Is River Oaks Christmas Lights free?

Yes. It's a residential neighborhood — drive slowly or walk the sidewalks. Only carriage rides, hayrides and tours cost money.

Where can I find Christmas lights in River Oaks, Houston?

On River Oaks Boulevard, Inwood Drive, Del Monte Drive and Willowick Road, west of downtown inside the Loop. Start at Kirby and Westheimer or Shepherd and Inwood.

Can you take a carriage ride?

Yes — Houston carriage companies run holiday rides and hayrides through River Oaks in December; book ahead.

When are the lights on?

From dusk until around 10 pm through December, sometimes later on weekends.

Photo: 2C2K Photography · CC BY 2.0

Neighborhood · Inside the Loop, west of downtown · Free

River Oaks Christmas Lights 2026 (Houston)

Houston's grandest neighbourhood in its Christmas best: huge mansions, manicured lawns and old oaks wrapped in lights, street after street, each one decorated a little differently. You can drive it slowly, walk the sidewalks, or pay for a horse-drawn carriage.

2026 dates not announced yet — last season below, marked by year

Google 4.6 ★ · 997 reviews

At a glance

When: December, from dusk to about 10 pm, later on weekends (2025 pattern)
Cost: Free; carriage rides and tours are paid
Best streets: River Oaks Blvd, Inwood Dr, Del Monte Dr (the famous Santa house), Willowick Rd
Start: Kirby Dr at Westheimer Rd, or Shepherd Dr at Inwood Dr
Don't: Park in front of houses — patrols tow

Is it worth it?

Worth it — free and genuinely grand. Go on a weeknight, park a few blocks out and walk the best streets.

What visitors say

Many call it the best lights in Houston, and even visitors who aren't wowed by every display say the houses alone are worth seeing. The downside is traffic: people report 40–50 minute waits in the area on busy nights, and a few regulars feel fewer streets go all out than in past years. Walking parts of it is the relaxed way.

Mansions and giant oaks in lights
Free
Horse-drawn carriage rides
Good for photos and video

Getting there and getting in

Start from Westheimer and head up River Oaks Boulevard, turning onto Del Monte and Inwood, until you reach the country club.
Traffic gets heavy near Christmas — go on a weekday evening or early in the season, or park and walk part of it.

Worth knowing

Most displays are on from dusk until about 10 pm, later on some weekends.

Open in Google Maps

Questions people ask

Is River Oaks Christmas Lights free?: Yes. It's a residential neighborhood — drive slowly or walk the sidewalks. Only carriage rides, hayrides and tours cost money.
Where can I find Christmas lights in River Oaks, Houston?: On River Oaks Boulevard, Inwood Drive, Del Monte Drive and Willowick Road, west of downtown inside the Loop. Start at Kirby and Westheimer or Shepherd and Inwood.
Can you take a carriage ride?: Yes — Houston carriage companies run holiday rides and hayrides through River Oaks in December; book ahead.
When are the lights on?: From dusk until around 10 pm through December, sometimes later on weekends.

Checked 2026-09-30. Sources: Houston on the Cheap — River Oaks lights 2025. Last season's numbers are labelled with their year until the organiser publishes 2026.

More Christmas lights in Houston

All 8 displays in Houston