Area 51

Nevada is full of out-of-this-world experiences, and it doesn’t get more out of this world than Area 51.

In 2013, the U.S. government finally admitted to the existence of this hot spot for countless conspiracy theories. Part of an active military base that’s guarded by some of the heaviest security on Earth (or anywhere else), Area 51 and its remote surroundings have a long history of reported UFO sightings. Some say the unexplained aerial phenomena are test flights for top-secret, never-before-seen military aircraft. Others insist these alien activities are proof of otherworldly life. We only know one thing: The truth is out here.

Area 51 Facts

• Not-So-Secret Location: Area 51 is located about 150 miles north of Las Vegas in the off-limits Nevada National Security Sites.
• Stated Purpose: According to unclassified documents, Area 51 is officially used as a testing site for experimental aircraft and defense systems.
• Security Clearance Required: Area 51 and the land around it is highly classified and restricted. Do not attempt to trespass.
• I Want to Believe: This area has long been associated with UFO sightings, alien research, and secret government experiments.

Attractions Near Area 51 

Area 51 remains a top-secret testing facility, which means you likely won’t be going anywhere near it. The closest point the public can reach is still more than 15 miles away. And yes, airspace near Area 51’s location is highly restricted as well.

But while Area 51 is out of reach, visitors still have plenty of options for only-found-here extraterrestrial experiences. 

Rachel, Nevada

One must-visit extraterrestrial destination is Rachel, which is known as the UFO Capital of the World. At the Little A’Le’Inn, earthlings can fuel up on the World Famous Alien Burger and a slice of homemade alienfruit pie, or bed down for a night of stellar stargazing and UFO spotting.

Extraterrestrial Highway

This famous highway through central Nevada—known otherwise as State Route 375—offers plenty of must-see spots, including the Black Mailbox and the Alien Research Center, where roadtrippers can shop for all varieties of out-of-this-world souvenirs. For tasty meats, road trip snacks, and a cowboy alien mural, plan a pit stop at E.T. Fresh Jerky.

If you don’t want to pilot your own craft, hop on a full-day tour of all the best Extraterrestrial Highway attractions (piloted by an actual ex-Air Force captain) with Area 51 Tours. The day trips leave from Las Vegas and include lunch, snacks, and more Area 51 stories and lore than you can shake your antennae at. 

Nevada National Security Sites Tours

The Nevada National Security Sites offer monthly tours that depart from the Atomic Museum in Las Vegas. Reservations open months in advance and fill up extremely fast, so pre-planning is key. While the visit doesn’t offer the chance to tour Area 51 itself, you can definitely get a sense of the martian-esque terrain as you tour more than 250 miles of the Nevada National Security Sites that are generally off-limits to the general public.

Las Vegas

Get a robust look at the history of Area 51 and Nevada’s atomic age without traveling out of Nevada’s biggest city. The Atomic Museum centers on the history of nuclear testing in the Silver State, while the “Atomic Nevada” exhibit at the Nevada State Museum–Las Vegas is always a favorite.

History of Area 51

At the start of the Cold War, the U.S. government began looking for the perfect location to use as a secret testing site for the U-2 spy plane. They identified a remote stretch of the Nevada desert and founded Area 51 in 1955. Over the years, the site would help test advanced aircraft and stealth bombers in a hyper-secret environment. However, the site’s desire for a low profile would ironically elevate it to becoming one of the planet’s most famous magnets for alleged extraterrestrial activity.

Alien Conspiracies & UFO Sightings at Area 51

Since the 1950s, skies near the site have produced countless reports of unidentified flying objects accelerating to high speeds or performing strange aerial maneuvers. Because the development of prototype aircraft was classified, many mystified people assumed the never-before-seen technology must have come from another planet. There have been no confirmed sightings of flying saucers or alien lifeforms at Area 51…yet.

However, conspiracy theories and claimed UFO sightings abound in Nevada. In 1989, Bob Lazar famously claimed he was part of a classified government project to reverse engineer alien spacecraft that was housed in Area 51. While Lazar was later discredited, it has sparked many conversations about extraterrestrial life and the secrets Area 51 may hold.

How Area 51 Got Its Name

While the origin of the name is unknown, Area 51 likely came from the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), which chose the site from a gridded, numbered map. Allegedly, in an effort to preserve the location’s secrecy, they chose a number not on the map, instead opting to place it next to Area 15 and flipping the digits.

Mentions of Area 51 have been found in declassified documents, while government agencies also refer to the base as Homey Airport and Groom Lake. When Area 51 was first established, Lockheed—one of the U.S. government’s major partners in top-secret aircraft and spy plane development—called the area Paradise Ranch in an attempt to attract workers to the project.