Bryan-College Station - metropolitan area in United States
Bryan-College Station is in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas. The two cities are located next to one another within the most populated region of Texas, approximately equidistant from three of the 10 largest cities in the United States. The area is 95 mi (152 km) north of Houston, 166 mi (267 km) northeast of San Antonio and 169 mi (268 km) south of Dallas.
Understand
College Station and Bryan together make up the Bryan-College Station metropolitan area, the sixteenth largest Metropolitan area in Texas with around 273,000 people (2019). This area is also known as "Aggieland", as it is home to the main campus of Texas A&M University, one of the premier universities of Texas and the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The city of College Station owes its name and existence to the university's location along the railroad. Howver, the Amtrak train station was decommissioned in 1995.
Get in
By bus
There is a Greyhound Bus Station in Bryan which is covered by the local bus route.
By car
Traveling to Bryan-College Station is almost exclusively done by automobile. There are two highways that pass either through or near the town, State Highway 6 and State Highway 21. SH-6 travels nominally north and south. Going south will lead you to Navasota and eventually to Houston (after joining US-290 in Hempstead and turning more easterly. Going north on SH-6 will lead you to get to I-35 and Waco. SH-21 travels nominally east and west, with somewhat of a southeast/northwest slant. Going east will lead you to Interstate Highway 45, Madisonville, Crockett and Nacogdoches. West on SH-21 will take you to San Marcos, San Antonio and Austin.
Travelers headed to downtown Austin are best served taking State Highway 21 west to 290 near Paige, TX and continuing West on State Highway 290. Continuing on SH-21 will take you to the end of SH-21 in San Marcos and Interstate Highway 35, which can then be taken to San Antonio and points South.
Travelers to the Dallas area and points north are best served taking SH-6 north to IH-35 around Waco, and continuing north on IH-35, which will split into IH-35E into Dallas, and IH-35W into Fort Worth. IH-35E and W rejoin in Denton and continues as IH-35 out of Texas and through Oklahoma City.
By plane
- Easterwood Airport is in the north-western part of College Station, adjacent to Texas A&M University. Easterwood provides multiple scheduled flights daily to Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. Prices are high compared to larger nearby airports.
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the closest international airport, located in the northern part of Houston, Texas, approximately 1.5 hours from College Station off of Interstate Highway 45 and Beltway 8. GBIA is a major hub for United.
By train
Nope. Despite the original naming of "College Station" for the train station dropping off students at Texas A&M University, the Amtrak station was decommissioned in 1995. Since that time, only former Presidents and Saudi royalty have taken a passenger train to Bryan/College Station.
Get around
By car
This area is easily navigable by car. The major highways are as follows:
- State Highway 6: Earl Rudder Freeway
- State Highway 6 (Business): Texas Avenue
- University Drive
- Villa Maria
- Briarcrest Drive
- State Highway 21
- Harvey Road
- William D. Fitch Parkway
- State Highway 47
- Wellborn Road
- George Bush Drive
- 2818: Harvey Mitchell Parkway
Traffic has become something of a problem over the past decade, particularly when school is in session.
By bus
- The District provides public bus transportation in the Bryan/College Station area.
- Texas A&M Transportation Services provides bus transportation throughout College Station and Bryan for students, faculty, and staff of Texas A&M University. On Texas A&M football game days, the department provides additional park-and-ride service to and from Kyle Field.
Parking
Parking is free in most of the city. The major exceptions are the Texas A&M University campus and the adjacent bar-rich Northgate District, which have a combination of on-street parking meters, pay lots, permit-only lots and for-pay parking garages. Unauthorized parking either on or off campus generally results in a ticket and occasionally a tow. Parking on grass/dirt is an ordinance violation in College Station. The City also issues parking citations for parking your vehicle facing traffic. Neighborhood on-street parking in the Southgate District is restricted on (football) game days in the fall.
See
- Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, 3232 Briarcrest Dr (Bryan), 30.6668°, -96.3209°, +1 979 776-2195. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. Fun museum with rotating interactive exhibits ranging from local history and folk art to travelling art and cultural exhibits. $5 adult, $4 senior/child (4-17)
- Wolf Pen Creek District. A high quality commercial development located adjacent to Post Oak Mall and between the city's two main commercial thoroughfares, Earl Rudder Freeway and Texas Avenue. The area consists of an elaborate greenway with trails, a .5 million amphitheater and entertainment area, a small lake, the Arctic Wolf Ice Skating Complex and is home to the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley (P. David Romei Arts Center).
- The Texas A&M University Campus, 30.610369°, -96.344056°. Been around since 1876, so it's worth a look. The picturesque East entrance from Highway 6 is often lined with American flags, creating a most impressive image.
- The George H. W. Bush Presidential Library, 30.5966°, -96.3534°, +1 979 691-4000. It's home to a wealth of information about the 41st president and extremely proud father of the 43rd president.
- Texas A&M Aggies. Texas A&M sports, with 20 teams in all (nine men's, 11 women's) competing in a wide variety of NCAA Division I sports as members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Their key venues are listed immediately below.
- Kyle Field, 30.61°, -96.340278°. The Aggies' football home, holding more than 100,000.
- Reed Arena, 30.6058°, -96.3462°. Home to both men's and women's basketball, plus women's volleyball.
- Olsen Field (Blue Bell Park), 30.60575°, -96.3413°. Home of Aggies baseball.
