Venus is a small, fast-growing railroad town on US-67, between Midlothian and Alvarado. It doesn't have a big list of attractions, and it doesn't pretend to. What it does have is a handful of seriously good restaurants on Second Street, a few parks, an antiques trail twice a year, and Mansfield and Midlothian next door for everything else.
We host a tiny home about 30 minutes east of Venus. This guide covers where to eat in Venus, what to do nearby, and where to stay when you're in town for work. Every place we feature was rated 4.3 stars or higher on Google when we checked, unless we say otherwise.
At a glance
- County
- Johnson County, with a small piece in Ellis County
- Town
- 4,361 people at the 2020 census, up from 2,960 in 2010; zip code 76084
- Known for
- Biundo's Pizzeria, Second Street restaurants, Venus ISD, and its stop on the Antique Alley Texas trail
- Getting around
- US-67 runs about 7.5 miles northeast to Midlothian and 7 miles west to Alvarado; downtown Dallas and Fort Worth are each about 31 miles away
- From the tiny home
- About 30 minutes to downtown Venus
From Wikipedia's Venus, Texas entry (census figures and history), Antique Alley Texas, and Google listings (ratings, hours, and phone numbers), checked October 12, 2026.
The best things to do in and around Venus
- Eat at Biundo's Pizzeria, the town's best-known restaurant, with more than 1,000 reviews.
- Get seafood at Mariscos Don Benji or tacos at Casa Jacaranda.
- Shop Antique Alley Texas on the third weekend of April and September.
- Take the kids to Country Critters Farm in Alvarado for pony rides and a petting zoo.
- Head to Mansfield or Midlothian for parks, nightlife, and big events.
Antique Alley Texas
Twice a year, Venus joins Alvarado, Cleburne, Grandview, Joshua, Keene, Maypearl, and Waxahachie for Antique Alley Texas, an antiquing trail that runs Friday to Sunday on the third weekend of April and September. The next one should be April 16 to 18, 2027. Shop hours vary by town, so check antiquealleytexas.com, and see our antique shopping guide for the Waxahachie stops.
Venus events: the next 12 months
Venus is a small town with a short calendar. Antique Alley is the big draw twice a year, and Mansfield and Midlothian are close for everything else. 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.
December 2026
Run From The Relatives
Sat., Dec. 26
A post-Christmas morning run at Shepherd's Valley Cowboy Church, 8 a.m.
NewSource
January 2027
The Icebreaker Futurity
Thu., Jan. 7 to Sat., Jan. 9
A three-day horse event at Shepherd's Valley Cowboy Church.
NewSource
April 2027
Antique Alley Texas
Expected April 16 to 18, 2027 (third Friday weekend)
Venus is one of eight towns on the antiquing trail. Shop hours vary by town; Friday and Saturday are the busiest days.
NewNext date not posted yetSource
September 2027
Antique Alley Texas
Expected Sept. 17 to 19, 2027 (third Friday weekend)
The fall run of the antiquing trail.
NewNext date not posted yetSource
Every week, and good to know
- Bigger calendars nearby: our Mansfield and Midlothian guides.
2 confirmed dates and 2 yearly events whose next date isn't posted yet. From Antique Alley Texas, AllEvents: Venus, 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.
Parks and family fun
Fielder Park
A town park with ball fields and room for the dog to run.
PlayPen Mansfield
An indoor playground with areas for different ages, on the Mansfield side of Venus.
Country Critters Farm
A petting zoo, pony rides, a maze, and a sandbox, with a pumpkin patch in the fall.
More family ideas, from splash pads to the Fort Worth Zoo, are in our guide to things to do in Waxahachie.
Venus restaurants
Second Street is Venus's little restaurant row, and three of its spots have hundreds of strong reviews.
Biundo's Pizzeria
Pizza and Italian food (one reviewer calls it authentic Italian).
Casa Jacaranda Cocina Mexicana
Mexican food and tacos; one calls it a 10 out of 10.
Wonder Woman Kitchen Creations
Wings and more; reviewers single out the crispy Crack Wings.
Taquikardia
Mexican food from 5 a.m. on weekdays, including a pizzadilla one reviewer loves.
Mariscos Don Benji
Mexican seafood, including ceviche, north of town.
Taqueria H Santoyo #2
A small downtown taqueria.
A little Venus history
The town started out in the late 1880s with a different name: Gossip. Founder J.C. Smythe renamed it Venus after the daughter of a local doctor. By 1888 it had a post office and about 10 residents, and it grew at the junction of two railroads, passing 800 people by the 1920s. The Depression and the pull of Dallas-Fort Worth shrank it to about 200 by 1940. Today it's growing again: the 2020 census counted 4,361 people, up from 2,960 in 2010.
Nearby: Mansfield, Midlothian, and Alvarado
For anything Venus doesn't have, the next towns are close:
- Mansfield, to the north: historic Main Street, Oliver Nature Park, Hawaiian Falls, and the Pickle Parade. See our Mansfield guide.
- Midlothian, to the east: Founders Row dinners, Bearded Ax Brewery, Community Park's splash pad, and glider rides. See our Midlothian guide.
