Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

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. Bethesda deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

Activities & attractions in Bethesda

Hip Flask Rooftop Bar
Food, Drinks, & Nightlife•Bar

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 December
Estimated hotel price
$149
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bethesda in December
Estimated hotel price
$149
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 Atlanta and takes around 1h 40m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Bethesda, followed by Acela. The train journey from Bethesda to Baltimore takes 0h 37m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Richmond, expect to pay about $19 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 6 miles from Bethesda. You’ll find branches of Turo and Alamo, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bethesda, including Peter Pan Bus Lines, Washington Deluxe and CoachRun. From Philadelphia, the bus ride to Bethesda takes 170 miles and will cost you around $29. From New York, the ticket costs about $40 for a journey of 195 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 Atlanta and takes around 1h 40m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Bethesda, followed by Acela. The train journey from Bethesda to Baltimore takes 0h 37m and costs around $6 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Richmond, expect to pay about $19 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 6 miles from Bethesda. You’ll find branches of Turo and Alamo, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bethesda, including Peter Pan Bus Lines, Washington Deluxe and CoachRun. From Philadelphia, the bus ride to Bethesda takes 170 miles and will cost you around $29. From New York, the ticket costs about $40 for a journey of 195 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

FDKFrederick
FMEFort Meade Tipton

Airlines serving Bethesda

KLM
Good (1,334 reviews)
British Airways
Good (6,837 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,934 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,698 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,446 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,696 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,215 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,563 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,245 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,349 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,069 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,275 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (9,968 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,851 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,203 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (967 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (1,292 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (852 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,922 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (254 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Bethesda

Where to stay in Bethesda

There are also lots of vacation rental options in Bethesda, with prices from $29 to $1,378 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bethesda are about 13% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Bethesda by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Bethesda

Most booked hotels in Bethesda

See all
AC Hotel by Marriott Bethesda Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 174 reviews)
$170+
View
Citizenm Washington Dc Capitol
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1675 reviews)
$159+
View
Embassy Suites by Hilton Bethesda Washington DC
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1203 reviews)
$160+
View
Washington Plaza Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 4434 reviews)
$160+
View
The St. Gregory Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 2071 reviews)
$221+
View
Hotel Washington
5 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1314 reviews)
$297+
View

Renting a car in Bethesda

Renting a car in Bethesda costs $49 per day, on average, or $97 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. 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 Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bethesda costs $49 per day, on average, or $97 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.41 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 $40.88 and $54.51. 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 Supplier choice rental cars (Class Special Car or similar) are, on average, 51% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Bethesda

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$47/day

Intermediate SUV

Standard SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$48/day

Standard SUV
Find car rentals in Bethesda

Bethesda Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Bethesda city guide for the best Bethesda travel tips. To help you organize your Bethesda trip ideas, this Bethesda visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.