About this Location

Facility Overview

The Public Parking Lot on Leland Street (officially operated as Montgomery County Public Parking Lot 24) is a centrally located, open-air surface facility situated at 4618 Leland St in the vibrant southern district of downtown Bethesda, Maryland. Designed for effortless drive-in accessibility, the lot provides level surface parking without the navigational constraints or tight ramp turns of multi-story garages. Because it is an open-air surface lot with no overhead barriers or height restrictions, it offers unlimited vertical clearance, making it an ideal choice for standard passenger vehicles, oversized pickup trucks, full-size SUVs, commercial passenger vans, and vehicles outfitted with roof boxes or bicycle racks.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Positioned just off the bustling Wisconsin Avenue commercial corridor, this parking location puts visitors within easy walking distance of downtown Bethesda\'s primary shopping, dining, and business destinations. Key points of interest include:

Bethesda Row: Located just a 5 to 7-minute walk (approx. 0.3 miles) west, offering premier boutique shopping, high-end dining, and the Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema.
Wisconsin Avenue Retail Corridor: Immediate access to local banks, cafes, medical offices, and grocery destinations including Target and Trader Joe\'s.
Capital Crescent Trail: Accessible within a 6-minute stroll, providing a popular paved recreation corridor for cycling and walking toward Georgetown or Silver Spring.
Bethesda Metro Station & Plaza: Approximately 0.4 miles (an 8-minute walk) north along Wisconsin Avenue, connecting commuters directly into downtown Washington, D.C.
Round House Theatre: Just under a 10-minute walk north, making this lot a convenient alternative for evening theater productions.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Entering and leaving the Leland Street lot is straightforward, with direct driveway ingress from Leland Street between Wisconsin Avenue (MD-355) and Woodmont Avenue / Bradley Boulevard. This position allows motorists to easily bypass heavier intersection bottlenecks on central Wisconsin Avenue when arriving or departing during peak commuting windows. For rapid transit users, the Bethesda Metrorail Station (Washington Metro Red Line) is a quick walk away, providing direct subway transit across the Capital region. Regional commuters benefit from direct vehicular connectivity to the Capital Beltway (I-495), River Road (MD-190), and Connecticut Avenue (MD-185).

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous surface bays with wide drive aisles and zero vertical clearance restrictions.
Mobile Payment Integration: Convenient payment via the ParkMobile app, allowing drivers to pay and extend time remotely without returning to the vehicle.
On-Site Pay Stations: Modern multi-space pay meters supporting major credit and debit cards.
ADA Accessible Stalls: Designated accessible parking spaces located adjacent to pedestrian access points with smooth sidewalk curb cuts.
Lighting & Maintenance: Municipal lighting and routine maintenance overseen by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT).

Ideal For

Bethesda Row Diners & Shoppers: Perfect for lunch outings, evening fine dining, and weekend retail therapy.
Daily Commuters: An affordable and accessible park-and-walk solution for professionals working in southern Bethesda or transferring to the Red Line.
Oversized & High-Profile Vehicles: The preferred downtown Bethesda option for tall work vans, lifted trucks, and roof-rack-equipped SUVs unable to enter height-restricted underground decks.
Short-Term Errand Runners: Convenient, friction-free parking for local service appointments, doctor visits, and pharmacy stops along Wisconsin Avenue.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Enforcement hours are actively managed by Montgomery County; always check the posted pay-station signs or the ParkMobile app upon arrival for active meter rates and required payment times (typically Monday through Saturday from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with Sundays generally free of charge). If you are visiting during weekday business peaks or Saturday dinner hours, plan to arrive a few minutes early to secure an optimal space. Save your vehicle’s license plate number and the posted ParkMobile zone number on your phone to quickly initiate or extend your session without standing in line at the pay machines.