What visitors can actually see
The appeal of this trip is the open Nevada desert, roadside alien culture, and the stories around a restricted military site. Public stops include the Extraterrestrial Highway sign, the Alien Research Center in Hiko and the Little A’Le’Inn in Rachel. You can stop for photographs, souvenirs and lunch while staying outside military land.
Choose the day for its landscapes and unusual stops. It is a long drive between attractions, so someone expecting a museum-style tour of aircraft or hangars will find the itinerary unsuitable. Keep the highway and café stops at the centre of your plan; any perimeter visit remains outside the base.
Sources: (Travel Nevada: Area 51 and public attractions)
| Option | What you get | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas guided day tourCheck Area 51 tour dates | About ten hours; selected-hotel transfers and lunch | An organised return trip with commentary |
| Highway sign and Alien Research Center | Public roadside photo and souvenir stops | A self-drive itinerary near Crystal Springs and Hiko |
| Little A’Le’Inn, Rachel | Alien-themed food, souvenirs, and accommodation | Lunch or a separately arranged overnight stop |
| Area 51 perimeter | Outside-boundary stop only | Visitors following the guide and all posted restrictions |
| Park MGM Las VegasCheck Park MGM rooms | Strip hotel with dining and pools | A city base before and after the desert day |
Can you visit or tour Area 51?
You cannot visit the base itself on a public sightseeing tour. A tour advertised as an Area 51 visit means the surrounding area and a stop at the perimeter. Follow all posted restrictions and the guide’s directions. Do not cross a boundary to improve a photograph or follow a map pin onto restricted land.
For a self-guided visit, the easiest plan is to stay with the public highway attractions. Decide where you will turn back before setting out, and avoid unfamiliar dirt roads. You can enjoy the desert scenery and Rachel’s alien-themed café without making a military boundary stop.
Sources: (Travel Nevada: access restrictions)
Area 51 tours from Las Vegas
Adventure Photo Tours’ Viator trip is an approximately ten-hour day with pickup and drop-off at selected Las Vegas hotels. The itinerary includes a viewing stop for Janet aircraft at the airport, desert scenery, the Extraterrestrial Highway, lunch at Little A’Le’Inn, the Black Mailbox location, and the Area 51 perimeter.
Lunch, snacks, bottled water, and live guide commentary are included. The listed maximum group size is six, and the trip requires a minimum number of participants to run. Confirm your hotel’s pickup eligibility and exact meeting instructions. Wear comfortable walking shoes, take sun protection, and bring a warm layer for cooler desert weather.
Sources: (Viator: Area 51 small-group tour details)
A self-guided Extraterrestrial Highway road trip
From Las Vegas, head towards Crystal Springs and State Route 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway. Make the highway sign and Alien Research Center your first planned stops, then continue to Rachel for the Little A’Le’Inn. If you want a longer journey, arrange an overnight stop before extending the drive towards Tonopah.
Refuel around Alamo or Ash Springs before joining the remote stretch and carry drinking water. Download your route, check opening hours, and keep a paper copy of the return directions. The practical habits of technology-free travel help here: save hotel confirmations and meeting instructions before you leave, so your day does not depend on getting a signal.
Sources: (Travel Nevada: Extraterrestrial Highway itinerary)
Comparing tour routes and inclusions
Compare the exact route rather than choosing by the Area 51 name alone. Check whether lunch, hotel transfers, water, and the perimeter stop are included, then look at group size and time on the road. A guided trip suits visitors who want commentary and transport organised; driving yourself gives you more control over café and photo stops.
For cost comparisons, use the final checkout total for your date and party. A self-drive budget needs a hire car, fuel, food and any overnight accommodation. Check cancellation terms and what happens if a guided departure fails to reach its minimum group size. Avoid reserving a timed evening show immediately after a full-day desert trip.
Where to stay before and after the tour
Stay in Las Vegas if you are taking the guided day trip and want to return to the same room. Park MGM is a specific Strip option with restaurants and pools, useful for the rest of your city stay. Confirm whether the operator collects from this property or assigns another meeting point before choosing your room around pickup.
Keep the night before departure easy so an early pickup is manageable. For a road trip, book Rachel’s Little A’Le’Inn separately or compare an onward night in Tonopah if you want more time in the region. Check the full route before deciding whether to return to Las Vegas or stay overnight along the way.
Plan for the drive as well as the stops
Keep the following day flexible after a long desert excursion. If you are building a wider Southwest itinerary, compare our Zion National Park guide and Bryce Canyon guide before adding another early departure. These are separate trips with their own driving time and park arrangements.
Download your route and save the meeting point before leaving Las Vegas. Our technology-free travel guide covers useful offline backups, while our traveling tips guide includes the booking and document checks to finish before departure. Save an offline map, check current road information and follow all posted restrictions.
Good questions, clear answers.
Can you tour inside Area 51?
No. Public tours cover the surrounding desert and the military perimeter. The base itself is closed to sightseeing visitors.
How long is the Area 51 tour from Las Vegas?
The Adventure Photo Tours product linked here lists approximately ten hours, with morning collection and a return to Las Vegas. Confirm the timing for your departure.
What does an Area 51 tour cost include?
The linked Viator trip includes selected-hotel transfers, guide commentary, lunch, snacks, and bottled water. Use the checkout total for your date, and check gratuities and cancellation terms.
Can you take an Area 51 self-guided tour?
You can drive the public Extraterrestrial Highway and visit roadside attractions around Hiko and Rachel. Plan fuel, water, and your return route in advance, and stay outside all restricted areas.
Book the desert day and your Las Vegas base
Check the small-group tour’s dates and selected-hotel pickup, then compare Park MGM rooms for your city stay. The trip visits the perimeter only.