The short version: Waco Surf is about 90 minutes from both Austin and Dallas, and as of September 2026 it is the only open surf park in Texas with a wave pool that makes breaking, ocean-style waves. Austin has no surfing wave pool open. Dallas has stationary waves and surf simulators, which are great for turns but have no takeoff and no sets. A day trip works: book your session early (public sessions usually sell out about two months ahead), leave home about two and a half hours before your session if it is your first visit, and you can surf, eat, float the lazy river in season and be home for dinner.
Type “surfing near Austin” or “where to surf near Dallas” into Google and you get a mix of lake wakesurfing, indoor simulators and a surf club development that has not opened. The closest place to either city where you can paddle into a wave, drop in, do a bottom turn and kick out is a surf lagoon in Waco, straight up or down I-35. This guide answers the questions people actually search, then lays out how to do Waco Surf as a day trip from either city.
Is there a wave pool in Austin?
Not one you can surf, as of September 2026. Austin had a surfing wave pool once: NLand Surf Park in Del Valle opened in October 2016 and closed in November 2018. The site is now being redeveloped as Austin Surf Club, a residential surf club with a Kelly Slater Wave Company lagoon, and it is not open. Water parks around Austin have wave pools, but those are built for floating in the swells, not for riding a surfboard.
That leaves a 90-minute drive north. Waco Surf runs surf sessions from 8am to 8pm on a pneumatic wave system that creates more than 2,000 waves a day, with a separate wave setting for every level from first-timers to pros. Our wave pool vs ocean guide explains how the waves compare to a beach day on the Gulf.
Is there a wave pool in Dallas?
Dallas has stationary waves and surf simulators, and they are a fun way to work on turns. Goodsurf in Deep Ellum and Fireside Surf in The Colony both run standing waves, and a few entertainment venues have surf simulators. There is also a healthy wakesurfing scene behind boats on Lake Grapevine and Lake Lewisville.
What none of those give you is a wave that breaks. No paddling into position, no takeoff, no sets, no rights and lefts. If that is the part of surfing you are after, Waco Surf is the closest place to Dallas to find it, about 90 minutes south. And if you love a standing wave, we have one of those too: the Shredmill is a deep water stationary wave with a 4 to 5 foot face, so you can do both in one day.
What about driving to the Gulf?
The Texas coast is a real option and we are not going to pretend otherwise. It is also a much longer drive from either city than Waco, and the waves only show up when the weather cooperates. Waco Surf has no swell window and no bad days. The wave does the same thing in March as it does in July. For a day trip with a fixed departure time, that predictability is the whole point.
The day-trip plan
Here is how a Waco Surf day works from Austin or Dallas. The times below assume a 90-minute drive; adjust for your part of town and Friday traffic.
Before you leave home
Book your surf session online well ahead. Public sessions usually sell out about two months in advance, and we release space-available sessions four to six weeks before the month, so walk-ins are not guaranteed. Pick your level honestly: Beginner if you are getting to your feet, Intermediate if you can paddle into waves and turn both ways, Advanced if you can handle steep, fast drop-ins. Sign your waiver online. If you are bringing your own board, check our surfboard guide; if not, rentals start at $29 plus tax and soft tops are included with Beginner sessions.
Morning: the drive and check-in
First-time visitors need to arrive a full hour before their session, and returning surfers 20 minutes before. For a 9am session on your first visit, that means leaving Austin or Dallas around 6:30am. Park in the free back lot, check in at the lobby, pick up your rental board or wetsuit, and head to the lagoon. If you are more than 10 minutes late without contacting us, we may release your spot, so build in a buffer.
Midday: eat and reset
A one-hour session is more surfing than most people do in a full day at the beach, so plan on lunch. The Surfside Shack is open 7am to 8pm, the Surf Cafe is on the surf side, and the Wedge Grill serves burgers and fries during water park hours. Then watch your waves back on the TVs in the lounge; Flowstate films every wave in the pool and downloads start at $29.
