a green and white street sign on a pole

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If you’re curious about life on other planets and you’re in Las Vegas, I think you’d love an Area 51 tour. The world of UFO sightings and extraterrestrial enthusiasts is extremely interesting, and the centerpiece of all these conspiracies is just a short drive from Sin City.

A unique tour near Las Vegas centered around Area 51 is one of the most distinctive day excursions originating from Las Vegas because it provides an experience unlike any other destination. Area 51 is the renowned (or infamous) U.S. Air Force base near Rachel. It represents one of the most intriguing places to explore within Nevada since the stories and theories surrounding this facility are remarkably fascinating. Even though the airbase was established back in 1955, it remains a well-known tourist attraction enveloped in mystery.

a man laying on the ground next to a surfboard

While the specifics are not public knowledge, you can tour the outskirts of the installation, along with neighboring landmarks and locations linked to Area 51. You can even find an Area 51 experience from Las Vegas that will take you to these intriguing spots and educate you more about the mystery surrounding alien research.

We embarked on this excursion and, without question, it represented the most diverting activity we engaged in outside Las Vegas. In this guide, I’ll outline what to anticipate from this day trip and our encounter participating in this unique tour!

Area 51 full-day trip, the best Area 51 tour from Las Vegas

This travel experience focuses on the one-day excursion to Area 51 that we participated in. Throughout the full day, the guide escorting us will bring us to all the notable destinations that UFO enthusiasts come from across the country to witness. We`ll stop by the alleged Janet Airlines at McCarran International Airport and journey along the Extraterrestrial Highway to Rachel, NV. There, you can grab a quick meal at the Little A’le’Inn, then observe the infamous Black Mailbox. Among the last stops is a hike through unusually-shaped Joshua trees right up to the actual boundary of Area 51.

a mountain range with mountains in the distance

  • Highlights: Janet Airlines, Groom Lake, Extraterrestrial Highway, Little A’le’Inn, Black Mailbox, perimeter of Area 51
  • Duration: 10 hours
  • Price: $205
  • Description: This day trip around the Nevada desert includes main sites of interest relating to the Area 51 topic. Transportation, lunch, snacks, and hotel pick-up/drop-off are provided. Key areas visited include the Red Spring region, Calico Hills, and surrounding vegetation.

Must-sees on your Area 51 day trip

Check out the most noteworthy sights visible during your Vegas Area 51 excursion.

Janet Airlines/McCarran International Airport

During your Area 51 tour, you’ll visit the classified fleet of the U.S. Air Force known as β€œJanet Airlines,” which transports Area 51 employees to work as well as the Nevada National Security Site and Tonopah Test Range.

Airbase on Groom Lake

The clandestine airfield adjacent to Groom Lake is reputedly a hub for alien activity and UFO studies. According to enthusiasts, nestled among the desert vegetation, the dry lake at Groom Lake (actually a salt flat) has frequently observed unidentified flying objects.

a statue of a bird sitting on top of a building

Extraterrestrial Highway

Though unofficial, Nevada State Route 375, known as the Extraterrestrial Highway, serves as the primary route on your Area 51 day tour. The road passes the Nevada Test and Training Range, the Black Mailbox, Little A`le`Inn, and leads towards the Area 51 military base.

Little A’le’Inn

A trip to the Area 51 vicinity would not be complete without a stop at the Little A`le`Inn. This otherworldly-themed cafΓ© and motel attracts visitors from all over the country. While there, grab an “alien burger,” chat with UFO aficionados, and browse the unique merchandise.

The Alien Research Center

The primary attraction met by visitors on the Extraterrestrial Highway is the Alien Research Center, which greets arrivals with an oversized aluminum alien out front. Here, one can learn more regarding Area 51 and the surrounding landmarks while browsing novelty items and souvenirs.

a black and white photo of a building with a sky background

Black Mailbox and perimeter of Area 51

Covered with scribbled text and stuck on images, the Black Mailbox is where seekers of otherworldly phenomena congregate hoping to observe unidentified flying objects and interact with aliens. From here, your Area 51 tour guide will escort you to the boundary permitted for public access adjacent to Area 51!

Area 51 tour – Departure & return

This Area 51 excursion from Las Vegas departs at 7 am and can collect you from your Vegas hotel. The full-day trip includes lunch and transportation through the Nevada desert and returns to the Strip at 5 pm.

Area 51 tour from Las Vegas itinerary

This Area 51 trip is a 10-hour itinerary, so you’ll visit the most renowned places that attract UFO hunters from everywhere. The cost includes hotel pick-up/drop-off, transportation, lunch, snacks, and a guide, so all you’ll have to worry about is any souvenirs you might want to purchase.

The Area 51 day excursion starts with a visit to Janet Airlines at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Your guide will describe the secret Janet aircraft transporting Area 51 workers to their hidden workplace.

a stop sign on the side of a road

Next, travelers will board the scenic tour bus and traverse along the main route known as the Extra-Terrestrial Highway. Also referred to as Nevada State Route 375, the road leads to several sites linked to Area 51, meriting the moniker Extra-Terrestrial Highway. At the start of the route, sightseers will see the Alien Research Center, home to diverse Area 51 memorabilia and boasting an amiable alien statue out front.

