Petrified Wood near Waco, TX
16 of the mapped rockhounding spots within 150 miles of Waco report petrified wood. The closest is Brazos River at Brazos Park East, about 3 miles out (4 min drive).
Petrified wood is ancient wood replaced cell by cell with silica. It concentrates where volcanic ash buried forests, and weathered pieces collect as float on desert slopes and in washes.
Map of 16 petrified wood collecting spots within 150 miles of Waco, Texas
Closest petrified wood spots to Waco
- Brazos River at Brazos Park EastMcLennan County, Texas3 mi · 4 min drivePetrified Wood, Agatized Wood, Agate
- N of CrossMadison County, Texas76 mi · 1 hr 35 min drivePetrified Wood
- Creek beds & hill slopes between Caldwell & SomervilleBurleson County, Texas86 mi · 1 hr 48 min drivePetrified Wood, Agatized Wood
- E of AustinTravis County, Texas94 mi · 1 hr 57 min driveAgatized Wood, Petrified Palm Wood
- Rabb's CreekFayette County, Texas104 mi · 2 hr 10 min drivePetrified Wood, Opalized Wood
- Colorado River at SmithvilleBastrop County, Texas106 mi · 2 hr 12 min drivePetrified Palm Wood, Petrified Wood, Agate
Types of petrified wood reported near Waco
Counts reflect how many spots in this radius mention each variety.
- Petrified Wood13
- Agatized Wood5
- Petrified Palm Wood4
- Opalized Wood1
Every petrified wood spot within 150 miles of Waco
Sorted by distance from Waco. Tap a row for directions, access status, and nearby trips.
Petrified Wood near Waco FAQ
Where can I find petrified wood near Waco?+
16 mapped spots within about 150 miles of Waco report petrified wood. The closest is Brazos River at Brazos Park East in McLennan County County, roughly 3 miles away (4 min drive). The full list with coordinates is on this page.
Can I collect petrified wood on public land near Waco?+
16 of the 16 spots here sit on land mapped as publicly accessible. Casual hand collecting of common rocks and minerals is allowed on most BLM and Forest Service land with limits set by the local field office; national parks and most state parks are closed to collecting. Confirm current rules with the managing agency before a trip.
How can I tell petrified wood from plain rock?+
Look for wood structure: parallel grain lines, growth rings on cut ends, and bark texture on the outside. Petrified palm shows a distinctive rod-and-dot pattern instead of rings. Plain jasper and chert show none of these, even when the color looks woody.
How far from Waco do I need to drive?+
The nearest petrified wood spot is about 3 miles out, and the farthest on this list is 149 miles. Most fall inside a normal weekend day-trip radius.
Keep exploring from Waco
Petrified Wood near other cities
Hunt petrified wood around Waco with the map in your pocket
RockHoundR shows these spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, weather, and a log for your finds.
