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.

Where to Eat in Bethesda

If you’re looking for affordable options, Summer House - North Bethesda (11825 Grand Park Ave) and Coopers Mill at Bethesda (5151 Pooks Hill Road) are great picks.

When to visit Bethesda

Bethesda in November
Estimated hotel price
$145
1 night at 3-star hotel
Bethesda in November
Estimated hotel price
$145
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 28m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Bethesda, followed by Acela. The train journey from Bethesda to Wilmington takes 1h 38m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Richmond, expect to pay about $19 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 Turo and Movly, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bethesda, including Washington Deluxe, OurBus and Bus. From Baltimore, the bus ride to Bethesda takes 45 miles and will cost you around $23. From New York, the ticket costs about $58 for a journey of 210 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 Fort Lauderdale and takes around 2h 28m.

Train

Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Bethesda, followed by Acela. The train journey from Bethesda to Wilmington takes 1h 38m and costs around $11 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Richmond, expect to pay about $19 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 Turo and Movly, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Bethesda, including Washington Deluxe, OurBus and Bus. From Baltimore, the bus ride to Bethesda takes 45 miles and will cost you around $23. From New York, the ticket costs about $58 for a journey of 210 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 (1,452 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,737 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,193 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,212 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,114 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,285 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,731 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,532 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,516 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,681 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,717 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,179 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,394 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,362 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,162 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,878 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,141 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,897 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (192 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (293 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 $64 to $434 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Bethesda are about 40% more expensive 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 Hotels by Marriott Bethesda Downtown
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 232 reviews)
$146+
View
Embassy Suites by Hilton Bethesda Washington DC
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 1405 reviews)
$128+
View
Hyatt Centric Arlington
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, 2693 reviews)
$145+
View
Washington Plaza Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 4772 reviews)
$114+
View
Hyatt Centric Old Town Alexandria
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, 510 reviews)
$157+
View
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1890 reviews)
$117+
View

Renting a car in Bethesda

Renting a car in Bethesda costs $42 per day, on average, or $84 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.22 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 $38.61 and $51.48. The most frequently booked car type in Bethesda is Intermediate (Class Intermediate SUV 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, 65% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Bethesda costs $42 per day, on average, or $84 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

Expect to pay $3.22 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 $38.61 and $51.48. The most frequently booked car type in Bethesda is Intermediate (Class Intermediate SUV 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, 65% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Bethesda

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$44/day

Full-size

Passenger van

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$73/day

Passenger van
Find car rentals in Bethesda