North Bethesda is an unincorporated, census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, located just north-west of the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the North Bethesda CDP has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23 km2), all land.

Significant through-roads in North Bethesda include Interstates 270 and 495 and Maryland State Highways 187 (Old Georgetown Road), 355 (Rockville Pike), and 547 (Strathmore Avenue).

The Twinbrook, North Bethesda (formerly White Flint), and Grosvenor-Strathmore Washington Metro stations all serve the area, as does the Ride On and Metrobus bus systems.

Archaeological evidence suggests that Paleo, Archaic, and Woodland Native Americans lived nearby, along the banks of the Potomac River.

These peoples traveled along an ancient route known as the Seneca Trail (which is today approximately followed in North Bethesda by Old Georgetown Road).

Like many ancient roads, the Seneca Trail followed a ridge line – in this case, the high ground between the Potomac River and Rock Creek.

Settlements formed along Rock Creek and the Seneca Trail in the 17th century, with recorded land grants in this area known originally as “Dan” and “Leeke Forest.” The far southern edge of the North Bethesda CDP was originally the country estate of the Grosvenor family, whose lineage includes Alexander Graham Bell and a former President of the National Geographic Society.

Also in the southern sector of the census designated area, located in the triangle between the two limbs of I-270 and I-495, is a business district that includes several corporate and government agency headquarters.

One of the Rileys' slaves, Josiah Henson, is thought by historians to be the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.

The White Flint Master Plan is designed to alleviate negative aspects of future high-density development in North Bethesda.

[8] The existence of North Bethesda as an actual place with distinct boundaries has been mistakenly questioned by local residents and online commenters.

The corporate headquarters of Lockheed Martin, Coventry Healthcare, Host Hotels & Resorts, and Total Wine & More are in North Bethesda.

White Flint Mall, now closed, was for decades a major retail mall here anchored by Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor,[30] while Pike & Rose nearby is a major new mixed-use development designated by local planning authorities as a dense hub of offices, retail, hotels, residential and entertainment for the area.