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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 Las Vegas Area 51 tour is one of the most unique day trips from Las Vegas because it’s something you can’t do anywhere else! Area 51 is the famous (or infamous) U.S. Air Force base near Rachel. It’s one of the most curious places to visit in Nevada since the stories and ideas surrounding this facility are super intriguing. Even though the airbase was built back in 1955, it is still a popular tourist destination enmeshed in mystery.
The Best Area 51 Tour from Las Vegas, Nevada
While what happens here is not public information, you can visit the perimeter of the base, as well as nearby attractions and locations related to Area 51. You can even find an Area 51 tour from Las Vegas that will take you to these interesting locations and teach you more about the secrecy around alien investigations.
We took this tour and, without a doubt, it was the most entertaining thing we did outside Las Vegas. In this guide, I’ll tell you what to expect from this day trip and our experience taking this one-of-a-kind tour!
Area 51 full-day trip, the best Area 51 tour from Las Vegas
This tour is the Area 51 day trip we took. During the full-day tour, your guide will take you to all the hotspots that UFO enthusiasts travel across the country to see. Visit the so-called Janet Airlines at McCarran International Airport and travel along the Extraterrestrial Highway to Rachel, NV. There, you can grab a bite to eat at the Little A’le’Inn, then see the infamous Black Mailbox. One of the last stops is a trek through “mutant” Joshua trees to the absolute perimeter of Area 51.
Area 51 full-day trip, the best Area 51 tour from Las Vegas
- Highlights: Janet Airlines, Groom Lake, Extraterrestrial Highway, Little A’le’Inn, Black Mailbox, perimeter of Area 51
- Duration: 10 hours
- Price: $205
- Description: This Las Vegas Area 51 tour includes all the top points of interest around the Nevada desert. The day trip includes hotel pick-up/drop-off, transportation, lunch, and snacks.
Must-sees on your Area 51 day trip
Check out the most interesting attractions you’ll see during your Vegas Area 51 tour.
Janet Airlines/McCarran International Airport
During your Area 51 tour, you’ll visit the U.S. Air Force’s classified “Janet Airlines.” The Janet fleet transports Area 51 employees to work as well as the Nevada National Security Site and Tonopah Test Range.
Airbase on Groom Lake
The mysterious airbase next to Groom Lake is said to be a hub for extraterrestrial activity and UFO research. According to enthusiasts, nestled among the desert vegetation, Groom Lake (which is actually a salt flat) is a hotspot for UFO sightings.
Little A’le’Inn, must-sees on your Area 51 day trip
Extraterrestrial Highway
The unofficial name for Nevada State Route 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway is the main route on your Area 51 day tour. The road winds past the Nevada Test and Training Range, the Black Mailbox, Little A’le’Inn, and the Area 51 base.
Little A’le’Inn
An Area 51 tour isn’t complete with a stop at the Little A’le’Inn. This extraterrestrial-themed café and motel attract visitors from around the country. While you’re here, grab an “alien burger,” chat with UFO aficionados, and browse the unique merchandise.
The Alien Research Center
The first stop on the Extraterrestrial Highway, the Alien Research Center greets visitors with a giant aluminum alien out front. Here, you can learn more about Area 51 and the surrounding landmarks and browse trinkets and souvenirs.
The Alien Research Center
Black Mailbox and perimeter of Area 51
Covered in written messages and stickers, the Black Mailbox is where alien seekers come to spot UFOs and communicate with extraterrestrials. From here, your Area 51 tour guide will take you to the perimeter of Area 51, as close as the public is allowed to get!
Area 51 tour – Departure & return
This Area 51 tour from Las Vegas departs at 7 am and can pick you up from your Vegas hotel. The full-day tour 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 tour with a full itinerary, so you’ll see the most famous places that attract UFO hunters from all over the country. The price includes hotel pick-up/drop-off, transportation, lunch, snacks, and a tour guide, so all you’ll have to worry about is any souvenirs you might want to buy.
The Area 51 day trip begins with a visit to Janet Airlines at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Your guide will tell you about the secret Janet aircraft that carry Area 51 employees to their hidden workplace.
How much does an Area 51 tour from Las Vegas cost?
Next, you’ll board the tour bus and take a ride along the Extraterrestrial Highway. Also known as Nevada State Route 375, the road leads to several Area 51 hotspots, earning it the name Extraterrestrial Highway. At the start of the route, you’ll see the Alien Research Center, which houses various Area 51 memorabilia and has a friendly alien sculpture out front.
You’ll follow the Extraterrestrial Highway to Rachel, NV, a neighboring city that’s home to the Little A’le’Inn. This quirky café/motel is a popular resting spot for people on the search for alien contact and flying saucers. This is where your tour group will stop for lunch, and you’ll have time to explore this unique pitstop and all the alien-themed décor and merchandise.
