The short version: The Surf Lagoon at Waco Surf runs year-round and the water is not heated, so the temperature follows the Central Texas weather. Early fall is still warm. By Thanksgiving you are in full wetsuit territory, and the coldest water of the year shows up from December into early March. Check the live water temperature in the pre-footer of wacosurf.com before you drive in, and pack one step warmer than you would for the same ocean temperature.
If you have only visited in July, a January session is a different experience, and most of that difference comes down to what you are wearing. This guide walks through what the water does month by month, what to wear for each range, and how to plan a cold-season session so you spend your hour surfing instead of shivering.
The lagoon is unheated, and that is by design
Waco Surf does not heat the Surf Lagoon. The pool holds a large volume of water in an open-air basin, so the temperature tracks the weather with a lag of several days. When Texas Monthly profiled the park in 2023, the writer recorded 67°F water during his own session, which is a good reference point for what a shoulder-season day feels like.
The practical upshot: Texas air temperatures can swing 20 or 30 degrees inside a week in the fall, and the water will drift with them. The live water temperature on wacosurf.com is updated daily and it is the number that matters, not the calendar.
Water temperature by month
These are the typical ranges published in the Waco Surf FAQ. Actual temperatures depend on the weather in the weeks before your session.
| Months | Typical water temperature |
|---|---|
| September to October | 65 to 80°F |
| October to November | 60 to 75°F |
| November to December | 45 to 65°F |
| March to April | 45 to 65°F |
| April to May | 60 to 75°F |
What to wear, by water temperature
Wetsuit choice is personal, and people who surf cold water regularly tolerate more than people coming from boardshorts. These ranges follow standard surf-industry guidance and work well for the lagoon because there is no open-ocean wind chill and no long paddle-outs.
- 75°F and up: Boardshorts or a swimsuit, plus a rash guard for sun and board protection. This covers most of September and warm October days.
- 65 to 75°F: A 2mm spring suit, a neoprene top with boardshorts, or a 3/2 full suit if you run cold. Typical for late October and much of November.
- 55 to 65°F: A 3/2 or 4/3 full suit. Add booties at the bottom of this range. This covers late November, December, and the first weeks of March in most years.
- Under 55°F: A 4/3 or 5/4 full suit with booties, and a hood or gloves if you are sensitive to cold. This is the deep-winter range from mid-December through February.
Because you are standing in chest-deep water between waves rather than sitting on your board in open ocean, your core stays wetter than it would at the beach. Err one step warmer than you would for the same ocean temperature.
Bring your own suit
Waco Surf rents boards. Performance boards are $45 plus tax for your first session and $20 plus tax for each additional same-day session; soft tops and second-tier shortboards are $29 plus tax, then $14 plus tax. (Our Which Surfboard to Bring (or Rent) guide covers which board suits which wave.) Wetsuits are a different story: do not count on finding the right size and thickness on site. If you are traveling from a coast, pack your wetsuit with your board bag, and if you need one, ask the front desk about availability before your trip.
Pack a towel poncho or a changing robe as well. The walk from the lagoon to your car or your room is where you actually get cold.
How a cold-season session is different
The wave does not change. The Coaster, the Runner, and the Peak run the same sets in January that they run in June, and a public session runs the same way it does in summer. What changes is you. A few adjustments that help:
- Warm up on land first. Ten minutes of mobility work before you get in means your first two waves are not wasted on stiff shoulders.
- Book midday where you can. Sessions in the 12pm to 3pm window give the surface a few hours of sun. In December that can be the difference between a 3/2 and a 4/3.
- Stack sessions if you are driving in. Public sessions book out roughly two months ahead, and lodging guests can reserve sessions before they open to the public. Two consecutive hours lets you stay warm and in rhythm rather than drying off and getting back in.
- Have dry layers in the car. A hoodie, beanie, and warm socks in a bag at the beach is the single best cold-weather upgrade.
Why bother surfing in the cold?
Because the lagoon is one of the only places in Texas where you can surf at all, and the wave does not care what month it is. Texas Monthly reported that 70 percent of Waco Surf’s surf guests come from out of state, and Texas Standard has called Waco “the surfing capital of Texas.” A lot of those visitors show up in the fall and winter specifically because the waves at home have gone flat or blown out.
Pack the right suit, check the water temperature the morning you drive in, and the off-season is some of the best surfing of the year.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Waco Surf wave pool heated?
No. The Surf Lagoon is unheated, so the water temperature follows the local weather. Check the daily reading on wacosurf.com before your session.
Can you surf at Waco Surf in the winter?
Yes. The Surf Lagoon runs year-round and winter sessions are bookable. Water typically sits in the 45 to 65°F range from late November through early March, so a full wetsuit is the norm.
What wetsuit do I need for Waco Surf in November?
Water is typically 60 to 75°F in November. A 2mm spring suit or 3/2 full suit covers most people early in the month; by late November a 3/2 or 4/3 is the safer call.
Does Waco Surf rent wetsuits?
Board rentals are available on site. For wetsuits, plan to bring your own and contact the front desk at info@wacosurf.com ahead of your trip if you need one.