Waco Mammoth National Monument
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is a paleontological site and museum in Waco, Texas, United States, where fossils of 24 Columbian mammoths (Mammuthus columbi) and other mammals from the Pleistocene epoch have been uncovered. This is a site of the National Park Service. Over 2025, 92K visitors passed through.
A national monument inside Waco
Visits hit a record in 2024, then fell back
The National Park Service counted 111,961 visitors in 2024, a record. In 2025 the count fell 18% to 91,678. Visitors ↓
Summers are hot
July and August highs run 95–96°, and about 115 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
Best months: Feb, Oct and Nov
February, October and November are mild and quieter than average, with highs of 63–80°. When to go ↓
You can stay in Waco
Waco Mammoth National Monument is inside Waco, which has 65 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Fort Worth
Fort Worth is about 82 miles north and Dallas is about 85 miles north (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Busy months and weather
Pick a quieter month for Waco Mammoth from the chart below.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
The Waco Mammoth National Monument is a paleontological site and museum in Waco, Texas, United States, where fossils of 24 Columbian mammoths (Mammuthus columbi) and other mammals from the Pleistocene epoch have been uncovered. The site is the largest known concentration of mammoths dying from a (possibly) reoccurring event, which is believed to have been a flash flood. The mammoths on site did not all die at the same time, but rather during three separate events in the same area. A local partnership developed around the site after the initial bone was discovered. The Waco Mammoth Foundation worked in partnership with the City of Waco and Baylor University to develop the site. Baylor's involvement mainly included the research, preservation, and storage of materials from the site, while Waco contributed to the protection of the land.
- Type
- National Monument
- Established
- 2015
- Area
- 5.0 acres
- Elevation
- 443 ft
- Run by
- National Park Service · Waco · Baylor University
- Wikipedia readers
- 6.2K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/waco
Visit details
Overnight near Waco Mammoth National Monument
Hotels, motels or campgrounds are closest in Waco (65) and Lacy-Lakeview (12).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waco | in town | — | 65 44 hotels · 8 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 3 lodges & cabins · 4 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 147,788 | $222K | C− |
| Lacy-Lakeview | 5 mi east | 5 min | 12 3 hotels · 1 motel · 3 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 4 RV parks | 7,240 | $161K | C |
| Bellmead | 5 mi east | 10 min | 9 6 hotels · 3 motels | 10,592 | $155K | D |
| Woodway | 8 mi southwest | 10 min | 11 9 hotels · 1 motel · 1 RV park | 9,753 | $371K | — |
| Willow Grove | 8 mi southwest | 10 min | 4 1 campground · 3 RV parks | 2,080 | $270K | — |
| West | 14 mi north | 20 min | 5 2 hotels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 2,629 | $183K | A− |
| Robinson | 11 mi south | 15 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 13,028 | $302K | B+ |
| Ross | 9 mi northeast | 15 min | 2 1 campground · 1 RV park | 197 | — | — |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Next door to Waco Mammoth
Also within 59 miles are these.
15 mi Stadium & arenaMcLane Stadium
25 mi MuseumTexas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
59 mi State parkDinosaur Valley State Park
33 mi Zoo & aquariumCameron Park Zoo57 mi Ancient siteGault59 mi Ancient siteButtermilk Creek Complex
57 mi MuseumCreation Evidence Museum
45 mi MuseumMayborn Museum ComplexPhoto credits
McLane Stadium: Djyueng, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dinosaur Valley State Park: Gordon Reid, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Cameron Park Zoo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 · Creation Evidence Museum: Ian Juby, Public domain · Mayborn Museum Complex: User:Aboxorocks, Public domain
A year of 91,678 visitors (2025)
Visits each year from 2016 to 2025.
Questions about Waco Mammoth
Is Waco Mammoth National Monument in Waco?
Yes. It’s inside Waco, TX. The address is 6220 Steinbeck Bend Drive, Waco, TX 76708.
When is the best time to visit Waco Mammoth National Monument?
February, October and November, with highs of 63–80°. March is the busiest month (about 15,645 visitors).
How many people visit Waco Mammoth National Monument each year?
91,678 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 111,961, set in 2024.
How far is Waco Mammoth National Monument from Arlington and Fort Worth?
About 76 miles north of Arlington and about 82 miles north of Fort Worth, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Waco Mammoth National Monument?
Waco Regional (ACT), about 3 miles away. The nearest big hub is Dallas Love Field (DAL), about 88 miles.
Where should I stay near Waco Mammoth National Monument?
Waco (in town, 65 places to stay), Lacy-Lakeview (5 mi, 12 places to stay) and Bellmead (5 mi, 9 places to stay).
Tips from Waco
Be the first to share a tip in Waco’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.