Day Trips to Area 51 from Las Vegas

Area 51 is a US military base that has been the subject of all sorts of theories, especially related to extraterrestrials, as for a long time the US government denied its existence. If you're thinking about what to see and do in Las Vegas, and want to do something different, you'll love this tour.

On this tour you'll get to see the secret Janet Airlines, which was also kept hidden for a long time; the Extraterrestrial Highway, where many UFO sightings have been reported; a National Park with strange trees and petroglyphs; the famous Little A'Le'Inn themed restaurant (and its delicious Alien burgers); the enigmatic Black Mailbox; and, of course, the perimeter of Area 51. While you won't be able to enter the facility, you will be able to get a little closer to the mystery that surrounds it.

The best option

Area 51 Day Trip from Las Vegas

Get to know the mysterious Area 51 on this professionally guided tour from Las Vegas.

Let them tell you the story behind this secret military base with a full experience including transfers.

From CAD 340 at Hellotickets

Exploring the inside of spooky Area 51 is possible and is best done with a guided tour from Las Vegas, just 130 kilometres from the city. With a professional guide, you can learn about all the theories that surround this secret military base and relate it to extraterrestrial life.

Thanks to the transfers included in this tour to Area 51 in groups of about 6 people, you can forget about looking for other ways to get to Area 51, located in the middle of the Nevada desert. This 10-hour tour includes lunch and snacks.

Recommended if... You want to get to know Area 51 in depth and understand why there is so much secrecy surrounding this place, but without the hassle of travelling there and back.

A tour to Area 51 costs around 200 Euros per person, and generally includes all transfers to and from the hotel, bottled water, snacks and lunch at the Little A'Le'Inn.

This is one of the best tours to do from Las Vegas, although it does not include an entrance fee to Area 51, as it is strictly forbidden to enter the site.

Another option is to book a private tour if you're travelling with a group of friends or family. The cost depends on the number of people on the tour, as the total cost is divided among the people on the tour.

On average, a private tour costs between 12,000 and 15,000 euros in total, and the more people (up to 6), the cheaper it is for everyone.

Area 51 tours from Las Vegas are full day tours, as there are several sights to see during the day, and it's best to take your time with each one. On average, the tour lasts between 8 and 10 hours, and starts very early, around 7 am, while the return to the hotel is between 3 and 5 pm.

So if you were planning on partying the night before, it's best to leave it for another day, even though the night tours of Las Vegas are so tempting.

Although the goal of this tour is to get you as close as possible to Area 51, you will see many things along the way that will arouse your curiosity and build suspense, perhaps revealing some of what is hidden.

The adventure begins when you are picked up from your hotel around 7am in a comfortable vehicle, usually a 4x4 or all-terrain vehicle.

Depending on the tour you book, you may be picked up at a meeting point instead of your hotel, as not all companies include all Las Vegas hotels in their itinerary. However, they will most likely pick you up very close to where you are staying and, at the end of the tour, drop you back at your hotel or at the agreed meeting point.

The places you will see during the tour to Area 51 are:

• The secret airline Janet Airlines
• Extraterrestrial Highway (Extraterrestrial Highway)
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Little A'Le'Inn Restaurant and Theme Motel
• The Black Mailbox
• The perimeter of Area 51

Here is a little bit about each of these places you will visit during the tour.

Visit to the Janet Airlines Ghost Airline at McCarran International Airport

The first thing you'll see on this tour is Las Vegas International Airport, where you'll meet an airline with an unknown name, commonly called "Janet Airlines", which is supposed to transport people working at Area 51. This airline has its own private terminal and does not sell flights to the public.

The word "Janet" is not a random name but stands for "Just Another Non-Existent Terminal", an acronym for the US Air Force's fleet of planes that operate in secret.

The pilots of Janet Airlines planes turn off their transponders to avoid detection and tracking. What is the reason for such secrecy?

Extraterrestrial Highway

Nevada State Route 375 is one of the least travelled routes in Nevada, and many people have reported sightings of UFOs in the vicinity. The route traverses a vast, lonely desert, far removed from settlements and human curiosity. For this reason, in addition to being close to Area 51, Nevada officially designated it as the "Extraterrestrial Highway".

There you can take a picture with the famous sign with alien figures of all kinds and the Nevada desert in the background. The sign is located at the intersection of the Extraterrestrial Highway and US-93 N.

The Extraterrestrial Highway is also home to the Alien Research Center, which you will recognise by the giant silver alien figure on the door. In addition to extraterrestrial research, they sell T-shirts with interesting designs and all kinds of souvenirs. Tours to Area 51 usually include a visit here.