- Alvarado, to the west: Country Critters Farm, Atwoods, and the hotels on US-67 at I-35W.
- Glen Rose, about 1.5 hours from the tiny home, pairs Fossil Rim Wildlife Center with Dinosaur Valley State Park for a big day trip.
How far is Venus from nearby cities?
| From downtown Venus to | Distance | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Midlothian | 7.8 mi | About 10 min |
| Alvarado | 7.3 mi | About 10 min |
| Mansfield | 12.1 mi | About 20 min |
| Cleburne | 18.5 mi | About 25 min |
| AT&T Stadium, Arlington | 30.1 mi | About 40 min |
| Downtown Dallas | 32.2 mi | About 40 min |
| Downtown Fort Worth | 33.7 mi | About 40 min |
Estimated drive times without traffic. Venus City Hall is at 700 W. US-67, open Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., (972) 366-3348.
Working in Venus: supplies and early food
Venus grew by nearly half between 2010 and 2020. If you're on a crew here, these are the stops that matter:
Venus Parts & Service Center
Auto parts, hardware, and repairs in one small-town shop, and longtime customers say if they don't have it, they'll get it.
Venus Country Store
Energy drinks, lunch, and basics, open around the clock on weekdays.
Atwoods
Work boots and clothes, tools, tractor batteries, and outdoor gear.
White Cap's contractor supply yard at 6840 FM 157 opens at 6 a.m. on weekdays. For breakfast, Taquikardia opens at 5 a.m. Monday to Friday. For bigger stores, McCoy's Building Supply on US-287 in Midlothian is about 15 minutes from the tiny home, and the Home Depot and Lowe's on US-287 in Mansfield open at 6 a.m. Our crew housing guide covers truck stops, laundromats, and urgent care.
Where to stay near Venus
Is there a hotel in Venus, TX? We didn't find one in town on Google when we checked. The nearest hotels are in Alvarado, at US-67 and I-35W, about 7 miles west, plus Midlothian and Mansfield.
La Quinta Inn & Suites Alvarado
The best-rated hotel near Venus when we checked, at 4.3 from more than 850 reviewers. Call ahead for rates and pet rules.
Texas Ranch RV Resort
An RV park on US-67 between Venus and Alvarado; one reviewer reports a clean, quiet two-month stay.
The other Alvarado hotels (Comfort Inn & Suites, Holiday Inn Express, Super 8, and Motel 6) were rated 3.8 to 4.1. For a whole house with a kitchen, a washer, and room for the work trucks, our tiny home is about 30 minutes from Venus. Every option is compared in our where to stay guide.
The Waxahachie Tiny Home
Working in Venus? 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 visiting Venus
- Mondays: Biundo's and Wonder Woman Kitchen are closed, and Mariscos Don Benji closes on Tuesday.
- Saturday lunch at Biundo's starts at 1 p.m., not 11.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Venus and Second Street | 22.8 mi | About 30 min |
| White Cap, FM 157 | 24.2 mi | About 30 min |
| La Quinta Alvarado | 30.0 mi | About 40 min |
Estimated drive times without traffic, October 2026.
Questions we get
What is there to do in Venus, TX?
Eat on Second Street at Biundo's Pizzeria, Casa Jacaranda, and Wonder Woman Kitchen, take the kids to Fielder Park or PlayPen, and shop Antique Alley Texas on the third weekend of April and September. Country Critters Farm in Alvarado and the parks and events in Mansfield and Midlothian are a short drive away.
What county is Venus, TX, in?
Mostly Johnson County, with a small piece in Ellis County. Venus ISD serves the town, and the Ellis County part is served by Midlothian ISD or Maypearl ISD.
What are the best restaurants in Venus, TX?
Mariscos Don Benji (4.9) for Mexican seafood, Wonder Woman Kitchen Creations (4.8) for wings, Biundo's Pizzeria and Taquikardia (4.7), and Casa Jacaranda (4.6). Biundo's and Casa Jacaranda each have more than 1,000 reviews.
Is there a hotel in Venus, TX?
We didn't find one in Venus on Google. The nearest are in Alvarado, about 7 miles west, where La Quinta was the best rated at 4.3, plus hotels in Midlothian and Mansfield. Our tiny home is about 30 minutes from Venus.
Where can work crews stay near Venus?
Our tiny home is about 30 minutes from downtown Venus, 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. Texas Ranch RV Resort in Alvarado is an option for crews with RVs.
How far is Venus from Dallas and Fort Worth?
About 31 miles from both downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth, or roughly 40 minutes to either without traffic. US-67 runs northeast through Midlothian toward Dallas, and Alvarado and I-35W are about 7 miles west.
How far is Venus from Mansfield and Midlothian?
Downtown Venus is about 12 miles, or 20 minutes, from downtown Mansfield, and about 8 miles, or 10 minutes, from downtown Midlothian. Cleburne is about 25 minutes southwest.
Why is it called Venus, Texas?
The town was first called Gossip. Founder J.C. Smythe renamed it Venus after the daughter of a local doctor in the late 1880s.
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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