Whether you’re looking for proof of life beyond earth or for a quirky adventure, the Extraterrestrial Highway is a great road trip through the unknown. It is close to Las Vegas and should be added to your bucket list when exploring the Nevada desert. For locals, this is a great quick getaway. We love stopping at weird roadside attractions, so this became a must for us. Before you head out on any road trip make sure you do a basic check of your car: good tires, full oil, etc. and make sure you have travel insurance for all of your travel needs. Read our blog for a pre-road trip checklist.
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What is the Extraterrestrial Highway
The Extraterrestrial Highway runs 98 miles along Route 375. You’ll be driving right next to the Nevada Test and Training Range, which is where the infamous Area 51 is located. Along the way, you’ll find spots dedicated to alien lifeforms, a ton of open desert, and maybe a glimpse of some UFOs in the skies. This definitely is an alien adventure in the desert.
Why is it called the Extraterrestrial Highway?
Twentieth Century Fox is responsible for that. The area had already been known for paranormal activity and alien sightings, so in 1996, to help promote the movie, Independence Day. There was an official public dedication ceremony was held in Rachel, Nevada to dub the highway’s new name.
Directions: Getting to the Extraterrestrial Highway is easy. From Las Vegas, head north I-15 N. Continue onto U.S. 93 and follow that for roughly 107 miles. You’ll see ET Fresh Jerky on your right, which is the start of the highway. The official starting point of the highway is 12600 US-93 Hiko, NV 89017
On the Way to the Extra-Terrestrial Highway
Just before arriving at the first stop, you’ll drive through the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. It’s a great place for birding. Thousands of migratory birds stop here, so birders will be in their glory. There are also a few hiking trails and pull-offs to explore.
If you’re trying to get a peek at Area 51, you can summit Tikaboo Peak which gives a view of Groom Lake from 26 miles away. It’s one of the only places where you can legally see the base. Keep in mind that you need a 4WD vehicle to get there, the road is mostly sand so don’t try it unless you have 4WD, otherwise the 1.2-mile one-way hike will turn into close to 25 miles. Make sure you do some investigating before you try this, so you are well prepared for the journey.
Alamo is a small town right past Pahranagat and a good spot to get gas if you’re low. Remember that you’ll be driving long stretches with nowhere to fill up.
Best Stops on the Extraterrestrial Highway
1. ET Fresh Jerky
The first stop on your journey into the unknown is ET Fresh Jerky, where they sell all types of jerkies (even the invisible kind). You really should try some and it makes a great snack for your trip. While you’re there you may want to use the facilities since it will be a while before you come to the next stop. Be sure to check out the different articles they have posted on the walls about UFO sightings, and if you have any questions about your trip, the cashier is more than happy to give their opinions. For your memories make sure you get a photo of the mural outside. This is located at 12600 US-93, Hiko, NV 89017.
2. Extraterrestrial Highway Sign
As you leave the jerky shop, you’ll get off U.S. 93 and drive down the road straight across from the shop. Shortly after the road will split, and you’ll veer left onto Route 375 but don’t go too fast and miss the sign. Right before the fork you can pull off and you’ll find the sign marking the Extraterrestrial Highway. It’s a fun photo op to help you remember your journey and there are a few picnic tables under large trees if you want to hang out longer. If you want, you can picnic here, but I would wait to eat when you get to Rachael and enjoy some alien burgers.
3. Alien Research Center
The next stop is hard to miss because a massive silver alien is there to greet you at the entrance. The Alien Research Center is a bit misleading in name since it’s more of a souvenir shop than a research facility, but it’s still fun to browse and get a photo op. They have a huge selection of Area 51, UFO, and alien-related books, gifts, and more. I don’t know about you, but I love the touristy-type shops anywhere I go. The address is:100 NV-375, Hiko, NV 89017.
4. The Black Mailbox
If you’ve never heard of the Black Mailbox, it’s a lone mailbox with no home or owner in sight. Over the years it has become a popular meeting spot. People who are looking for anything extraterrestrial will bring gifts and letters in hopes that aliens will check it. It’s actually owned by rancher Steve Medlin. At one point it was taken down either from theft or because the owner was tired of the vandalism. He even added a smaller mailbox labeled ‘aliens’, but even with that, people still vandalize it and have even stolen it. Please be respectful and don’t vandalize the mailbox so other alien lovers can enjoy it in the future.
