Closest Beaches
Beaches Near Bethesda, MD
Bethesda-to-beach is a solved problem: skip the I-95/50 combo on Friday evenings, drive early Saturday or go Sunday morning, and aim for the Western Shore before the boats crowd in.
Plan This Week
Monday looks like the best day across this list.
Strongest single forecast: Chapman State Park on Tuesday (87).
Chapman State Park
Skip the beach today.
Quiet Waters Park
Decent day for sunbathing.
Beverly Triton Nature Park
Decent day for sunbathing.
Mayo Beach Park
Decent day for sunbathing.
Kings Landing Park
Skip the beach today.
Franklin Point State Park
Decent day for sunbathing.
Chapel Point State Park
Skip the beach today.
Fort Smallwood Park
Great day for photography.
North Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Friendship Farm Park
Skip the beach today.
Brownies Beach (Bayfront Park)
Decent day for sunbathing.
Downs Park
Great day for photography.
Sandy Point State Park
Great day for swimming.
Purse State Park
Skip the beach today.
North Point State Park
Great day for photography.
Breezy Point Beach
Decent day for sunbathing.
Matapeake Beach & Dog Park
Great day for swimming.
Cox's Point Park
Great day for photography.
Terrapin Nature Area & Beach
Great day for swimming.
Rocky Point Beach & Park
Great day for photography.
Dares Beach Park
Decent day for sunbathing.
Miami Beach Park
Great day for photography.
Hart-Miller Island State Park
Great day for photography.
Claiborne Landing
Decent day for sunbathing.
Ferry Point Park
Great day for photography.
Distance is straight-line, drive times are estimates
Mileage shown is straight-line distance from the center of Bethesda. Real drive times depend on highway routing, weekend traffic, and where in the metro you start. For summer Saturdays, plan 20–40 minutes longer than the estimates here. The range slider above filters by the same straight-line distance.