There is a shuttle service running from downtown Bryan, a lot of good restaurants downtown, Tex Mex, a couple of good pizza places a steakhouse and a couple of hipster cafes. You can park in downtown Bryan, ride the shuttle to campus and back again after the game.

Since you're committed to staying in Galveston, I think I would skip Midnight Yell. You're going to spend way too many hours on the road between Galveston and College Station, which won't be fun.

Spend Friday at the beach (or better yet hit NASA/Space Center Houston just up the road) , then come up Saturday early enough for tailgating and other pregame activities.

Otherwise you will spend more time in your car than it will take to get to A&M.

Hasn't the SEC network live streamed midnight yell before? I would wonder if because this has the potential to be a pretty big game that they might stream it so you could still watch. Just a thought.

Galveston:

Farley Girls
Michael Burger
The Spot
Rudy & Paco's
Nonno Tony's
Gumbo Bar
La King's Confectionery

Go to Midnight Yell. IMO, even considering the drive, you would regret missing that as opposed to the beaches of Galveston. Get busy living and all that crap.

The best thing you can do for us is come back and tell us about your experience. That would make us all really happy.

Yea, there is no way I would make that drive up on Friday and then back after yell. That's insane. You don't realize how big of a beating that drive is going to be.

Get a hotel for Friday night even if it's in The Woodlands - or in Bryan College Station if you can afford it. Consider your hotel in Galveston for that one night a lost cost. Don't worry about it if you can. 5hrs of driving vs 5hrs of extra time enjoying yourself around campus is worth the extra few hundred bucks. Not to mention the stress of driving vs not...

Like what everybody else is saying, missing midnight yell is unfortunate, but saving your energy for tailgating and game day should be your priority here. You will enjoy the experience much more if you are well rested and not groggy/grumpy from the lack of sleep after a six hour round trip back to college station that same day/morning.

OP- I didn't see if you mentioned how many days you were staying in Texas, but if you were set on staying in Galveston and wanted to go to Yell, would it be possible to stay close to College Station at least just for Friday night? I live 15 minutes from Galveston, and to drive from there to CS for Yell, then back to Galveston Friday night is brutal. Then to turn around and have to do the round trip again on Saturday would be even worse.

Johnson Space Center is about 30 minutes from Galveston and wouldn't be a bad place if you are bringing kids with you. If you wanted to venture a little further out, but still be in driving distance to Galveston, you could look at Battleship Texas, San Jacinto Battleground, and Kemah Boardwalk. All of those are about 45 minutes from Galveston.

Also, if you like Mexican food, Original Mexican Cafe has the best Mexican on the island (I'm not much of a seafood guy).

The bad part is that there is so much more to Texas than Galveston. If I could only go to one part of Texas, I would stay around New Braunfels (Guadalupe River) so I could hit up San Antonio (Riverwalk and Alamo) and Austin (Capitol and night life), and maybe just take a day trip to Galveston.

In contrast to the poster above, I would not recommend. JOhnson space center. It is a dump and when Obama cut Nasa nothing has been spent on tech improvements for the educational part of the center

Even if your hotel is paid in Galveston, get a cheap hotel for Friday night around College Station and save a big chunk of gasoline money and hours of driving time and energy.

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get a cheap hotel for Friday night around College Station

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Where is this cheap hotel around College Station?

Asking for a friend.

Don't listen to all the Galveston crap. Galveston has a browner tint to the water just like many lakes can have throughout the country. I've surfed all over the country/world and compare the water color to typical days in South Carolina, Outer Banks, NC, Tybee Island, GA, Seaside, NJ, Montauk, NY, Ocean Beach, SF and Jax Beach-St Augustine. I've met people from all over the world who live by clear water locales and they had a blast visiting Galveston. Don't listen to all the negative Nelly's on here about Galveston. Lot's of Texans that don't live by the coast like to rag on the beaches on the upper coast but Galveston is a really cool place with lot's of history, sites to see, things to do and beaches to play on. You will be safe to swim in the gulf too.

If you've got kids - especially ones that play pokemon go - they will loose their minds on the seawall. Galveston is good for family fun. Moody Gardens is great, and I recommend the penguin encounter.

+1 on The Spot.

Even though the signs say Hwy 6 a little north of Galveston - DO NOT TAKE THAT ROUTE. Seriously. It's not REALLY the same road.

The Waze app suggestion is golden - it uses real time data and will save you time.

I think if Midnight Yell is a must-do - you might keep the room in Galveston, but suck up the cost and get a hotel - even in Houston for the ride back - Just for Friday night. It's a good 45 minutes - hour from Houston to Galveston and chances are, you'll get stuck in traffic in Clear Lake on 45 coming back for the game. It's a cluster f on Saturdays and constant construction doesn't make it easier. Then head back to Galveston after the game.