5. Area 51
First, Area 51 is an active military site and trespassing is illegal. You can try to drive to the back gate near Rachel, NV but you’ll only see no trespassing signs and might even have a visit from the guards telling you to turn back. You might get to see the gate from a distance, but personally, I wouldn’t risk it. You can do some photo ops near there, but it’s really not worth messing with the government.
6. Rachel, NV
Rachel, Nevada is the closest town to Area 51 so naturally, it has gained popularity amongst UFO spotters. The population here hovers around 50 permanent residents. Most of those folks are ranchers, but some cater to the curious travelers who want to get as close as they can to Area 51 from Las Vegas.
The Little A’Le’Inn not only has hotel rooms but also offers camping and RV sites. Enjoy some wonderful food and “out of this world” souvenirs in the gift shop. This is a must stop even if you’re not spending the night, you can grab a great meal here. And don’t forget all the photo ops here. Right outside, you’ll find a time capsule put in during the Independence Day / Extraterrestrial Highway renaming ceremony.
Alien Cowpoke Gas & General Store This random little spot in Rachel is a good place to stock up on some water and gas if the pumps are working. There’s a creepy car with aliens and maybe dead bodies inside and maybe other surprises. This for sure is worth it for the photos. There is a small gift shop here. When talking about an alien adventure, this is definitely the place to make you wonder if there are aliens in the Nevada desert!
This is the last official stop on the Extraterrestrial Highway. If you drive to the end of Route 375, you’ll find another similar ET Highway sign. If you don’t plan on checking out any other spots, head back to Las Vegas or check out some other spots further north (see below).
Exploring Beyond the Extraterrestrial Highway
Since you made it this far, why not explore some other areas. Here are two options that may be of interest to you.
Option 1: Great Basin Highway
After arriving in Rachel, you can go back to U.S. 93 and continue up the Great Basin Highway. This takes you further north so if you want to get back to Las Vegas sooner but want to still explore on your way back, you can do the southern route.
Cathedral Gorge State Park – One of the hidden gems in Nevada with beautiful rock formations and “slot canyons”. If you’re not a hiker, this may not be for you as there is no road through the park.
Ward Charcoal Ovens State History Park – A great spot for photography and astrophotography. These unique “ovens” are a fun stop! It is a great place for photos and making memories.
Great Basin National Park – Lehman Caves and Wheeler Peak, the second tallest peak in Nevada are two of the amazing things you can see here. There’s plenty of hiking and beautiful views here.
Option 2: Free-Range Art Highway
From Rachael, continue to the end of Route 275 then drive to Tonopah where you can loop back to Las Vegas.
Tonopah – Old mining town with a brewery, the famous Clown Motel which is known as one of the scariest hotels in the US, the Mizpah Hotel, which was voted the #1 Haunted hotel, a mining museum and more. If you like unusual and history this is a great stop for you.
International Car Forest of the Last Church – Image a junkyard of cars but make it art. This is one of those stops that you kind of go Why? but then it is really awesome. Great stop with tons of photo ops.
Beatty, NV What goes better with an old gold mining town than a herd of friendly wild burros? The unofficial welcoming committee and purveyors of Beatty culture, your trip to the historic Bullfrog Mining District is incomplete without crossing paths with at least one of the dozens of wild donkeys—or in Nevada, we like to call them burros—roaming the streets in and around downtown Beatty.
Eddie World – A gas station and amazing candy shop in Beatty where we like to load up on beaucoup candy. Who doesn’t like finding unusual candy?
Rhyolite Ghost Town – this old town sits just off the highway to Death Valley National Park. Not only is Rhyolite packed with plenty to do, it also boasts some of the West’s most iconic ruins.
Albert Szukalski’s Last Supper-Twelve plaster figures inspired by da Vinci’s famed painting haunt the desert landscape. Talk about mysteries in the desert. The hillside below Daylight Pass, just beyond the ghost town of Rhyolite, is decorated by a congregation of menacing, hooded figures that strikingly resemble Death himself, huddling together against the desert’s void.
If you have even more time to spare, head over to Death Valley. If not, then you can head back to Las Vegas.
Conclusion
As you can see, traveling the Extra-Terrestrial Highway in Nevada can be a wonderful experience. Not only are there a lot of fun things to do, but you can also make some adventures of your own while exploring this other worldly area. If you love exploring new places and are interested in history, this is a great trip. Be sure to read all the information you find in the tourist stops as there is some really interesting information. If you get a chance, talk to some of the locals wherever you go, you never know what kind of great stories you may hear.
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