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 Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 35m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Bethesda, followed by Acela. The train journey from Bethesda to Baltimore takes 0h 29m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Richmond, expect to pay about $18 for a 1h 53m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Bethesda is to pick up a car rental from Washington, D.C., which is about 10 km 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, CoachRun and Peter Pan Bus Lines. From Philadelphia, the bus ride to Bethesda takes 175 miles and will cost you around $12. From New York, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 275 miles. The most popular bus station is Bethesda 7401 Waverly St, located 0.8 km from downtown Bethesda. Bethesda Rockville Pike is also a commonly used station, and is 8 km 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 Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 35m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Bethesda, followed by Acela. The train journey from Bethesda to Baltimore takes 0h 29m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Richmond, expect to pay about $18 for a 1h 53m trip.

Car

Another option to get to Bethesda is to pick up a car rental from Washington, D.C., which is about 10 km 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, CoachRun and Peter Pan Bus Lines. From Philadelphia, the bus ride to Bethesda takes 175 miles and will cost you around $12. From New York, the ticket costs about $12 for a journey of 275 miles. The most popular bus station is Bethesda 7401 Waverly St, located 0.8 km from downtown Bethesda. Bethesda Rockville Pike is also a commonly used station, and is 8 km from the city center.

Airports near Bethesda

Airlines serving Bethesda

KLM
Good (843 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,614 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,586 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,601 reviews)
Air France
Good (978 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,112 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,436 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,978 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,988 reviews)
Finnair
Good (856 reviews)
LOT
Good (677 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (930 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,168 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (836 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,753 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (528 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (730 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,583 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (1,358 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (189 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, 2062 reviews)
$139+
Citizenm Washington Dc Capitol
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 4259 reviews)
$137+
Hotel Washington
5 stars
Excellent (8.6, 2914 reviews)
$296+
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1455 reviews)
$104+
The Bethesdan Hotel Tapestry Collection by Hilton
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 731 reviews)
$117+
Washington Plaza Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.2, 4252 reviews)
$144+

Renting a car in Bethesda

Renting a car in Bethesda costs $56 per day, on average, or $169 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 Luxury (Tesla Model Y or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Kia Forte or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bethesda costs $56 per day, on average, or $169 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 Luxury (Tesla Model Y or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Kia Forte or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.