1621 N Valley Mills Dr, Waco, TX 76710, United States
22. Eat At Union Hall
If you’re new to Waco (or if you’ve been here a long time!), head to Union Hall in downtown Waco for some rainy day eats. Union Hall is a food hall with more than a dozen eateries, including a ramen restaurant, a Pho spot with big cozy bowls of Vietnamese soup, a pizzeria, a tea booth, and SO much more. You can read my full review of it here.
WEBSITE | 720 Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76701, United States
23. Armstrong Browning Library and Museum
If you’re new to Waco (or if you’ve been here a long time!), head to Union Hall in downtown Waco for some rainy day eats. Union Hall is a food hall with more than a dozen eateries, including a ramen restaurant, a Pho spot with big cozy bowls of Vietnamese soup, a pizzeria, a tea booth, and SO much more. You can read my full review of it here.
WEBSITE | 710 Speight Ave, Waco, TX 76706, United States
24. Main Event
The Main Event is still one of the BEST things to do in Waco on a rainy day with kids. They can play games, go bowling, do the gravity ropes course, play mini golf, and eat burgers while it’s blustery and rainy outdoors.
WEBSITE | 2420 Creekview Dr., Waco, TX 76711, United States
25. Bowlero
Bowler is similar to Main Event, except there are a lot more bowling lanes and fewer extra activities. If your main focus is bowling and you also want a nearby sports bar and restaurant (complete with a kids menu!), book a few lanes at Bowlero on the next rainy day in Waco.
WEBSITE | 4565 W Waco Dr, Waco, TX 76710, United States
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