Between Waco And Sam Houston National Forest Is A Texas City With Historic Charm And A Drive-Through Safari

The countryside between Waco and the woods of East Texas offers a different picture of the Lone Star State from its sprawling cities and arid western reaches. The terrain is a spread of open grass and oak trees, with small towns scattered through the landscape. Franklin is one of those charming small towns where you get historic buildings, conveniences, and a bit of local quirkiness packaged into one destination. Its position between Waco and the Sam Houston National Forest also makes it a practical base or a weekend getaway for travelers around the Central Texas region.

Franklin may be small — a population of just under 2,000 as of 2026 population estimates — but its history stretches back to late 19th-century Texas settlement. At the center of the town, Franklin has its own historical marker that gives visitors a synopsis of its history: First established in 1872 as Morgan, the town grew around a railway depot and a handful of stores. It was renamed Franklin when residents discovered that another Texas town already had the name Morgan. One of the reminders of Franklin's formative years is its elegant Robertson County Courthouse, completed in 1882.

These days, Franklin has a few casual dining spots, a community park with walking trails, and a couple of hotels. One of its more distinctive attractions just outside of downtown is the Franklin Drive Thru Safari, where visitors can see exotic animals up close. The town is roughly an hour drive from Waco, though you could also reach it from Austin in around two hours.

For travelers who enjoy finding unique roadside stops on long drives, the Franklin Drive Thru Safari might be a good reason to make a stop in Franklin. Located along Highway 79, the attraction is home to animals from around the world, including giraffes, ostriches, and monkeys, according to its website. You simply stay in your car and follow a road through the safari park, and animals can walk right up to your vehicle. Visitors can buy food on-site to feed some of them along the route, a highlight among many reviews. "The animals were very interactive and vast in variety. Highly recommend getting 2 cups of animal feed," one Google Maps reviewer shared, before saying that "it will get messy quickly." If you'd rather let someone else handle the driving (and mess), private tours are also available for groups. However, the attraction has also faced criticism over animal welfare, with the Animal Legal Defense Fund urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to revoke its owner's exhibitor license following documented animal welfare violations at his facilities. The concerns are worth considering before visiting, particularly for travelers who are uncomfortable with wild animals being kept in captivity for close-up encounters with visitors.

Visitors can also explore a walk-around area near the front of the park or pay extra for an animal encounter (as of this writing, the park offers encounters with sloths). If you're spending more time at the park, there are some other add-on experiences: a seasonal lazy river with cabanas, a little lake island full of lemurs, and a reptile house. The safari itself is open seven days a week, year-round.

After visiting the safari, head into downtown Franklin to see some of its historic buildings and grab a bite to eat. The town's core is small enough to explore on foot, and you might start at the Robertson County Courthouse, which you can admire from the grounds. The building dates to the 1800s, with its mansard roof restored in 2014 after it had been demolished, per 254 Texas Courthouses. A five-minute walk from the courthouse, the Franklin Carnegie Library is another historic landmark to enjoy. Built in 1914, it's one of just four surviving Carnegie libraries in Texas still serving as a library, according to Texas Highways. The oldest of these Carnegie library buildings still around is about a 40-minute drive away in Bryan, a colorful getaway with a historic downtown.

When you get hungry, there are a couple of local options beyond the usual chain stops. Leoni Pizzeria is one right off the courthouse square, with a 4.6 rating from Google Maps reviewers at the time of writing. It serves over a dozen specialty pizzas, plus a "build your own" pizza option, although inside seating is limited. An option for some dining with a laid-back bar is Doc's Icehouse, located around the corner from Leoni. It has a 4.3 rating on Google Maps, getting some strong praise for its burgers, with one reviewer saying it was the "Biggest double burger [I've] ever been served at a restaurant." You can fuel up at one of these eateries before exploring some of the Sam Houston National Forest's landscapes, like the Big Creek Scenic Area, which showcases the unsung greener side of Texas.