Chip. Joanna. Silos.
Just the mention of those three words, and fans everywhere start dreaming. What are they dreaming of, you ask? Those who fell in love with “Fixer Upper” when it first aired on cable television have dreamed of visiting the small-ish Texas town which has been transformed, thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines. Of course, I’m talking about Waco, Texas, and a trip to see the much-loved Magnolia Market at the Silos.
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Magnolia Market – Top Tourist Questions Answered
From tips on when to visit this Texas destination to whether or not you can eat at the location and more, I’ve got your top tourist questions answered.
How to Get to Magnolia Market?
Magnolia Market at the Silos is located in the heart of Texas (Waco, TX), almost exactly halfway between two major cities – Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin.
While Waco does have a small regional airport, if flying to Texas, I highly recommend grabbing a route directly to either Dallas/Fort Worth or Austin and renting a car. You’ll want that car in Texas, as everything is spread out. The drive from either location is roughly 90 minutes.
Miles to Magnolia Market from Major Airports:
- From Dallas Love Field (home to Southwest Airlines): 101 miles
- From Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport: 112 miles
- From Austin-Bergstrom International Airport: 110 miles
You’ll be surprised to discover that Magnolia Market is just a few blocks off the interstate, I-35, in a downtown area not far from Baylor University.
Address: 601 Webster | Waco, Texas
Hours: MON – SAT (Closed on Sunday)
- Market 9 AM – 6 PM
- Bakery 7:30 AM – 6 PM
- Check these different hours out if you will be visiting on holidays or for special events
When to Visit Magnolia Market?
It’s hot in Texas y’all. You can also encounter snow and ice in Texas (are you surprised?). Plan your trip to the Silos accordingly, checking the weather and temperatures often.
While true Fixer Upper fanatics won’t mind standing in lines, be prepared. There can be long lines at every turn. It’s a great thing that Chip and Joanna have prepared for this, and have plenty of family fun (corn hole) and comfortable seating available on the lawn.
PRO TIP: Visit in Spring or Autumn, when temperatures have dropped a bit. If you must visit during busy summer months, don’t worry, as there are plenty of mist-blowing fans in select areas.
PRO TIP: Visit in early morning or right before they close.
Our Trip: We visited during a holiday weekend (Memorial Day), as we had a friend graduating high school literally across the street from Magnolia Market. We attended the graduation, then walked to Magnolia Market about an hour before closing time. Thankfully there were no lines to walk into the store, despite the holiday weekend. There was a 20-minute line outside the bakery. I highly recommend visiting later in the day.
Can You Eat at Magnolia Market?
Yes! Yes! Yes! Don’t miss out on this part of the experience. Though you will want to satisfy your sweet tooth during this trip, know that you don’t have to go off-site for your meals.
Silos Baking Co.
No trip to Magnolia Market is complete without a stop at Silos Baking Co. The inside of the bakery is relatively small, so only a few people at a time are let inside to order. While you wait outside (under a shaded tent), you will be presented with an order card and a pencil. Fill it out and present it when it’s your turn to order and pay inside.
Fans will swoon over the options, from cupcakes to biscuits and muffins. Some of them are themed, of course, like the famous Shiplap cupcake (vanilla cake + vanilla buttercream icing), or Cup O’ Jo cupcake (chocolate cake + espresso buttercream icing). Those who prefer savory to sweet will want to order The Prize Pig (savory bacon + cheddar-scratch made biscuit).
We ordered the famous Silobration cupcake (vanilla cake + chocolate buttercream icing with sprinkles) and a Cranberry Orange Biscuit. Both delicious, but I’ll say that the Silobration cupcake, hands down, is the best cupcake I have ever had in my life.
PRO TIP: Grab a Magnolia branded bottle of water (not plastic) from the refrigerated section to stay hydrated.
Food Trucks
You will appreciate that Chip and Joanna have made food trucks a staple. There’s no need to head off-site to grab a bite to eat. Just in case you are making a quick stop in Waco along your road trip, you can even find food trucks for Silos Baking Co. (shorter line for those yummy cupcakes) and Magnolia Table (the new Chip and Joanna restaurant that is actually located down the highway from the Silos).
Though this can change at any moment, you can currently find the following food trucks at Magnolia Market at the Silos:
- GUESS FAMILY BBQ
- CHEDDAR BOX
- 900 PIZZERIA
- CHUCK’S GOURMET POPCORN
- SUMMER SNOW
- MAGNOLIA TABLE
- CLUB SANDWICH
- H.O.T. DOG HOUSE
- SILOS BAKING CO.
- LUNA JUICE
- ALABAMA SWEET TEA
- CAPTAIN BILLY WHIZZBANGS
Where Do You Park at the Silos?
Magnolia Market is really located in such a small area, next to a church, school, and life in downtown Waco. But don’t be overwhelmed by all the people, there really is parking available.
You’ll find FREE parking on 8th street, southwest of the Silos (but connected to the grounds of Magnolia Market). If that fills up, and especially if you are staying overnight in town, consider riding The Silo District Downtown Trolley – it’s FREE to ride and will take you all around the downtown area, running every 15-20 minutes (Mon-Sat).
Are There Restrooms at the Silos?
Yes, both indoor and outdoor.
Inside Magnolia Market there are restrooms, but at times the lines can be incredibly long, so it’s good to know where the outdoor restrooms are.
Be prepared, especially during summer months, and especially if you have little ones with you or are prone to needing the restroom with a bit more urgency than others. If you or a traveling companion experiences incontinence, be sure to pack Depend® Fit-Flex® Underwear in your bag for the trip. Not only are they comfortable and ultra-soft, but they will give you peace of mind while visiting Magnolia Market, as lines and crowds can sometimes be an issue.
Best Things to Buy at Magnolia Market?
Shopping! It’s one of the main reasons to visit.
While most of us know that we can purchase many of the items found here online, let’s be honest, it’s so much more fun to buy something at Magnolia Market. It’s exciting to pick up something that Jo may have touched, right?
The place is stunning and it’s hard not to want one of everything. You’ll find something for every room in the house. You’ll also spy several “souvenir” type items like t-shirts, magnets, coffee mugs, and more, all themed Magnolia! Even the Magnolia tote bags with leather handles here are just beautiful.
TIP: While I do think it’s fun to buy in person, you might want to browse online to see what interests you.
NOTE: The main store has air conditioning, but as you go down the stairs to the lower level/grain barn, you will notice there are only fans (no a/c).
What are in the Silos?
This is a common question, one that I wanted to know the answer to myself. Surely, they don’t just make for a great Instagram photo?
The Silos are actually empty right now. The history of the property is interesting though, as it was originally a historic cottonseed mill. I’m curious to see what Chip and Joanna ultimately do with them, but until then, they remain a landmark in a city that has come a long way towards becoming the number one Texas destination.
A visit to Magnolia Market makes for a fun girls’ trip, one where memories will be made and plenty of household items will be bought. Stay tuned as I share more about where to stay in Waco, what other places you must visit for a Magnolia themed trip, and what there is to do outside of Magnolia.
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This place looks amazing! I love the silo’s and the baked goods look wonderful. I want to visit!
It really is amazing how this couple has impacted the town of Waco.
The bakery treats look scrumptious!
I love the idea of browsing online before heading to Magnolia. And I’ve heard those cupcakes are AH-MAZING so I might have to try one of each!
One of each is oh such a great idea! I might just need a bite of one of each! 🙂