This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I just arrived home from an epic trip to Texas and I can’t wait to share my experience at the famous Magnolia Market in Waco, Texas. A visit to the Magnolia Market Silos has been on my bucket list for awhile so we made it happen. We lived in San Antonio for years and still have family all over Texas so when we paid a visit, a trip to Waco was a must. If you love the show Fixer Upper on HGTV and think Chip and Joanna Gaines are ridiculously amazing, then a visit to Magnolia Market at the Silos is for you.
If you’ve ever read any of my travel posts, you know that I research, research, and research some more before I travel anywhere. Even though I am highly spontaneous by nature and love to have fun, I also love to plan to make it a positive experience. We learned some tips and tricks for making a trip to the Magnolia Market at the Silos a memorable time.
Here is how to plan the perfect trip to Magnolia Market in Waco Texas:
Go EARLY. Plan ahead, wake up early, and get on the road. This is my #1 tip to making sure this is a positive experience. It can get very crowded and I have been told that the bakery line can wrap around the building and be a 2-3 hour wait.
Here is a key tip: the bakery opens at 7:30 am which is 90 minutes before the market opens. You can get first dibs of the freshly made baked goods and enjoy the grounds without the crowds. Another tip is to have someone wait in line while you park. I dropped off my son at the bakery to stand in line while we parked. This saved at least 10-15 minutes and by the time we arrived at the bakery, it was almost our turn to order. It went seamless and everyone was happy.
Go early = less people = less time waiting in line. If you can’t arrive early, try to go later in the day when the crowds start to dissipate. After 5:00, the crowds start to die down a little.
Park for FREE. There are signs everywhere offering parking spaces for $5-$10 and you can take those if you want but there is free parking that is connected to the property, off 8th Street. There was plenty of parking available when we arrived. There is also street parking available on 6th Street, 8th Street, and Webster. If you want a fun experience, there is a free trolley service, called the Silo District Downtown Trolley. You can find out more information here.
Come HUNGRY. There are so many food options at the Magnolia Silos. Of course there is the Silo Baking Co. which is a must hit. I am baker and picky about my baked goods and they offered some amazing pastries — both savory and sweet.
The Silo Baking Co. is definitely known for their beautiful cupcakes and their lemon lavender steals the show. The lemon cake was light and moist and the frosting had the perfect balance of sweetness. They also offer five cookie choices such as a classic chocolate chip with peanut butter chips and walnuts. There are even two gluten free cookies available. They also offer cinnamon rolls, cranberry orange biscuits, bacon cheddar biscuits, blueberry muffins, and an almond pastry. We had to try most of the items on the menu for research purposes of course.
Food trucks line the Magnolia Market at the Silos and are a must try. They offer Southern food, BBQ, pizza, grilled cheese, burgers, crepes, sandwiches, salads, and even cold pressed juices.
If you want to get in your car and drive, Chip and Joanna’s brand new restaurant just opened called, Magnolia Table. It is about 2 1/2 miles away from the Silos. It offers breakfast and lunch comfort foods and I hear you must try the strawberry butter. It is open from 6 AM – 3 PM every day except Sunday. It is closed on Sundays.
There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy your food. There are white picnic tables everywhere and a large grassy area. Bring a blanket and lay it on the grass to enjoy a picnic.
Get ready to SHOP. Joanna Gaines has effortless style and it is evident in every single part of Magnolia Market at the Silos. It feels so cozy and warm and you may want to buy the entire shop and transport it into your home. It is a place of inspiration.
Magnolia Market at the Silos offer large things such as signs and clocks but also offer things that can easily fit in a suitcase such as jewelry, cookbooks, tea towels, candles, caramel leather handbags, and small decor items. It may be worth it to leave some room in your suitcase for all of your finds!
They even offer shipping which may cost an arm and a leg but if you find something you have to have, it may just be worth it.
Take PICTURES. This may be a no-brainer but sometimes we can forget the small details unless we take photos of our experience. There are so many beautiful spots to snap photos — in the garden, with the green or red truck, at the Magnolia sign on the silos, in front of the store, in the bakery and so many more. Explore everything and be amazed at the attention to detail in every single aspect of the Silos.
RELAX and ENJOY. Once you’ve experienced the market, the bakery, and the food trucks, it is time to sit back and relax. Enjoy the black and white bean bag type chairs on the lawn, play a game of soccer or throw some bags. Bring a blanket and sit on the lawn and people watch. It is a beautiful space and it is nice to sit back and take it all in.
HOURS: Open Monday – Saturday. CLOSED Sundays. Silo Baking Company is open from 7:30 am – 6:00 pm. The Magnolia Market is open from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm.
HOW TO GET TO MAGNOLIA MARKET: It is located in Waco, Texas (the home of Baylor University). The closest large airports are located in Austin or Dallas. Austin is approximately 111 miles away, Dallas Ft. Worth Airport is 112 miles away, and Dallas Love Field airport is 101 miles away. The address to Magnolia Market at the Silos is 601 Webster Ave. Waco, Texas. It is literally 2 minutes off of the highway and so easy to find.
THINGS TO DO IN WACO: After you are done enjoying Magnolia Market, what are some fun things to do in Waco?
- Spice Village — a large boutique carrying everything you can imagine from home decor to clothing to gift ideas. It is located about 1 mile from the Magnolia Silos.
- Home Tours — see all of the homes that were transformed in the HGTV show Fixer Upper.
