Bethesda travel guide

Bethesda Tourism | Bethesda Guide

You're Going to Love Bethesda

With a population of 60,858, Bethesda is a must-see destination in Maryland, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Bethesda has to offer.

Where to Eat in Bethesda

If you’re looking for affordable options, Kapnos Kouzina (4900 Hampden Lane) and Guardado's (4918 Del Ray Ave) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Guapo's (8130 Wisconsin Ave) and Melina (909 Rose Ave) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Bethesda.

When to visit Bethesda

Bethesda in August
Estimated hotel price
$143
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bethesda in August
Estimated hotel price
$143
1 night at 3-star hotel

How to Get to Bethesda

Plane

When flying to Bethesda, you’ll arrive at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located 9 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Bethesda departs from Miami and takes around 2h 36m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Bethesda, followed by Acela. The train journey from Bethesda to Baltimore takes 0h 28m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Philadelphia, expect to pay about $17 for a 1h 56m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Bethesda is to pick up a car rental from Washington, D.C., which is about 6 miles from Bethesda. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Kyte, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bethesda, including Megabus, Bus and CoachRun. From Philadelphia, the bus ride to Bethesda takes 170 miles and will cost you around $10. From New York, the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 270 miles. The most popular bus station is Bethesda 7401 Waverly St, located 0.5 miles from downtown Bethesda. Bethesda Rockville Pike is also a commonly used station, and is 5 miles from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Bethesda, you’ll arrive at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located 9 miles from the city center. The shortest domestic flight to Bethesda departs from Miami and takes around 2h 36m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Bethesda, followed by Acela. The train journey from Bethesda to Baltimore takes 0h 28m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Philadelphia, expect to pay about $17 for a 1h 56m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Bethesda is to pick up a car rental from Washington, D.C., which is about 6 miles from Bethesda. You’ll find branches of Sixt and Kyte, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bethesda, including Megabus, Bus and CoachRun. From Philadelphia, the bus ride to Bethesda takes 170 miles and will cost you around $10. From New York, the ticket costs about $18 for a journey of 270 miles. The most popular bus station is Bethesda 7401 Waverly St, located 0.5 miles from downtown Bethesda. Bethesda Rockville Pike is also a commonly used station, and is 5 miles from the city center.

Airports near Bethesda

Airlines serving Bethesda

KLM
Good (847 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,592 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,587 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,600 reviews)
Air France
Good (980 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,111 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,432 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,966 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,964 reviews)
Finnair
Good (856 reviews)
LOT
Good (677 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (925 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,167 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (834 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,725 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (519 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (728 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,584 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (1,359 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (186 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in popular areas of Bethesda

Most booked hotels in Bethesda

Embassy Suites by Hilton Bethesda Washington DC
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2047 reviews)
$142+
Citizenm Washington Dc Capitol
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 4254 reviews)
$143+
Hotel Washington
5 stars
Excellent (8.6, 2902 reviews)
$291+
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1456 reviews)
$108+
The Bethesdan Hotel Tapestry Collection by Hilton
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 735 reviews)
$130+
Washington Plaza Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 4237 reviews)
$145+

Renting a car in Bethesda

Renting a car in Bethesda costs $54 per day, on average, or $163 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Bethesda (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Bethesda is Full-size (Nissan Pathfinder or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 59% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bethesda costs $54 per day, on average, or $163 if you want to rent if for 3 days.

Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Bethesda (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Bethesda is Full-size (Nissan Pathfinder or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate rental cars (Chevrolet Cruze or similar) are, on average, 59% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.