YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase

About

The YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase, located at 9401 Old Georgetown Rd, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA, is a comprehensive community center offering a wide range of programs and facilities. It typically features a fitness center with cardio and strength equipment, group exercise studios, an aquatics center with multiple pools, and facilities for youth and family programs including childcare, camps, and various sports. The YMCA focuses on promoting healthy living, youth development, and social responsibility within the community.

The facility generally maintains its indoor lap pool at temperatures between 81-82 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 27.2-27.8 degrees Celsius). The warm water pool, often used for therapy or gentle exercise, is typically maintained at a warmer temperature, usually between 88-90 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 31.1-32.2 degrees Celsius).

What are people saying (AI review summary)? Reviews for the YMCA highlight a mix of positive and negative experiences. On the positive side, the staff, including front desk and employees, are consistently praised as nice and helpful. Some members also appreciate the good classes, convenient hours, and a friendly community of women in aquatic classes. However, several significant drawbacks are frequently mentioned: the facility is often described as extremely crowded, leading to concerns about cleanliness, particularly in bathrooms, locker rooms (with reports of hair in showers), and murky pools. Many feel the space, especially the exercise room and pools, is too small for the number of people. Administrative issues are a recurring problem, with difficulties in making membership changes, obtaining refunds, and scheduling private swim lessons due to frequent cancellations or a lack of communication. Pricing, especially for day passes, is considered high and overpriced by some. One review also points out perceived discriminatory practices regarding subsidized memberships and cross-facility usage. Despite some positive aspects, the crowding, cleanliness issues, and administrative frustrations lead many to consider other facilities.

Location

Gallery

Amenities

• Accessible Entrance

Reviews

Listing Reviews

June 29th, 2025

Ursula Edmonds

The staff is nice, but very crowded place, so I don't think I will keep my membership. I just do not enjoy being in a cramped environment that doesnt smell clean in bathroom and locker rooms. There is hair all over the showers. Also, if they can offer subsidized memberships at other locations, they should do so here as well. I doubt anyone from the hood will travel all the way to Bethesda to use their facilities. And I say this because it is a discriminatory practice to offer subsidies at one, tell the person they will not be able to use their memberships at this location. The rep says "its because we offer more classes", well, you can still let people swim and use the facility, they do not have to have access to classes. Offering a plan to just use the facility for swimming and exercise machines is fair to people who live in the community. I like swimming, but both pools are murky indoor pool especially and crowded. When was the last time they drained them and cleaned the bottoms of the pools and filled with fresh water?? The facility seems too small for the number of people there every day. They might consider to expand or relocate, because the exercise room is way too small. Staff is nice and so are the people who come here. It's a nice facility but I am concerned about cleanliness given the number of people that attend here, in bathrooms and the pool.

April 8th, 2024

Von Xavier

Overpriced! Nice facility but 30 dollars US for a day pass just to use the dumbbells for a half-hour is absurd. I'd probably have some nicer things to mention but YMCA is gouging folk. I've been checking out a number of gyms in the area and day passes are averaging between 10 and 20 bucks for gyms just as nice as YMCA - some that are nicer! I'll be joining one of the nearby gyms but, on account of inflated entry fees, I'll not be joining YMCA!

April 24th, 2025

Jane An

We did not have a good experience with the private swim lesson program here. The first teacher we had canceled 3 out of 5 times, with the last time not even bothering to show up or tell me ahead of time that she canceled class yet again. The second teacher we were assigned was great but also canceled class here and there and subsequently told us she was leaving the Y for personal reasons. The pool was also super crowded every time we had lessons and there was barely anywhere to learn swimming with multiple group lessons also going on at the same time. After we used our six pack of lessons, we quit the Y and are now much happier at another facility. I tried to ask for some of my money back as we were only there for two months and could not even find anyone to speak with. So much bureaucracy here.

June 3rd, 2025

KC K

The front desk staff and other employees are GREAT (5 stars). The problem is the clients— “Karens”. That detracts from what would be a great experience. I know, not much you can do about that!

December 31st, 2024

Anna Hodgson

The YMCA has pros and cons. Pros are that the facility itself is generally clean, good classes, good hours, nice staff, and a great community of women in the aquatic classes (some of the nicest women I have met in ChCh/Bethesda); the cons are that if you cannot deal with administrative nightmares this is not the place for you. Making any changes to your membership will take hours to accomplish if you can accomplish it at all; and admin around classes is frustrating (i.e. I tried to schedule private swim lessons several times via their forms and calling the director but never got a call/email back so never took lessons.)