- Bonfire Memorial, 30.62266°, -96.3352°, +1 979 845-8161. Memorial to tragic event in 1999 where 12 A&M students died from a collapsing bonfire. 2022-01-15
Do
There are plenty of parks in the area that are plenty of fun for plenty of small children. If you would like some historical information on the Bryan-College Station area beforehand, visit Project HOLD, the historic online library database.
- Skydive Aggieland. Skydive at Coulter Field in Bryan.
Buy
- Post Oak Mall, 30.6245°, -96.3034°. The area's regional enclosed mall. Its at the corner of Harvey Road (Highway 30) and the Bypass (Texas Highway 6). You can't miss it!
Eat
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C & J Bar-B-Que Market, 4304 Harvey Rd (Bryan), +1 979 776-8969. Easily the most popular barbecue place in town. Try the brisket and the jalapeño sausage.
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Casa Rodriguez Restaurant, 300 N Bryan Ave (Bryan), +1 979 779-0916. Good place for Mexican breakfast.
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Public & Main, 4401 S Texas Ave, +1 979-977-6246. International cuisine with open concept.
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Double Dave's Pizzaworks, 3505 Longmire Dr (Bryan), +1 979 696-3283. Part of the central Texas chain well known for their unique pepperoni rolls (unique, that is, if you aren't from West Virginia).
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Freebirds World Burrito. Four locations; the first Freebirds to open in Texas is the one in Northgate.
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Laynes. Great chicken, but that's it.
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Longhorn Tavern Steak House, 201 E 24th St, +1 979 778-3900. Popular local steakhouse. What it lacks in appearance, it makes up in flavor. Try the chicken-fried steak.
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Mi Pueblito Ponce Restaurant, 1315 S College Ave (Bryan), +1 979 779-8625. Authentic Mexican cuisine, as opposed to Tex-Mex.
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The Republic Steakhouse, 701 University Dr. E, +1 979 260-4120.
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University Towne Center. Several restaurants centered around a large fountain on University Drive. Places to eat include: Abuelo's Mexican Embassy, Boston's Gourmet Pizza, TGIFridays, Pei Wei, Jamba Juice, Blue Baker, Eccell Steakhouse, It's a Grind Coffee, Ben & Jerry Ice Cream, McAlister's Deli, Rosa's Tortilla Factory, and Veritas Wine and Bistro.
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Vintage House Restaurant at Messina Hof Winery. Located on the Messina Hof estate, The Vintage House offers the finest dining with particular attention to fresh vineyard cuisine. The Vintage House Restaurant offers a wide variety of amazing items that change quarterly. Vintage House Restaurant is open for lunch W-Sa from 11AM-4PM. Open for dinner W-Sa 4-9PM
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Koppe Bridge Bar & Grill, 3940 Harvey Road or 11777 Wellborn Road, +1 979 776-2833. Great burgers, chicken fried steak, etc. Rustic decorations.
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Porters Dining and Butcher, 180 Century Square Drive, Suite 120, +1 979 977-0700. Upscale, wood fire grill steak house, with a variety of Southern comfort foods and an excellent wine and bar selection. 2018-04-03
Drink
- Carney's Pub, 3410 S College Ave (Bryan), +1 979 823-1294.
- Northgate. Selection of lots of bars just North of Texas A&M on University Avenue. Watch out for the crowds of students pretty much every night during the school year. Must-visits are the Dixie Chicken, Dudley's, and Bottlecap Alley (not a bar). Must-drink is Shiner Bock beer. If you're in for heavy drinking, check out the Dry Bean shot bar.
- Sweet Eugene's. Great little coffeehouse. Yummy coffee drinks and desserts. Try the Snickers latte.
- Truman Chocolates, 4407 South Texas Ave, +1 979 260-4519. M-F 9AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-3PM. Small chocolate shop with beautiful, delicious chocolates.
- Messina Hof's Wine Bar (Wine Bar), 4545 Old Reliance Rd. M-Th 11AM-7PM, F Sa 11AM-9PM, Su 11AM-6PM. Offers over 50 wines by the bottle, glass or as a wine flight. Wine flights include a tasting of four wines of the customer's choice.
Sleep
- Fairfield Inn, 4613 S. Texas Ave (Bryan), +1 979 268-1552. Clean rooms, complimentary breakfast.
- LaSalle Hotel, 120 S Main St (Bryan), +1 979 822-2000. This vintage downtown hotel, established in 1928, has been beautifully restored. Free breakfast. Rooms $75 and up.
- Bryan College Station Residence Inn, 1300 University Dr East, +1 979 260-8500. $139-179
- Manor Inn College Station, 2504 Texas Avenue South, +1 979 764-9540. Extended-stay hotel.
- Wyndham Garden College Station, 2829 Texas Ave. Features an indoor pool and fitness center. $66 (Jan 2022)
- The Villa, 4545 Old Reliance Rd (at Messina Hof Winery), +1 979 778-9463 ext 222. A a romantic, luxurious bed and breakfast. A winery and restaurant are on the grounds of this 100-acre estate.
- Cavalry Court, 200 Century Court, +1 979 485-5586, kbell@valenciagroup.com. New military-themed hotel. 2016-11-21
- LaSalle Boutique Hotel, 120 S Main St (Bryan), 30.673056°, -96.373611°, +1 979-822-2000, contact@lasalle-hotel.com. 2022-01-15