Bethesda Station - DC Metro
Red Line - station in Bethesda, MD.
About Bethesda station
Bethesda is the busiest Red Line station in Montgomery County and one of the deepest in the system, reached by a long escalator ride from the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and East-West Highway. It opens directly into downtown Bethesda, a dense district of offices, apartments, restaurants and shops that grew up around the station itself. Four entrances distribute riders around the intersection, and there is no Metro parking – the area is built for walking, with commercial garages absorbing the drivers. Construction of the Purple Line, which will terminate here, has reshaped the streets above ground for years. For riders, Bethesda functions as both a job center and an evening destination.
The area around Bethesda
Downtown Bethesda is one of the most walkable places in suburban Maryland: mid-rise office and residential buildings around Wisconsin Avenue, then the low brick blocks of Bethesda Row with their restaurants, cinema and bookstores. Just beyond, leafy residential streets begin almost immediately. The rider mix is office workers by day, diners and moviegoers by evening, and trail users on weekends heading for the Capital Crescent.
What is near Bethesda station?
The main shopping and dining district, a walkable grid of restaurants, cafes, a cinema and independent shops.
6 min walkA paved rail-trail running from Bethesda toward Georgetown along the old railroad alignment, popular with cyclists and runners.
7 min walkA well-regarded professional theater for young audiences, a few blocks from the station on Auburn Avenue.
4 min walkThe Montgomery County branch library on Arlington Road, with meeting space and a large collection.
8 min walkThe restaurant-heavy blocks north of the station, with a dense concentration of independent kitchens and bars.
5 min walkFirst and last trains at Bethesda
Departure times by direction. Which way you are traveling matters – the last train toward one terminal can be an hour before the last train the other way.
| Day | Toward | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon-Thu | Glenmont | 5:17 am | 11:48 pm |
| Mon-Thu | Shady Grove | 5:24 am | 12:27 am |
| Fri | Glenmont | 5:17 am | 1:48 am |
| Fri | Shady Grove | 5:24 am | 2:27 am |
| Sat | Glenmont | 6:17 am | 1:48 am |
| Sat | Shady Grove | 6:30 am | 2:27 am |
| Sun | Glenmont | 6:17 am | 11:48 pm |
| Sun | Shady Grove | 6:36 am | 12:27 am |
Travel times and fares from Bethesda
| To | Time | Weekday to 9:30pm | Late night & weekend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Center | 18 min | $4.10 | $2.50 |
| Gallery Pl-Chinatown | 20 min | $4.20 | $2.50 |
| L'Enfant Plaza | 28 min | $4.60 | $2.50 |
| Union Station | 24 min | $4.55 | $2.50 |
| Smithsonian | 26 min | $4.40 | $2.50 |
| Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | 38 min | $5.90 | $2.50 |
| Washington Dulles International Airport | 76 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
| Pentagon | 33 min | $5.20 | $2.50 |
| Shady Grove | 18 min | $5.55 | $2.50 |
| Glenmont | 49 min | $6.75 | $2.50 |
Travel times and fares published by WMATA. Fares valid July 2026.
Changing lines at Bethesda
Bethesda is served by the Red Line only.
Parking at Bethesda
Tips for using Bethesda
- Bethesda has one of the longest escalators in the system – if that is a concern, use the elevator, and check its status on wmata.com before you travel.
- There is no Metro parking here; use the public garages around Bethesda Row or Woodmont Avenue instead.
- The Capital Crescent Trail is easiest to pick up near Bethesda Avenue, a few minutes south of the station.
- Purple Line construction has changed street layouts around the station repeatedly, so allow extra time if you are meeting someone at a specific corner.
Bethesda station FAQ
Bethesda is on the Red Line. Trains run in one direction toward Medical Center, Grosvenor and the northwestern branch, and in the other toward Friendship Heights, Dupont Circle and downtown Washington before curving back out to the northeast.
Yes, notably so. It is one of the deeper stations in the system and the escalator ride from street level to the platform is long. Elevators are available for anyone who would rather not use the escalator; current elevator status is listed on wmata.com.
There is no Metro park-and-ride facility here. Downtown Bethesda has a number of public and commercial garages within a few blocks, and Montgomery County operates several of them, but none are Metro-operated and all charge their own rates.
Bethesda is planned as the western terminus of the Purple Line light rail, with a transfer to the Red Line here. Construction has been underway around the station for years. For the current opening timeline, check the official Purple Line project site rather than relying on older reports.