Red Oak sits on I-35E at the north edge of Ellis County, about 18 miles south of downtown Dallas. It started as a railroad stop called Possum Trot, and today it's a data center town, with Compass Datacenters and Google both building here. For visitors and crews, that means a strip of very good taquerias, an all-you-can-eat Italian dinner, a couple of well-kept parks, and hotels right on the interstate.
We host a tiny home about 20 minutes south of Red Oak. This guide covers things to do in Red Oak, where to eat, the data center campuses, and where to stay when you're working on them. Every restaurant and place we feature was rated 4.3 stars or higher on Google when we checked, unless we say otherwise.
At a glance
- County
- Ellis County; zip code 75154
- Town
- 14,222 people at the 2020 census, with a 2025 estimate of about 20,400
- Known for
- Data centers, Presto Continuous Italian, and quick access to Dallas on I-35E
- Schools
- Red Oak ISD, plus a Texas State Technical College branch campus
- From the tiny home
- About 20 minutes to Red Oak's restaurants and the data center area
From Wikipedia's Red Oak, Texas entry (census figures and history), Data Center Dynamics, TSTC, and Google listings (ratings, hours, and phone numbers), checked October 12, 2026.
The best things to do in Red Oak, TX
- Eat course after course at Presto Continuous Italian, rated 4.8.
- Work through the taquerias: El Amigo, Taqueria Mexicano Grill, and a tortilleria.
- Get Cajun food at Te'Jun, with more than 2,000 reviews.
- Walk Watkins Park or let the kids loose at Pearson Park.
- Catch the Red Oak, White and Blue fireworks in late June.
- Hike Cedar Ridge Preserve or spend a day on Joe Pool Lake, both a short drive northwest.
Red Oak events: the next 12 months
Red Oak's calendar is small, so we list everything we can confirm, plus the two big yearly days: Founders Day and Red Oak, White and Blue. Pick a month to look ahead.
Updated Nov. 1, 2026. We check every source again on the 1st and 15th of each month, so newly announced events show up here with a New tag.
November 2026
Friends of the Library fall book sale
Fri., Nov. 6 to Sat., Nov. 7
At the Red Oak Public Library, 101 S. Live Oak St.: Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
NewSource
Letters to Santa
Thu., Nov. 12
Write a letter to Santa at the Red Oak Public Library, 101 S. Live Oak St., 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. All ages; cookies and hot cocoa provided.
NewSource
Atlantis Charity Polo
Sun., Nov. 15
An afternoon of polo and networking at Dallas Polo, 730 Bent Trail, noon to 5 p.m., supporting Hope Bilingual Academy. Tickets from $23.
NewSource
December 2026
Christmas in Red Oak
Sat., Dec. 5
A free morning at Watkins Park, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.: wreath crafts and gingerbread houses, a trackless train, a snow party, 4 on 4 hockey, bounce houses, free s'mores and hot chocolate, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and holiday and food vendors.
NewSource
Dallas Oasis Winter Bridal and Event Expo
Sun., Dec. 6
A free bridal and event show at The Dallas Oasis venue, 2 to 6 p.m. See our wedding guide.
NewSource
February 2027
May 2027
Red Oak High School graduation
Thu., May 27
4 p.m. at the Mansfield ISD Center for the Performing Arts. See our graduation guide.
NewSource
June 2027
Red Oak, White and Blue
Late June (Sat., June 27 in 2026)
The city's free Independence Day night at Oaks Church, 777 S. I-35E: parking from 6 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30.
NewNext date not posted yetSource
September 2027
Red Oak Founders Day
September (Sat., Sept. 19 in 2026)
A parade down Red Oak Road at 9 a.m., then a festival at Watkins Park with food trucks, vendors, pony rides, a petting zoo, and a battle of the bands. Hosted by the Red Oak Area Chamber with the city.
NewNext date not posted yetSource
Every week, and good to know
- Free programs at the Red Oak Public Library, 101 S. Live Oak St.: StoryTime Tuesdays at 10 a.m., Babies and Stories Wednesdays at 10, and STEAM mornings most Thursdays at 10.