Aggieland Outfitters is WAY overpriced for someone looking to get Aggie stuff that isn't an Aggie.
The College Station WalMart will have all the souvenirs (t-shirts, magnets, key chains, baseball caps) you could want at a price that wont make you have to eat ramen noodles in your hotel room. If you're looking for something a little different, check out the College Depot on Texas Ave. It's way cheaper and will have a great selection. I'm sure you're not looking for $200 Aggie luggage, right?

Traffic for the game builds up fast on every road out of Houston heading in the general direction of College Station. Do not plan on that drive taking 3 hours, unless you leave at 6 am. Also, plan on staying away from any route that takes you near a town called Plantersville - or you'll be dealing with eleventy billion weirdos Renaissance Festival visitors - this goes for the trip back to Galveston as well - only they'll all be drunk.

Have fun, enjoy your stay! Hopefully it will have cooled down a little - but don't count on it. Expect temps still in the high 90s.

Be sure to get a spot on the sidewalk near the MSC 90 minutes before game time and watch the 400 member "Nationally famous Fighting Texas Aggie Band" and the 2700 member Corp of Cadets "March -in"to Kyle Field.

I understand your pre-paid hotel situation in Galveston. It would be an extremely rare day when I'd pay for two hotel rooms in diff cities for the same night....but this is one of those occasions. There are very basic/reasonable rooms still available 27 mi. from College Station in Caldwell, and an hour away in Huntsville. If you are in an RV, Huntsville State Park is a favorite spot of ours to stay in that situation. Taking in yell and the game would be 10X more fun if you do this; as yell is probably just not worth it from Galveston.

Regarding a Texas High School game, Katy High School (annually one of the top programs in the country) is between Galveston and CS, and has a home game that Fri. night, but you'd only be able to see about half of it (7pm start) and still comfortably make yell. If you skip yell, and want to see a HS game, there are plenty near Galveston. I live in Pearland, and I'll be happy to buy you guys some tickets for our home game that night. Program is top-tier as well, with a stadium holding over 9K, so you would see a good representation of what a Texas HS game is about. About a 40 minute drive from Galveston.

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I understand your pre-paid hotel situation in Galveston. It would be an extremely rare day when I'd pay for two hotel rooms in diff cities for the same night....but this is one of those occasions. There are very basic/reasonable rooms still available 27 mi. from College Station in Caldwell, and an hour away in Huntsville. If you are in an RV, Huntsville State Park is a favorite spot of ours to stay in that situation. Taking in yell and the game would be 10X more fun if you do this; as yell is probably just not worth it from Galveston.

Regarding a Texas High School game, Katy High School (annually one of the top programs in the country) is between Galveston and CS, and has a home game that Fri. night, but you'd only be able to see about half of it (7pm start) and still comfortably make yell. If you skip yell, and want to see a HS game, there are plenty near Galveston. I live in Pearland, and I'll be happy to buy you guys some tickets for our home game that night. Program is top-tier as well, with a stadium holding over 9K, so you would see a good representation of what a Texas HS game is about. About a 40 minute drive from Galveston.

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This is good advice. Midnight Yell is fun.. when you're young and drunk.. But it only lasts about 30 minutes. Relax and enjoy Galveston. Take Moto Ag up on his offer and watch a high-school football game in Pearland Friday night.. You will experience Texas High School "Friday Night Lights", see one of the state's best football teams, and one of the nation's best high school bands.

^This is the winner.

Well I disappeared for awhile. But scored 4 tickets, probably in outer space. But I sit halfway up the upper deck in Neyland, so no big deal. Congrats on the win Saturday. Yall looked a hell of a lot better than we did.

Glad you found some tickets to the game and look forward to seeing you there! I actually stay in Galveston now, so if you have any Galveston specific questions, feel free to send em' my way!

Aggieland Welcomes all Volunteers!

I've always enjoyed Galveston.. I do agree that the drive could suck, just plan accordingly.

I'm more excited for the Tennessee game than most on the schedule. Should be a fun one.

I'll be sure to leave early from Galveston. Probably going to skip midnight yell because of the drive. I'm I'm section 415 fwiw.

YHell, I'll pitch in $30 towards a room in Navasota, Sommerville, Conroe or Brenham! Navasota is 20 minutes from Kyle Field, Sommervile and Brenham about 40 minutes. Conroe is nicer, has better hotels is about an hour away and probably where your them will stay.

Midnight Yell is a great experience, but personally I would never drive 6 hours round trip for it. That's insane,

As someone else mentioned, on game day 1.5 hours before game time, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band and Corps does march in to the stadium. Don't miss it! Get a spot in the median in front of the Sanders Corps Center and the FTAB marches on both sides of you as they play.

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Don't listen to all the Galveston crap. Galveston has a browner tint to the water just like many lakes can have throughout the country.

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appyvol...when you see the brown tinted water just think of Ft. Loudon after a deluge.

Agree with comments, Galveston to CS for yell, back, then same drive next day... on top of your haul to Texas in the first place is rough.

