How to Spend a Weekend in College Station

Wondering how to spend a weekend in College Station? Maybe you’re visiting for an A&M sporting event, or just want a fun road trip from Dallas, Waco, Austin, Houston, etc? I’m covering where to stay in College Station, where to eat in College Station, where to shop, fun things to do in College Station… everything you need to know! If you’re looking for something specific, click “Command F” on your keyboard, then type what you’re looking for into the search bar that appears.

Where to Stay in College Station

We stayed at Cavalry Court and could not have loved it more! It’s owned by Valencia Hotel Group which is known for having unique concepts (like the Texican Court in Irving that I’m dying to stay at!). Between you and I, finding this hotel is what lead us to visit College Station. I knew Valencia Hotel Group had hotels throughout Texas, so we searched their website and landed on this one! They also have another hotel in College Station, literally across the driveway from Cavalry Court, called The George. We walked around the lobby and outside pool area… seems like a bit more upscale option, but equally as unique.

What’s So Great About Cavalry Court?

For starters, it’s aesthetically pleasing. The lobby, the Canteen Bar & Grill, the pool, the rooms… I wanted to take photos of everything. You can tell they pay attention to every detail of their guests’ stay. Even the amenities in the room are next level. Most hotels have a “mini bar”, but Cavalry Court has an entire kitchen for you. There’s wine, local beer, soda, pocket shots, chips and salsa… you name it. Of course there is a charge for these items like any place you stay, but convenience is key.

We didn’t end up eating at the restaurant, but we did enjoy a few drinks at the pool… 10/10 recommend the pop-tails if you go during summer. The pool has plenty of seating options in the sun and the shade, plus it’s family friendly. I know it comes as a shock, but I could have spent the whole weekend lounging in the pool. Texas heat is the real deal, y’all!!

Also, the price point is extremely affordable, especially for a boutique hotel. Our friends from Houston met us on the Saturday of our trip and got their room for just over $100. Like, are you kidding me??

What to Do in College Station

Beyond the obvious go to a Texas A&M sporting event, there are lots of things you can do in College Station/Bryan. We discovered lots of great restaurants during our quick trip, but wish we would have had a few more meals to experience more! There were free things to do, like seeing the murals in Downtown Bryan, as well as ticketed activities like the Bush Museum. We certainly found plenty to do during a weekend in College Station.

Where to Eat in College Station

We stumbled upon Chicken Oil on our first night and honestly wanted to go back again the next day. It’s a restaurant that you stand in line to order and they deliver to your table, so plan accordingly. We consider ourselves fairly picky when it comes to fried pickles… but these might be my new favorites. That. Good. Y’all. We also ordered onion rings, sweet potato fries and burgers… No complaints on anything. Chicken Oil is located at 3600 S College Ave, Bryan, TX 77801.

Saturday we were exploring Downtown Bryan and decided to pop into All The King’s Men BBQ. Another fantastic choice! The Kitchen Sink Sandwich was the show stopper here. If you’re feeling frisky, they also have lots of great beers on tap. It’s located at 112 S Main St. Downtown Bryan, TX 77803. PS- there is plenty of free parking in the area.

We couldn’t go to College Station without stopping by Fuego Tortilla Grill. This was the most recommended place by the SBE Instagram community, but it was probably last on my “must try” list after eating around town. That doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy it, but it wasn’t our favorite. The tortillas were delicious- and the queso was fantastic. We way over ordered thinking the tacos were “street” size… Pro tip, 1 taco is plenty per person. Fuego Tortilla Grill is located at 108 Poplar St, College Station, TX 77840 and is open 24 hours a day.

Last but not least, we had our first Shipley’s Do-Nuts experience in College Station. The Cinnamon Twist and Chocolate Icing were the real MVPs of both Saturday and Sunday morning. I had never heard of the donut chain before, but I’m hooked. They have a few locations in the area.

Need more ideas on where to eat in College Station? Sports Illustrated and Spoon University both have great guides to eating in College Station / Bryan.

Free Things to Do in College Station

So if you’re wondering what to do in College Station that doesn’t cost you anything, might I suggest exploring the public art? We loved stopping at West 31st Murals in Downtown Bryan to see the street of murals. As we wandered through downtown, we also found other murals and unique buildings. I’m a sucker for a chic, historic downtown. The featured artists are: Sarah Shelton Blackmon, Tyler Kay Reichert, Calina Mishay Johnson, Mick Burson and Cliff Collard.

I’d also suggest stopping by the Bonfire Memorial at Texas A&M. If you aren’t familiar with the history, take a look here.

College Station Boutiques

There are also lots of cute Bryan/College Station boutiques. Whether you’re window shopping, or shopping for real, I think it’s always good to visit local stores when you’re in a new place. A few of my favorites were Pine Boutique (1440 Texas Ave S, College Station, TX 77840), Galleria Spa Salon Boutique (175 Century Square Dr Suite #101, College Station, TX 77840). I was so excited to check out Grass Stains after creeping their IG, but the location in College Station Century Square wasn’t open yet.

If you’re an Aggie fan, definitely stop by Aggieland Outfitters, but you probably already knew that. There are 3 locations in College Station, but we went to the one on Bush Dr.

Other Things to Do In College Station (and beyond)

George HW Bush Library is a fantastic place to start. The parking is free and admission inside is only $9. It’s located at 1000 George Bush Drive West, College Station, TX 77845.

The Franklin Safari is located about 45 minutes outside of College Station, towards DFW. We chose to stop here on our way out of town. It was our first time experiencing a drive through zoo, so we weren’t sure what to expect. The address is: 4324 W Hwy 79, Franklin, TX 77856. Funny story here, we thought we were going to Aggieland Safari (literally what we put in our map on the iPhone) and were very confused why it was 45 minutes out of town… Well, turns out there are 2 different drive thru safaris… The address for Aggieland Safari is

We got a couples massage at White Elm Day Spa in Bryan. There’s something about starting off a trip with a bit of relaxation that wins me over every time. We don’t take time to slow down in our normal lives, so it’s nice being able to take a slow down and treat yourself during a getaway. The spa is located at 214 Elm Ave, Bryan, TX 77801.

Getting Around College Station in Style

We took the Toyota 4Runner Nightshade on this road trip! My dad drove a 4Runner for years, so it was a bit nostalgic getting to do on our Texas Adventure in a 4Runner. The thing I remember by dad telling me over and over is that the 4Runner will last forever. He drove his for well over 300,000 miles. Not only that, but he barely had to do any repairs on the vehicle outside of normal maintenance. After driving it around for a week, I have a feeling this could be my next vehicle purchase in a year or so!

Toyota 4Runner Perks

With the temps in Texas being well over 100 degrees, I was thankful to find out that the 4Runner had heated and cooling seats. I sweat more than anyone I know, so this kept my back sweat to a minimum. Honestly, already missing this!!

Another reason I loved driving the 4Runner around Texas is the space! It’s a fantastic road trip vehicle. We had plenty of room for our bags in the trunk, even with the third seat up. Not that we needed the third seat with 2 of us, but I wanted to test it! We drove our friends in the 4Runner and they were thrilled with the leg room they had in the middle row. Toyota knows what they’re doing, y’all. So impressed with their ever evolving designs for looks, comfort and safety.

Okay, last little thing I adored and I’ll stop talking. The backend has a plug in! Not a car plug, or a USB spot, a true plug in. This would be amazing for tailgating! Or if you’re like me and sometimes get ready in your car and need someone to plug in a curling iron…

Thanks to Toyota for sponsoring this trip. All opinions are my own.