Extraterrestrial Highway Road Trip Guide
Southeastern terminus: junction with US-93 at Crystal Springs (near Ash Springs), about 90 miles north of Las Vegas. Northwestern terminus: junction with US-6 at Warm Springs. · Nevada State Route 375 is 98 miles (158 km) end to end. A typical round trip from Las Vegas via US-93 (and back) runs about 250-300 miles depending on detours.
Route at a Glance
Distance
Nevada State Route 375 is 98 miles (158 km) end to end. A typical round trip from Las Vegas via US-93 (and back) runs about 250-300 miles depending on detours.
Drive time
SR-375 itself takes roughly 1.5-2 hours nonstop at the 70 mph limit. Allow a full day (8-10 hours) from Las Vegas with stops at Rachel, the Black Mailbox, and the Groom Lake Road / Area 51 back-gate detour.
Route
Southeastern terminus: junction with US-93 at Crystal Springs (near Ash Springs), about 90 miles north of Las Vegas. Northwestern terminus: junction with US-6 at Warm Springs.
Which way to drive
Most travelers drive southeast to northwest, starting at the US-93 junction at Crystal Springs and heading toward Rachel, then continuing to the US-6 junction at Warm Springs. Either direction works; the road has gentle grades and no one-way advantage. Running it in the afternoon with the sun behind you opens up the Tikaboo Valley views ahead.
About the Extraterrestrial Highway Drive
The Extraterrestrial Highway (Nevada State Route 375) runs 98 miles through the Nevada desert between Crystal Springs (at US-93) and Warm Springs (at US-6), skirting the northern boundary of the Nevada Test and Training Range — home to the classified Area 51 facility. Officially designated in 1996 after decades of UFO sighting reports, the road passes through one of the emptiest landscapes in the Lower 48. Rachel (population approximately 50), at mile marker 29, is the only settlement — home to the Little A'Le'Inn, a UFO-themed restaurant and motel. The Black Mailbox (now white, at the junction of Route 375 and Groom Lake Road near mile marker 29.5) is where UFO watchers gather at night to scan the sky above Groom Lake. The surrounding Tikaboo Valley offers views of the Pahranagat Range and Joshua tree forests. The restricted Area 51 perimeter — marked by warning signs and motion sensors — is visible down Groom Lake Road but entering is illegal.
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explore by interest
Major Stops Along the Route
- 1Crystal Springs (US-93 junction) — Southeastern start of SR-375. No services; fuel up in Alamo or Ash Springs, roughly 15 miles south, before turning onto the route.
- 2Black Mailbox site — About 19-20 miles in, near mile marker LN 29.5. The mailbox owned by rancher Steve Medlin became a UFO-watching landmark (the original has since been removed/replaced). Marks the turnoff toward Area 51's back gates via Groom Lake Road.
- 3Groom Lake Road / Area 51 boundary — Unpaved dirt road off SR-375 runs about 13 miles to the guarded perimeter. Photography is prohibited at the boundary, which is monitored by cameras and sensors. Do not cross the posted restricted-area signs.
- 4Coyote Summit — High point of the route at roughly 5,591 ft, on the climb between Crystal Springs and Rachel. Open valley and mountain views.
- 5Rachel — Only town on the route, near mile marker LN 34. Population around 50. Home of the Little A'Le'Inn (rooms and diner; fuel is intermittent). Last reliable food and lodging on the highway.
- 6Extraterrestrial Highway sign — Nevada officially named SR-375 the Extraterrestrial Highway in 1996. The metal sign near Rachel is the classic photo stop, usually covered in stickers.
- 7Warm Springs (US-6 junction) — Northwestern terminus. Abandoned former resort/cafe; no services. From here US-6 leads west to Tonopah (about 50 miles) or east toward Ely.
Don't-Miss Sights Along Extraterrestrial Highway
- •Little A'Le'Inn (Rachel, mile marker 29) — the only business for 100 miles in either direction, a UFO-themed diner and motel covered in alien memorabilia and signed dollar bills
- •Black Mailbox (mile marker 29.5) — the legendary roadside mailbox (now a white steel box) where UFO enthusiasts gather after dark to watch for lights above Area 51
- •Area 51 perimeter — Groom Lake Road intersects Route 375 near Rachel, leading to the restricted military boundary marked by warning signs and camera-equipped poles
- •Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge — a chain of desert lakes and marshes near the eastern end of the highway, home to migrating waterfowl in an impossibly dry landscape
Best Viewpoints
- •Coyote Summit (~5,591 ft) for wide open valley and range views
- •Tikaboo Valley near the Black Mailbox, looking toward the Groom Range that shields Area 51
- •Hancock Summit area, the closest public viewpoint toward the Area 51 boundary
- •The open straightaway approaching Rachel, framed by distant ranges
- •Night sky anywhere along the route - among the darkest skies in the lower 48, excellent for stargazing
Worthwhile Detours off Extraterrestrial Highway
- •Coyote Summit — a high point along the highway near mile marker 60 with expansive views of the empty basin-and-range landscape and excellent stargazing after dark
- •Hancock Summit — the highest point on the highway at approximately 6,438 feet near the western end, with Joshua tree forests and views of the Reveille Range
Fuel, Food & Services
Major fuel gap: no guaranteed gas on the 98-mile highway. Fill up in Alamo or Ash Springs (southeast end) or Tonopah (northwest end, via US-6). The Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel serves food and has rooms, but fuel is intermittent - do not rely on it. Carry water; summer temperatures exceed 100 F.
Road Conditions
Two-lane paved asphalt, generally straight with long sightlines and gentle grades; no tunnels or hairpins. Speed limit 70 mph. Open-range cattle and free-roaming wildlife create a serious collision risk, especially at dawn, dusk, and night - watch for cattle on the roadbed. Cell coverage is essentially nonexistent across most of the route. Side roads (Groom Lake Road, Mailbox Road) are unpaved, washboarded dirt. Do not photograph or approach the Area 51 perimeter.
Best Season to Drive
Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) for mild temperatures. Summer brings extreme heat over 100 F; carry extra water and check tires. Winter is passable but can see snow and ice at the higher summits. The highway has no formal seasonal closures.
RVs & Trailers
The paved SR-375 is suitable for RVs, trailers, and all passenger vehicles - it is flat, wide, and straight with no length or weight restrictions. There are no RV hookups on the highway itself; nearest services are in Tonopah or Las Vegas. The unpaved side roads toward Area 51 are not recommended for low-clearance cars or trailers.
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