Get a parking pass on Stub Hub
They're about $50. Keep in mind campus is huge. Largest campus in the US when I was there.

Tailgate early. Get ready for, breakfast tacos. Can get them from a friendly Ag or on North Gate @ Potato Shack. Leave pancake mix @ home!

Enjoy the game. I'll be there as well.

Can't believe no one has said anything good about Houston. Go to St. Arnold's Brewery near downtown, Texas' oldest microbrewery, for a great tour and atmosphere of people drinking and talking. Try Niko Niko's on Market Square downtown for lunch, and hit up La Carafe across the street if you're still thirsty. Same business for 60 years and building is pre-Civil War. Look up at the nation's third tallest skyline (after NY and Chicago). If you want an odd experience walking distance away, tour The Cistern. Or if you're into museums, take the train from downtown to Hermann Park; museums there are the best in the South and the zoo is excellent. If you're in more of a hurry, you can at least drive around Loop 610 South and see the Astrodome from a distance, the most famous sports venue ever built in Texas.

And for something really offbeat, there is The Orange Show and the Beer Can House.

To put it in a nutshell, Houston is essentially where Gulf Coast seafood, Louisiana Cajun, Texas barbecue, and Tex-Mex all meet together. If Los Angeles and New Orleans had an illegitimate child, it would be Houston.

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To put it in a nutshell, Houston is essentially where Gulf Coast seafood, Louisiana Cajun, Texas barbecue, and Tex-Mex all meet together. If Los Angeles and New Orleans had an illegitimate child, it would be Houston.

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Been saying it for a while, Houston is in my opinion, one of the top three or four food cities in the US.

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I'll be sure to leave early from Galveston. Probably going to skip midnight yell because of the drive. I'm I'm section 415 fwiw.

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I sat in 417 this past weekend. Good seats and we were high up. The Zone, where you are sitting, is patterned after South Carolina's stadium. It is a really good view.

Toll roads are nice through Houston but most require an ez tag. The tag is free and will be worth not driving 45 to 10 to 290.

45 to Sam Houston tollway, go west to 290. Tolls will be about $6. 290 to hwy 6 then as you come into CS take 40. It avoids a lot of the traffic.

If you can't have a good time in Galveston, you likely are a miserable person and can't have a good time anywhere. Galveston isn't Vegas or NOLA, but it's a fun town with a lot of history, a lot of things to do and some great food. And the island itself has a lot to offer if you aren't a moron. The water can be hit or miss, just like every single stretch of the Texas coast from Port Aransas north. Unfortunately almost every single Texas coastal down is a disappointment of what it could be, but Galveston is fun.

And the idea that the hill country is somehow "more Texas" or a "more authentic Texas" experience is just silly. One of the awesome things about Texas is the fact that we have 4 distinct geographic regions to choose from - all of them have absolutely outstanding features and all of them are uniquely Texas.

I would not attempt to make Midnight Yell and then go back if I were staying in Galveston though. But there are a million things you can do on the island and up the 45 corridor into Houston. Take up the poster that offered to take you to the Pearland football game - they have a cool stadium and it would be fun. Hit up Killen's BBQ on the way and enjoy some of the best BBQ you can get in the area, if not state. Hit up some of the seafood shops on the island and enjoy some local cuisine. Take the mansion tour on Galveston Island, go see Jean Lafitte's place. Go see NASA, Keemah is right around the corner, San Jacinto (you know, where Texas became an independent country and all that jazz for you hill country folks) and the Battleship Texas are a short drive. You can even marvel at the industrial complex on the ship channel and thank us for about 95% of the fuel you buy and the goods you buy that are petroleum based if that's your thing. Brazos Bend State Park is just south of Houston - enjoy some absolutely beautiful Brazos river bottom park land, see some monster alligators and visit the George Observatory. Visit the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham on the way to the game (helps to avoid the Charlie Foxtrot of traffic on 290 anyway). There are a billion things to do in Houston, and about as many good places to eat there as well. You'll be hard pressed to find a better food city than Houston.

On game day, just park in one of the several big lots, ie: The Bush Library,$20.00, and catch the free shuttle to the Memorial Student Center which is across the street from Kyle Field. After the game, the line to get on the shuttle looks more intimidating than it really is. You will get on the shuttle rather quickly no matter how long the line is. Have a safe trip. Good luck & Gig'em.

OP - Do all of your exes live in Texas?

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When commuting from (or to) Galveston, be sure and use tollways or Loops around Houston. It will probably save you immense traffic related headaches and time.

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If you do use the toll roads in Houston, be sure you stay off of 99. It deposits you north of most of the terrible construction on HWY 290, but it is toll tag only (no toll booths).

Agree with what others have said; if you miss Galveston you aren't missing anything. They just had a tanker fire in the Houston Ship Channel this morning, so there might be some nice tar balls on the beach when you get here later this year. The Texas hill country is much, much prettier.

Welcome, safe travels, and have a great time!