- For bigger nights out, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Lancaster, and Waxahachie are all close. See our events by town guide.
11 confirmed dates and 2 yearly events whose next date isn't posted yet. From City of Red Oak special events, AllEvents: Red Oak, Ellis Feed events, and organizer listings, checked Nov. 1, 2026. Dates change, so confirm before you drive. For festivals across the county, see our events by season guide.
Red Oak restaurants
Italian
Presto Continuous Italian
Course after course of Italian dishes, served until you say stop.
Romas Italian
Italian dishes and pizza.
Mexican food and taquerias
El Amigo Taqueria
Tacos from 6 a.m. on weekdays.
Taqueria Mexicano Grill
Tacos and plates until 10 or 11 p.m.
Taqueria H. Santoyo
Tacos and Mexican plates.
La Pasadita Panaderia & Taqueria
A Mexican bakery and taqueria in one.
Tortillería El Rancherito
Fresh tortillas and Mexican plates.
Barbecue, Cajun, and burgers
Junior's Barbeque
Weekday barbecue.
Te'Jun The Texas Cajun
Cajun food and seafood right off the interstate.
Lonestar Burger
Burgers.
Breakfast and donuts
Gravy & More
A breakfast and lunch spot from 6:30 a.m.
Donut Time Red Oak
Donuts from 5 a.m. every day.
On the way from the tiny home, Three Rivers Coffee Co. at 2801 N. Hwy 77 in Waxahachie (rated 4.6) opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays, about 10 minutes from the house. For a drink after work, Woody's Club at 401 I-35 N. (rated 4.4) is open daily 3 p.m. to midnight.
Parks and the library
Watkins Park
A city park next to the library.
Pearson Park
A neighborhood park on the west side of I-35E.
Red Oak Public Library
A small library next to Watkins Park, and parents praise its kids' programs.
Nearby: hikes, lakes, and Dallas
- Cedar Ridge Preserve in southwest Dallas: wooded trails and big views, rated 4.8 by more than 5,000 reviewers. Details are in our pet-friendly guide.
- Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park: beaches, boat ramps, and fishing. See our lakes guide.
- Dallas: about 18 miles north on I-35E. Our game day guide covers stadiums and arenas.
- Waxahachie: the courthouse square, antiques, and the best restaurants in the county, about 20 minutes south. See our where to eat guide.
Red Oak data centers and working here
Here's what the public record shows about the data center campuses in Red Oak:
- Compass Datacenters has its Red Oak campus at 300 Houston School Rd., with newer buildings on Austin Blvd., according to Data Center Dynamics in September 2024.
- Google announced a Red Oak data center campus near Compass's in September 2023, per the same report.
- The bigger picture: Red Oak's economic development office told TSTC in April 2025 that four data center projects totaling 24 buildings were planned, with work in construction, electrical construction, and industrial maintenance. Google and DataBank are among the companies building.
From the tiny home, the Red Oak data center area is about 15 miles, or 20 minutes without traffic.
Fuel, supplies, and early food
Red Oak Travel Center
A Pilot-branded truck stop that truckers in the reviews say has showers, laundry, a Wendy's, and fried pies.
The nearest Home Depot is on I-35E in Lancaster, about 25 minutes from the tiny home, but the Waxahachie Home Depot and Lowe's on N. Hwy 77 are closer to us (about 8 minutes) and both open at 6 a.m. The one laundromat we found in Red Oak was rated 1.9, so the washer and dryer at the tiny home will save you a trip. Early breakfast: Donut Time at 5 a.m., El Amigo at 6, and Gravy & More at 6:30. Every hardware store, truck stop, and urgent care in the area is in our crew housing guide.
Red Oak hotels
Red Oak's hotels cluster at I-35E and Ovilla Road. When we checked, La Quinta was the best rated; Comfort Inn & Suites was at 4.1 and Motel 6 at 3.3.
La Quinta Inn & Suites Red Oak
The best-rated hotel in Red Oak, at 4.4 from almost 400 reviewers. Call ahead for weekly rates and trailer parking.