Afternoon: pick your second act
Option one is a second surf session. Rental pricing is built for it: a performance board is $45 plus tax for your first session and $20 plus tax for each additional session the same day. Option two is the Shredmill, which runs 10am to 4pm Monday through Thursday and 10am to 7pm Friday through Sunday. Option three is the beach and water park side: the lazy river and The Wedge slides run May 9 through September 13, noon to 6pm on weekdays and 11am to 7pm on weekends and holidays, with the last lazy river entry an hour before close. Non-surfers in your car can grab a Surfer Companion Beach Pass to watch from the beach, swim in the swim zone, play cornhole or book a cabana. There are also stocked fishing lakes, rental bikes, pickleball courts and lemurs.
Evening: the drive home
Leave by late afternoon and you are back in Austin or Dallas for dinner. Or do not leave at all, which brings us to the next point.
When a day trip should become a weekend
Overnight guests get the single most valuable perk on the property: priority access to book surf sessions before they open to the public. If you are trying to line up two or three sessions across a weekend, that access matters more than the room. The lodging lineup covers hotel rooms for 2 to 4 people, suites, cabins sleeping 2 to 14, the Lake House and Road House for 10 to 12, and RV hookups. Lodging guests also get complimentary Beach Passes and 50% off Water Park passes purchased on site. A 90-minute drive means you can leave after work on Friday and be in the water Saturday morning. Our Stay and Surf guide has a full two-day itinerary.
What to pack for the day
- Swimsuit, towel and sunscreen. Trunks and a rash guard are plenty from late spring through early fall.
- A wetsuit in winter and early spring, or rent one on site for $25 plus tax per day. Water runs 45 to 65 degrees in the coldest months and 80 to 90 degrees in midsummer; the full month-by-month table is in our FAQ.
- Your board and a leash if you are bringing your own. A leash or a life jacket is required in the surf lagoon.
- A cooler with snacks and non-alcoholic drinks for the surf side. No glass anywhere on property, and no BYOB on the surf and beach side (beer and seltzers are allowed on the water park side).
- A waterproof pouch for your phone, ID and keys. There are no lockers yet.
- A physical ID if you plan to buy a drink.
Getting here
Waco Surf is at 5347 Old Mexia Road, Waco, TX 76705. Waco sits on I-35 roughly halfway between Dallas and Austin, and Houston is about three hours away. Parking in the back lot is free; VIP parking up front is $20 a day in peak season.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a wave pool in Austin, Texas?
Not a surfing wave pool, as of September 2026. NLand Surf Park closed in 2018 and Austin Surf Club, planned for the same site, is not open. The closest surfing wave pool to Austin is Waco Surf, about 90 minutes north on I-35.
Is there a wave pool in Dallas?
Dallas has stationary-wave venues and surf simulators, but no wave pool that makes breaking waves. Waco Surf, about 90 minutes south, is the closest place to Dallas to surf a breaking wave.
How far is Waco Surf from Austin and Dallas?
About 90 minutes from each. Houston is about three hours.
Can you do Waco Surf in one day?
Yes. Surf sessions run 8am to 8pm, so a morning session, lunch and an afternoon session or water park visit fits easily, with the drive home before dark for most of the year.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes. Sessions usually book out about two months ahead, and walk-ins are not guaranteed. Overnight guests can book before sessions are released to the public.
Is Waco Surf open year round?
The surf lagoon runs 8am to 8pm and wetsuits are available for the cold months. The water park side is seasonal, May 9 through September 13 in 2026. Check the booking calendar for the dates you want.
What is there to do for people who do not surf?
A Surfer Companion Beach Pass gets non-surfers onto the beach with a swim zone, cabanas and cornhole. In season the water park has a one-mile lazy river, The Wedge slides and a kids area; our guide to Waco Surf with kids has every age and height rule. Year-round there are stocked fishing lakes, rental bikes, pickleball, massages and lemurs.
Pick a date, book your session, and come find your wave. It is closer than you think.