You’ll follow the Extraterrestrial Highway to Rachel, NV, a neighboring city that’s home to the Little A’le’Inn. This eccentric cafΓ©/motel is a well-known stopping point for people on the hunt for alien contact and flying saucers. This is where your tour group will pause for lunch, and you’ll have time to explore this unique pitstop and all the alien-themed dΓ©cor and merchandise.

Later in the afternoon, you’ll travel to the renowned Black Mailbox on the side of the highway. Many individuals come to the mailbox throughout the year to leave messages in the hopes extraterrestrials may arrive. Over time, the mailbox has been covered with various stickers, graffiti, and written communications, so it’s quite an intriguing sight!

a sign that is on the side of a road

Lastly, you`ll make your way back towards Vegas and the concluding stop on the Area 51 excursion. Before entering the city, the bus will pause in the center of the desert and your guide will escort your group to the absolute boundary of Area 51. It lies close to Groom Lake, a vast salt flat stated to be the place of numerous UFO sightings, so keep your eyes open! You’ll get as near as legally feasible to the controversial base, passing by β€œmutant” Joshua trees to arrive there. Listen as your guide tells you how the trees’ abnormalities have yet to be clarified and wave to the security cameras outside the Area 51 base!

How much does an Area 51 tour from Las Vegas cost?

This is the only full-day tour near Area 51 from Las Vegas priced at just over $200/person.

What’s included on this tour to Area 51

This Nevada attraction exploring restricted military facilities lasts around 10 hours and incorporates roundtrip transportation, lunch, water, snacks, a guide, and hotel pick-up/drop-off.

Las Vegas – Area 51 tour reviews

We took the guided tour from Las Vegas exploring Area 51 and found it to be a uniquely memorable experience during our time here. The various stops along the way were quite fascinating, and one of the highlights was listening to the stories and hypotheses surrounding these locations.

I wasn’t aware that McCarran Airport was home to a β€œsecret” airline, and I learned considerably about the Area 51 culture. Whether you believe in aliens or not, I think the tour is one of the most entertaining activities outside of Vegas!

a green and white street sign on a pole

Some of the locations were a bit unsettling, especially when you hear about the speculations about them. I had the most fun visiting the Little A’le’Inn because the owners were very kindly and attentive in their attention to detail. It was the perfect lunch spot for this Area 51 day tour!

In total, it was an exciting and informative day, and I appreciated our guide introducing us to locales we wouldn`t have known. If exploring this area interests you, I recommend this tour. It included all we required, and the bus can pick up from your Vegas hotel.

Area 51 map

During your Area 51 tour in Nevada, you’ll explore several well-known sites and a few hidden gems. This map will show you where each tour stop is situated.

Area 51 Museum Las Vegas

If you’re remaining in the city but don’t want to go on an Area 51 tour in Las Vegas, I have another possibility for you. The National Atomic Testing Museum features an Area 51 exhibit and various propaganda and artifacts from the Nevada Test Site (NTS).

The National Atomic Testing Museum is the solely reputable atomic gallery in the country. Its combination of interactive gadgets, presentations, and short films is a excellent method to gain more knowledge about the NTS, which performed over 900 nuclear trials just 65 miles from Vegas back in the 1950s.

a sign that is on the side of a building

In the year 2012, the museum supplemented an Area 51 presentation complete with alien perception protective eyewear, newspaper clippings regarding UFO sightings, and much more. If you’re interested in gaining more knowledge about local alien speculations and actual investigation into UFOs and extraterrestrial encounters, visiting the museum is one approach to do an inexpensive Area 51 guided tour from Las Vegas.

The museum is about a mile from the Strip, on Flamingo Road, and is accessible Thursday-Tuesday from 9:30 am-3:30 pm. General admission to the museum costs $22, and the Area 51 exhibit costs $6.

FAQs – Area 51 Tours

Before finalizing your reservation for an Area 51 day tour, review these commonly asked questions.

Area 51 is a U.S. Air Force foundation and is believed to be the location of alien investigations and other extraterrestrial items.

Area 51 is situated on the Nevada Test and Training Range, roughly 83 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

The Air Force base is a real establishment, but what occurs inside is not made public knowledge. So, any alien and UFO theories concerning Area 51 are just that – speculations.

The gated perimeter surrounding the facility is the closest viewpoint possible to the genuine Area 51 airbase. Security cameras and other systems are present, so you can’t proceed any further without breaking the law!

Area 51 is a bit over 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

To reach the front gate of Area 51, one can take Interstate 515 North/U.S. Route 95 North to Interstate 15 North/U.S. Route 93 North. Then continue toward the Alien Research Center and turn left onto a road that becomes another, following it to the front entrance. Its remote desert location means a organized outing or guided excursion like a Las Vegas tour of Area 51 could be preferable to going alone.

The Area 51 pilgrimage that I advise and that we embarked on costs $205 per individual.

Yes, one can travel there without a guide, but I would propose taking a Area 51 day excursion, particularly since some desert backroads must be used to arrive there. Additionally, the tour will bring you to other pertinent places you may be unaware of.

I hope you gained more insight into this strange yet mysterious location! A Area 51 guided tour makes for an interesting activity if you have some free time and want to explore a quirkier side of the Nevada desert landscape. Again, the Area 51 excursion we participated in is the best full-day expedition, incorporating your lunch, transportation, and tour escort.

Of course, if you have any other questions about participating in an exploration of restricted areas from Las Vegas, feel free to leave a comment so I can respond to you! Safe travel to the restricted areas!