Working on the data center campuses for a few weeks? A furnished house with a kitchen, a washer, and room for the trucks can beat a hotel room. Our tiny home is about 20 minutes south, and every option nearby is compared in our where to stay guide.
The Waxahachie Tiny Home
Working in Red Oak? Stay with room for the trucks.
Built for work weeks and weekends
- Trucks, trailers, and equipment: plenty of room, with prior approval. Send us the length and width of each one and we confirm it fits before you book. Leave the trailers parked while you work.
- Weekly stays: book up to 28 nights at a time, then book again if the job runs long.
- A whole house, not a room: a full kitchen to pack lunches, a washer and dryer for work clothes, and self check-in at any hour.
- Room for a small crew: up to 7 overnight, best for 2 to 4. Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and leaving at 5 a.m. is fine.
- Off the clock: a covered porch over open farmland, an LED fireplace, and pets welcome with approval.
Details are in our crew housing guide. Ask about booking direct, or check our dates on VRBO.
Good to know: tips for Red Oak
- I-35E traffic backs up toward Dallas at rush hour, so plan extra time if you're heading north in the morning.
- Junior's Barbeque is weekdays only, and Te'Jun closes on Sunday.
How far is everything from the tiny home?
Every card above shows its own drive time. These are the other places people ask about.
| From the tiny home to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Three Rivers Coffee, north Waxahachie | 6.6 mi | About 10 min |
| Main St. (Presto Continuous Italian, Gravy & More) | 11.0 mi | About 20 min |
| Watkins Park and the library | 12.9 mi | About 20 min |
| Comfort Inn & Suites Red Oak | 13.0 mi | About 20 min |
| La Quinta Red Oak | 13.4 mi | About 20 min |
| Red Oak data center area | 15.0 mi | About 20 min |
| Home Depot, Lancaster | 17.8 mi | About 25 min |
| Downtown Dallas | 31 mi | About 35 min |
Estimated drive times without traffic, October 2026.
Questions we get
What is there to do in Red Oak, TX?
Eat at Presto Continuous Italian, the taquerias along Ovilla Road and TX-342, and Te'Jun The Texas Cajun; walk Watkins Park or Pearson Park; and catch the Red Oak, White and Blue fireworks in late June. Cedar Ridge Preserve and Joe Pool Lake are a short drive northwest.
What are the best restaurants in Red Oak, TX?
Presto Continuous Italian and El Amigo Taqueria (4.8), Gravy & More for breakfast (4.7), Romas Italian (4.5), and Taqueria Mexicano Grill, Junior's Barbeque, and Te'Jun The Texas Cajun (4.4).
Where is the data center in Red Oak, TX?
Compass Datacenters' Red Oak campus is at 300 Houston School Rd., with newer buildings on Austin Blvd., and Google announced its own Red Oak campus nearby in September 2023, according to Data Center Dynamics. From our tiny home, the data center area is about 20 minutes.
What county is Red Oak, TX, in?
Ellis County. Most of the city is in Red Oak ISD, with parts in Waxahachie ISD and Ferris ISD.
How far is Red Oak from Dallas?
About 18 miles south of downtown Dallas on I-35E. From our tiny home, downtown Dallas is about 35 minutes without traffic.
Where can data center construction crews stay near Red Oak?
Our tiny home is about 20 minutes south, with room for work trucks, trailers, and equipment with approval, a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and stays up to 28 nights per booking. It sleeps up to 7 and works best for a crew of 2 to 4.
Where can I get breakfast early in Red Oak?
Donut Time opens at 5 a.m. every day, El Amigo Taqueria at 6 on weekdays, and Gravy & More at 6:30 Monday to Saturday.
When are the Red Oak fireworks?
Red Oak, White and Blue, the city's Independence Day celebration, was June 27 in 2026. Watch the city's announcements for the 2027 date.
About this guide
Written by the hosts of The Waxahachie Tiny Home, a family-run rental on farmland just outside Waxahachie. We checked the details on this page against official sources and update it as things change. Hours, prices, and dates move around, so confirm before you go.
Last updated October 17, 2026
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