Joshua Tree National Park

Along the Extraterrestrial Highway you'll come to Joshua Tree National Park, whose curious plants look like "mutant trees".

Actually, they are not trees, but cacti that resemble them (Yucca brevifolia), which is why they look so strange. But the really strange thing about these "trees" is that they only exist in this part of the world, the Mojave and Colorado deserts, and nowhere else. Coincidence?

Also very strange are the petroglyphs that were found in caves in this park. Extraterrestrial origin? No one knows, but there have been reports of a lot of extraterrestrial activity in the area.

Little A'Le'Inn Restaurant

At midday, before heading deeper into the desert to get closer to the perimeter of Area 51, you'll visit the famous Little A'Le'Inn restaurant and theme motel, where you'll recharge your batteries after a delicious lunch. Here you can sample the tasty Alien burger, whose delicious combination of ingredients is truly out of this world.

In addition to the curious décor, which features newspaper clippings of UFO sightings, the Little A'Le'Inn is a place where you can get lots of information about Area 51, aliens, and useful things like a map to find the secret facilities in the desert.

The enigmatic Black Mailbox

The last point on the itinerary before reaching the perimeter of Area 51 is a lonely mailbox on the side of the road in the middle of the desert, which receives letters from visitors from all over the world who want to get their message to the aliens.

There are many theories about the origin of that mailbox.

One says that its owner set it up in the belief that it would be easier to find for the mail, and another that it was established where many followers of the alien phenomenon used to meet to exchange knowledge and, perhaps, to organise expeditions to Area 51.

What is certain is that today it is full of messages addressed to extraterrestrials. You didn't read that wrong: it is believed that if you leave your message there, aliens will receive it. Fact or fiction? There is only one way to find out: leave your message for the aliens in the Black Mailbox. Will they respond?

Perimeter of Area 51

After an intense day that will surely have fired your imagination, it's time to get as close as possible to the top-secret military base known as Area 51. In the middle of the desert, far from the gaze of the curious (or so they thought for a long time), lies this mysterious base where nobody knows what's going on.

After the US government flatly denied its existence, it finally confirmed that a military base called the "Nevada Test and Training Range" is operating there. However, they never said what tests they conduct or why it is forbidden to enter.

When you approach the perimeter of Area 51, you will see that it is guarded by men dressed in black with guns, who are authorised to shoot you if you dare to enter. Getting close is dangerous, so the tour will take you only to the perimeter, which is 40 km from the base.

Area 51 is also known as Homey Airport or Groom Lake, the latter because it is located next to a salt flat of that name, where many sightings of unidentified flying objects have also been reported.

The Area 51 perimeter is the last stop on this tour. From there you will be taken back to your hotel or meeting point, where you will surely arrive eager to learn more about this great mystery.

A trip to Area 51 is a different way to get out of Las Vegas and experience the desert landscapes and stories that have fired the imagination of many people.

Without going any further, the series and films that have tried to unveil the mystery, such as Area 51, The Secret X-Files, Abigail and the Lost City, etc.

What happens in Area 51? No one knows, but surely after getting to know these mysterious scenarios, you will take away many stories to share and expand on by adding your own experience.

It is possible to tour Area 51 on your own, in your own car or by renting one. But hiring a tour from Las Vegas has many advantages.

One of the main advantages is that the tour guides can share with you many stories that you won't find published on the web. And when it comes to unravelling a mystery like Area 51, this is no longer an afterthought.

Plus, the opportunity to share with people as interested as you are in these mysteries will make the day all the more interesting.

On the other hand, you need an off-road car to get there without any problems, and it may take you a little longer to find the facilities. If you hire a tour, you'll have that sorted out.

It will also take much less time, as the companies offering these tours have years of experience and know their way around. Getting to Area 51 is not that easy, there's a reason it was hidden for so long.

It's always a good idea to hire a company with a track record and good references to ensure you get the best experience when visiting Area 51 and all the sights.

It's also important to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. The weather in Area 51 and Las Vegas is desert-like, with very little rainfall, and depending on when you go, it will either be very hot or cold.

Remember to use sunscreen, wear a hat or cap and drink plenty of water. The companies that provide these tours usually bring water, but it is always good to check to see if it will be enough for you.

Finally, follow the directions of your tour guide and respect the signs that prohibit access to Area 51, as it is illegal to enter the facilities and could get you into trouble.