After lunch, you’ll travel to the infamous Black Mailbox on the side of the highway. Hundreds of people come to the mailbox throughout the year to leave messages for any extraterrestrials that might show up. Over time, the mailbox has been covered with various stickers, graffiti, and written messages, so it’s quite an interesting sight!
Area 51 tour from Las Vegas itinerary
Finally, you’ll make your way back towards Vegas and the final stop on the Area 51 tour. Before entering the city, the bus will stop in the middle of the desert and your guide will walk your group to the absolute perimeter of Area 51. It’s next to Groom Lake, a large salt flat said to be the site of numerous UFO sightings, so keep your eyes peeled! You’ll get as close as legally possible to the controversial base, passing by “mutant” Joshua trees to get there. Listen as your guide tells you how the trees’ deformations have yet to be explained 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 Area 51 tour from Las Vegas and costs just over $200/person.
What’s included on this tour to Area 51
This Las Vegas Area 51 tour lasts for about 10 hours and includes roundtrip transportation, lunch, water, snacks, a tour guide, and hotel pick-up/drop-off.
Las Vegas – Area 51 tour reviews
We took the Area 51 tour from Las Vegas and found it to be a one-of-a-kind experience during our time here. The different tour stops were quite interesting, and one of the highlights was listening to the stories and theories surrounding these places.
I didn’t realize that the McCarran Airport was home to a “secret” airline, and I learned a lot about the Area 51 culture. Whether you believe in aliens or not, I think the tour is one of the most entertaining things to do outside of Vegas!
Las Vegas – Area 51 tour reviews
Some of the locations were a bit creepy, especially when you hear about the conspiracies about them. I had the most fun visiting the Little A’le’Inn because the owners were very kind and impressive in their attention to detail. It was the perfect lunch spot for this Area 51 day tour!
Overall, it was an exciting and informative day, and I appreciated that our tour guide took us to places that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise. If you’re thinking about exploring this area, I recommend this tour. It included everything we needed, and the bus can even pick you 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 located.
Area 51 Museum Las Vegas
If you’re staying in the city but don’t want to take an Area 51 tour in Las Vegas, I have another option for you. The National Atomic Testing Museum has an Area 51 exhibit and all kinds of propaganda and artifacts from the Nevada Test Site (NTS).
The National Atomic Testing Museum is the only official atomic museum in the country. Its collection of interactive gadgets, displays, and short films is a great way to learn more about the NTS, which performed over 900 nuclear tests just 65 miles from Vegas back in the 1950s.
Area 51 Museum Las Vegas
In 2012, the museum added an Area 51 exhibit complete with alien vision goggles, newspaper clippings about UFO sightings, and much more. If you’re interested in learning more about local alien conspiracies and actual research on UFOs and extraterrestrial encounters, visiting the museum is one way to do a cheap Area 51 tour from Las Vegas.
The museum is about a mile from the Strip, on Flamingo Road, and is open 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 you book your Area 51 day trip, read through these commonly asked questions.
What is Area 51?
Area 51 is a U.S. Air Force base and is said to be the site of alien experiments and other extraterrestrial objects.
Where is Area 51?
Area 51 is located on the Nevada Test and Training Range, and it’s about 83 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
Is Area 51 real?
The Air Force base is a real facility, but what goes on inside is not made public. So, any alien and UFO theories about Area 51 are just that – theories.
Can you visit the real Area 51?
The gated perimeter around the facility is the closest you can get to the real Area 51 airbase. There are security cameras and other systems in place, so you can’t go any further without breaking the law!
How far is Area 51 from Las Vegas?
Area 51 is a little over 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
How to get to Area 51 from Las Vegas?
To get to Area 51’s front gate, take I-515 N/US-95 N to I-15 N/US-93 N. Continue to the Alien Research Center and turn left onto Mailbox Road, which becomes Groom Road. Follow it to the front gate. It’s in the middle of the desert, so if you’d rather go as a group or with a guide, I recommend a Las Vegas Area 51 tour.
How much does an Area 51 tour cost?
The Area 51 tour that I recommend and that we took costs $205/person.
Can you visit Area 51 without a tour?
Yes, you can go there without a guide, but I recommend taking an Area 51 day tour, especially since you need to take some desert backroads to get there. Plus, the tour will take you to other related locations that you might not know about.
I hope you enjoyed learning more about this creepy and mysterious place! An Area 51 tour is a great thing to do if you have some free time and want to explore a quirkier side of the Nevada desert. Again, the Area 51 trip that we took is the best full-day tour, and it includes your lunch, transportation, and tour guide.
Of course, if you have any questions about taking an Area 51 tour from Las Vegas, leave me a comment so I can get back to you! Have a safe trip to Area 51!
