Area 51 Gate

Nestled 134 km north-northwest of Las Vegas, in southern Nevada is a top-secret military base brimming with myths of aliens and flying saucers, tales of government cover-ups, and whatnot. Officially a United States Air Force (USAF) unit called Groom Lake or Homey Airport, this mysterious site is used in the testing of innovative aircraft and weaponry. Come and uncover the mysteries of this tourist attraction! 

What to Know

Area 51 Gate is an open training range where military aircraft and weaponry are developed and tested. If you're an urban legends nerd, interested in uncovering secrets of alleged UFO sightings, this highly classified United States military installation should be on your bucket list! Back in 1955, as a part of the Nevada Test and Training Range setup, this place got dubbed "Paradise Ranch" by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin) to lure people to come work there. 

Nowadays, the base and the expansive Nevada Test and Training Range setup are under the umbrella of the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). Despite tight restrictions on satellite images of the area, Google Maps has been showing the base since 2018. You'll find the Area 51 Base entrance right next to the small towns of Rachel and Hiko, about 120 miles Northwest of Vegas. Photos are not allowed here.

How to Get There

This mysterious site is located at Nellis Air Force Base in the Nevada desert. The best way to get there is by booking a small-group Guided Tour of Area 51 which will pick you up from your hotel in Downtown Las Vegas and transport you to this symbol of the unknown. The tour features stops at Janet Airlines, the Alien Research Center, and the Black Mailbox which will help you unravel the mysteries. After your trip, you'll be treated to a hearty meal at the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel, Nevada, a locals' favorite! Book this tour now to find out why conspiracy theorists like Bob Lazar love this site! 

Best Time to Visit 

Spring and Autumn months are perfect for exploration of the Extraterrestrial Highway and the Nevada Desert as the weather tends to be comfortably cool. Summer is scorchingly hot and Winter can be harsh enough to get in the way of your road trip, so it's best to plan ahead and check the weather forecast before going on this mysterious adventure!

Highlights & Features

- Officially known as the Homey Airport or Groom Lake, this top-secret Air Force base has become a tourist hotspot (even though it's a restricted area) thanks to conspiracy theorists.

- Area 51 teems with tales of UFOs, aliens, flying saucers, and mysterious tech. But it's actually a site used by the US Air Force to test weapons and experimental aircraft.

- It's one of the most famous military bases featured in urban legends, pop culture, and shows like Doctor Who, The X-Files, and Agents of Shield.

- This site gained even more attention on the internet, becoming a popular theme of memes due to a Facebook event Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us whose mission was to raid the base and uncover secrets of extraterrestrial life hidden there.