Fort Worth to Waco: Cool Stops To Make!

Even though it’s only a short drive from Fort Worth to Waco, there are still things to see and do along the way.

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You should stop at Slovacek’s in West when traveling to Waco, Austin, San Antonio, or Houston. But there’s more to the hip stops between Fort Worth and Waco than just kolaches.

Let’s review the driving time from Fort Worth to Waco before we discuss all the intriguing stops you can make along the way.

Distance from Fort Worth to Waco

When you google the driving distance from Fort Worth to Waco, the quickest route is to take I-35W S to Waco, which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes (91.2 miles.) It follows the same route as traveling to Austin or Houston via Highway 6. 

My family and I live to the south of Fort Worth, so this is also how we prefer to get to Waco. I’m sure this is also the most popular route from Fort Worth to Waco.

Because Waco is not far from Fort Worth, it is one of the best day trip destinations from Fort Worth which is less than a 2-hour drive.  

Now, let’s look at some of the cool things to do between Fort Worth and Waco.

Fort Worth to Waco: Cool Stops To Make!

The following stops between Fort Worth and Waco will not take up much of your time. So, regardless of how much fun it is over there, I’m not putting Pirate’s Cove in Burleson. You’ll need a whole day to visit.

Furthermore, these fun stops are not far from I-35W S. The highway is only a 10-minute drive away.

Keene – Dinosaur Science Museum and Research Center

If you want to see and touch real dinosaur bones, the Dinosaur Science Museum and Research Center in Keene is one of the best places in the Fort Worth area to do it. The museum is small, but it houses one of America’s most extensive collections of dinosaur fossils. 

South Western Adventist University owns the museum, and university scientists have cleaned, cataloged, and preserved over 30,000 dinosaur bones excavated in Wyoming.

Their museum offers two tours: General Tour and the VIP Paleontology Tour.

A student paleontologist leads the General Tour, which lasts about an hour. It starts with a video presentation, followed by a tour of the vaults where the Cretaceous dinosaur bones are kept, cleaning your fossils, and experiencing the wonder of dinosaurs.

A VIP Paleontology Tour includes everything included in the General Tour with the bonus of working in the research lab with real fossils and personal time from the staff of the Dinosaur Museum.

I came here with my son and his friend, and we had a great time because we were the only ones there. It’s almost like getting a private tour.

Previously, you could visit the museum without making a reservation, but now it is only by appointment. Here’s the link to reserve a tour.

Admission to the General Tour is $9 per person and $7 for veterans, seniors, first responders, and children under the age of 12. School groups is $6 per child.

VIP Backstage Tour admission is $150 for groups of up to ten people and $220 for groups of up to twenty-five people. 

Address: 113 W Magnolia St., Keene. Ph.: (817) 202-6336.

Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm. Friday, 9am to 4pm. Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Hillsboro – Texas Heritage Museum

Just 5 minutes from the highway, you can witness Texans’ wartime experiences. Civil War, World War II & Audy Murphy, Vietnam, and a Weapons Gallery are among the exhibits at the museum. Remember to watch the museum’s film in their cutting-edge theater.

The Hill College campus is home to the Texas Heritage Museum. It also houses the Historical Research Center, which houses over 13,500 books and 80,000 documents about all of Texas’ wars.

Address: 112 Lamar Drive, Hillsboro, TX 76645. Ph.: (254) 659-7750.

Museum Hours: Monday-Thursday 8am-4pm.

Historical Research Center Hours: by appointment only by calling 254-659-7750.

Hillsboro – Downtown

Hillsboro’s historic downtown is about two minutes west of the highway. Here are a few examples of old architecture found throughout downtown:

– Hill County Courthouse

Wesley Clark Dodson built it in 1890 as a Texas version of the Second Empire style. It was tragically destroyed by fire in 1993, but it has since been fully restored. Visitors can tour the courthouse for free, during regular hours from Monday through Friday. Don’t forget to look for the old bell on the courthouse grounds.

Address: 1 North Waco Street, Hillsboro, TX 76645.

Hours: Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4pm.

– Hillsboro City Library

It was built in 1912 and completed in 1915 as the Hillsboro post office’s fifth location, and it was in operation until 1967. It was later converted into the city’s public library.

This Renaissance Revival structure was inspired by the Foundling Hospital for Children in Florence, Italy, which was completed in 1419 by the Italian architect, sculptor, and painter Brunelleschi.

Don’t miss the gargoyles on the buildings’ top left and right corners. Of course, you won’t miss the statue of a girl sitting on a bench on the front walkway, listening to her grandfather read a book.

Address: 118 South Waco St., Hillsboro, TX 76645. 

– Hill County Cell Block Museum (closed for renovations until further notice.)

W.C. Dodson, the same architect who designed the Courthouse, designed this old jail museum in 1893. Prisoners were held here until April 1983, when it was converted into a museum. A tribute to Hill County native Willie Nelson, a Native American Artifact Room, Vintage Clothing Exhibit, and an actual cell block are among the exhibits.

Address: 120 N Waco St., Hillsboro, TX 76654. Ph.: (254) 707-2334. 

Hours: Every Saturday in April through October from 10am to 4om.

Admission: Free with a suggested $2 donation for adults.

Abbott – Willie Nelson’s Hometown

Your road trip from Fort Worth to Waco is becoming more exciting. Abbott, in case you didn’t know, is the hometown of legendary Willie Nelson. Drive into town and you’ll see a Methodist Church that Willie and his sister Bobbie have attended since they were born.

Willie purchased the church several years ago after the congregation merged into the larger Hillsboro United Methodist Church and it was put up for sale. However, I see no evidence of building restoration.

Across from the Methodist church is an old Baptist church, the Liberty Grove Baptist Church, founded in 1876 by 13 founding members.

A Texas Historical Marker commemorating Czech settlers in Hill County can be found on the grounds of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church is right next to the highway, while the Methodist and Baptist churches are in town, about 3 minutes away.

Abbott Methodist Church Address: 116 Bordon, Abbott, TX 76621.

Abbott Baptist Church Address: 234 Mesquite St., Abbott, TX 76621.  

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Address: 601 W Houston St., Abbott, TX 76621.

West – Slovacek’s Kolaches

It’s finally here! Many people on their way from Fort Worth to Waco must stop for kolaches.

Every time we stop here, I try different kolaches, whether savory or sweet. Cottage cheese kolaches were my most recent filling. It was delectable!

Snoopy, our dog, had a good time at Dog Park in the back corner of the building.

West – History of West Museum

Drive to the History of West Museum in the downtown area the next time you stop at Slovacek’s. It’s only a 3-minute drive east of the highway intersection.

The early settlers who arrived in the 1850s, the railroad, the founding fathers, farming and ranching, military veterans, Czech and German immigrants, and the 2013 Fertilizer Plant explosion will all be covered. It’s a cool little museum.

While you’re there, take a drive around town and look for some old buildings with historical markers in front of them.

Address: 112 E Oak St., West, TX 76691.

Hours: Thursday through Saturday, from 10am to 3pm.

So, for your next excursion from Fort Worth, these are the things to do between Fort Worth and Waco. Alternatively, from Waco to Fort Worth. I’ll take this route more often in the future. I’ll update this article whenever I come across something new. Pin the image below or come back now and then to read this article.

If you have anything to add, please leave a comment below. I’ll look into it and see if it fits with this article.

Meanwhile, enjoy the drive from Fort Worth to Waco. Remember! It’s not just about the kolaches.