Rate Waco Mammoth National Monument
Learn and Explore
Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn’t stop there.
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Our Mission
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I obtain a park entrance pass?
Only 118 of your 417 park sites charge entrance fees. You can obtain park entrance passes by visiting a park site that charges an entrance fee. Entrance fee sites have passes available; we recommend calling a park prior to your visit. (See the park search to locate a specific park.) There are a number of entrance passes available, including park-specific passes as well as passes that offer entrance to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites in addition to the national parks (Annual, Military, Senior, 4th Grade, Access, and Volunteer passes). Learn more about the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.
About this location:
National Monument
Operating Hours & Seasons
Waco Mammoth National Monument
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day
Standard Hours
- Sunday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Monday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Tuesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Wednesday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Thursday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Friday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
- Saturday:9:00 AM-5:00 PM
Fees & Passes
Entrance Fees:
- $0.00 – Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to Waco Mammoth National Monument. There are guided tour fees. - $5.00 – Guided Tour Fee – Adult
This fee is for a tour of the Dig Shelter where mammoth fossils are in situ (still in their original position within the bone bed). The only access to the Dig Shelter is with a tour guide. Length of tour – 45 minutes to one hour. - $4.00 – Guided Tour Fee – Senior (over 60)
This fee is for a tour of the Dig Shelter where mammoth fossils are in situ (still in their original position within the bone bed). The only access to the Dig Shelter is with a tour guide. Length of tour – 45 minutes to one hour. - $4.00 – Guided Tour Fee – Military (with ID)
This fee is for a tour of the Dig Shelter where mammoth fossils are in situ (still in their original position within the bone bed). The only access to the Dig Shelter is with a tour guide. Length of tour – 45 minutes to one hour. - $4.00 – Guided Tour Fee – Educators (with ID)
This fee is for a tour of the Dig Shelter where mammoth fossils are in situ (still in their original position within the bone bed). The only access to the Dig Shelter is with a tour guide. Length of tour – 45 minutes to one hour. - $4.00 – Guided Tour Fee – Students (7th grade through college)
This fee is for a tour of the Dig Shelter where mammoth fossils are in situ (still in their original position within the bone bed). The only access to the Dig Shelter is with a tour guide. Length of tour – 45 minutes to one hour. - $3.00 – Guided Tour Fee – Children (preK through 6th grade)
This fee is for a tour of the Dig Shelter where mammoth fossils are in situ (still in their original position within the bone bed). The only access to the Dig Shelter is with a tour guide. Length of tour – 45 minutes to one hour. - $0.00 – Guided Tour Fee – Infants (ages 3 and under)
This fee is for a tour of the Dig Shelter where mammoth fossils are in situ (still in their original position within the bone bed). The only access to the Dig Shelter is with a tour guide. Length of tour – 45 minutes to one hour.
About
Meet a Mammoth that isn’t Woolly
On July 10, 2015, President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation making the Waco Mammoth Site a new unit of the National Park System. This paleontological site represents the nation’s only recorded discovery of a nursery herd of Columbian mammoths. Visitors can view "in situ" fossils including female mammoths, a bull mammoth, and a camel that lived approximately 67,000 years ago.
Directions
From I-35 North, take exit 339 and head west on Lake Shore Drive. Turn right on Steinbeck Bend Drive and travel 1.5 miles to the Monument. From I-35 South, take exit 335C and head northwest on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Continue straight onto Steinbeck Bend Drive and travel 1.5 miles to the Monument. The Monument is easily accessible via personal vehicle, bus, or motor home.
Visitor Centers
Welcome Center
Guided tours of the Dig Shelter begin here. Tours are conducted every 30 minutes, no reservation needed. Tours last from 45 minutes to one hour. Tour guides will lead you from the Welcome Center, down a 300 yard paved path to the Dig Shelter where mammoth fossils are in situ (still in their original position within the bone bed).
Weather
Overall, the monume enjoys a sunny, mild climate during three seasons of the year. Spring: Temperatures range from 45 F to 85 F (7 C/29 C). Rain is common in April and May. Summer: Temperatures range from 70 F to 95 F (21 C/35 C). Temperatures can exceed 100 F (38 C) in July and August. Lightweight clothing and sunscreen are advisable. Be prepared with plenty of water. Fall: Temperatures range from 45 F to 85 F (7 C/29 C). Winter: Temperatures range from 35 F to 65 F (2 C/18 C) . Snow and ice are rare.
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