- Dr. Pepper Museum — this is for the Dr. Pepper lovers out there. It is free and there is even Dr. Pepper ice cream for sale.
- Eat at Cafe Homestead — homey, comforting restaurant serving down home food. Everyone seems to love this place!
- Heritage Creamery — handcrafted ice cream with unique flavor combinations.
- Tour Baylor University — beautiful campus with large trees, brick buildings, and green grass everywhere.
- Visit the Cameron Zoo – up close interaction with zoo animals.
- Take photos at Waco suspension bridge — gorgeous architecture and perfect for photos at sunset.
SHARE THIS PIN ON PINTEREST:
Happy Traveling to Magnolia Market at the Silos, my friends!
Thank you for the information. I heard that there is a ‘scratch and dent” type of store for Magnolia where items are discounted. Do you know where that is located? We are going in a couple of weeks and can’t wait!
The scratch and dent is the original Magnolia store on Bosque Blvd.
Want to plan a surprise trip for my wife to Waco. What is the best time of year to go. We like temps 75-85. want to make it a 5 star trip. What is best house to stay in for just us they did, can you get meals or chefs to prepare or better to go out to restaurants or do both.Do you recommend a guide at all. how many days, my wife loves to shop big time. etc etc, budget is wide open.
I live in Waco and my house was remodeled by Fixer Upper in Episode 12 Season 1. Having lived here five years I believe that April and October are the best months. I have seen winter lows of 11 and last summer it hit 114. Highly variable temperatures to say the least. That said, you can look at monthly data from weather.com etc. I give a lot of impressions about Waco and Fixer Upper in my new book, Mailander House, Restoring a Home Left for Dead, and you can drive by and see the house at 1403 N 5th Street.
i live on the east coast and will be in dallas for a wedding soon. we’re flying into dallas and staying in a hotel there as well. what’s the best way to get to the magnolia market in waco.. spend a day there.. and get back to the hotel with all of my packages. 🙂 i will not be driving, so i’m looking for other transportation options.
thanks!
I live in Waco and my house was remodeled on Episode 13, Season 1. We named the house after the German family that built it in 1910. The house is now a vacation rental available on the major sites. Some of our guests come down from Dallas using Uber or Lyft. Unfortunately, passenger rail to Waco stopped in 1964. FWIW, the Silos has shipping options on-site. There are many other cool shopping areas, notably uptown Austin Avenue, that could be considered too. FWIW, I just published a book about our experience with Fixer Upper called Mailander House. I give the inside scoop on what it was like and subsequent adventures with the house. It’s available on Amazon.
I’m a high fan of Chip & JoJo. I absolutely love them and I have followed their show from day one. I would love for them to have put a home together for me. But new baby Crew & family takes the lead. ‘ve BLESSED. Love you chip& Joanna………Linda
Hi Linda! Aren’t they just the best? I am such big fans too! Have a great night. — Melissa
Thanks for all the tips!! Our family is hoping to spend a day in Waco. How many hours do you think you need to do all things Chip & Joanne? Also, it seems the Dr. Pepper tour costs money. Was it really free just last year? Thanks!
Hi Megan! I apologize for the delay in responding! It all depends on how much time you want to spend shopping and soaking in the experience. I have had friends spend 4 hours shopping and some spend 30 minutes. It also depends on how long the line is for the bakery. Also, thank you for letting me know about the Dr. Pepper museum. I will check on that and change my site. I hope you love it and have a great time! –Melissa
I did call and it is dog friendly, aside from the restaurant. (;
Thank you for letting us know, Amanda. I appreciate it! I love that they are dog-friendly. — Melissa
Thank you, your tips and review are going to be really helpful in my trip planning to Waco, TX. It’s on me and my mom’s bucket list. We’re fans of the show and Chip and Joanna’s style. By the way your site is lovely and I love your photos.
Hi Tanisha! Thank you so much! I apologize for the delay in responding. It is such a beautiful and fun place to visit. I hope you and your Mom have the best time together! — Melissa
Thank you great tips on my wife’s favorite place. I see that the ride to the market from the airport is quite a distance. Are there hotels near Magnolia to stay at ? We want to plan a trip down there. Huge fans of Chip and JoJo.
Thank you
Hi there! Sorry for the delay in responding. There are plenty of hotels to stay at in Waco. There’s a TownPlace Suites, Homewood Suites, and Hampton Inn’s in the area. You can even rent one of the houses Chip and Joanna remodeled. There are many options for lodging. Hope that helps! — Melissa
Hi! Planning a mother-daughter surprise trip in May….How do I rent a house that the Gaines’ remodeled? Thanks!
Is this a fairly cheap place to take a large family? We have 6 kiddos.
Hi Rick! Sorry for the delay in replying. That’s awesome that you have 6 kids! I have 4 so I can relate to trying to figure out how to travel with a large family. It doesn’t cost anything to get into Magnolia. You can even find free parking, right behind it. There is shopping and bakery do cost money but there are other things to do that don’t cost anything. I hope that helps! — Melissa
Thanks for sharing. How long would you say is a good amount of time to plan to be there? (including lunch) Thanks!
Hi there! I am sorry for the delayed response. I would say it depends on how much shopping you want to do. If you want it to be relaxing, you could spend 3-4 hours there. It also depends on the lines for the bakery…but it is definitely worth it because the baked goods are amazing!