Extraterrestrial Highway: Everything You Need to See and Know about the Alien-Themed Highway

Many UFO enthusiasts know US State Route 375 by its more popular name, Extraterrestrial Highway. Located in the state of Nevada, this route stretches from State Route 318 at Crystal Springs northwest to US Route 6 at Warm Springs. The Extraterrestrial Highway is also the route close to the infamous Area 51 government base.

Those who have traveled down this route have also reported seeing UFOs in the area. Since the route got its popular moniker, stops along the Extraterrestrial Highway have embraced its alien theme. At the heart of this famous route is the city of Rachel, Nevada. It’s a small town, with a population was 48 (as of the 2020 census), but it’s a must-stop for alien enthusiasts.

The 98-mile stretch of road can be a great road trip as you’ll get to see the Nevada landscape, too. There are some truly stunning desert scapes that will make for some incredible photos (as you see below). So, if you’re ever looking for a fun and quirky road trip north of Las Vegas, here’s what you can expect and the must-see locations along the way. 

A Dive into the History of Extraterrestrial Highway

In 1932, an unimproved road emerged that matched the same alignment as State Route 375 today. At the time, the route was dubbed State Route 25A, which connected Crystal Springs to the then-State Route 4 east of Tonopah. A year later, in 1933, State Route 25A was renumbered to become a western segment of State Route 25. This route was occasionally realigned over the next few years. But despite the realignment, the terminal junctions in this highway remained intact.

In 1942, State Route 25 appeared to have a gap in its route. This is because the state maps at the time showed a large area within the Nye and Lincoln Counties where all the roads were removed. The route existed in one piece again by 1946 but was realigned northward and shortened to 179 kilometers.

The Restriction of “Area 51”

A portion of State Route 25, which passed through the Tonopah US Army Air Force Bombing Range, was restricted from the public by 1950. This range is known today as the Nellis Air Force Range and Nevada Test Site. It’s also been referred to by the popular nickname Area 51.

The restricted section in question was around the same area that was removed back in 1942. To avoid the bombing range, the west end of State Route 25 was realigned in 1957. This highway connected to US Route 6 at Warm Springs, which is around 60 kilometers east of the previous terminal. It headed north around the Reveille Range instead of the Kawich Range, which was within the bombing area.

It was in the 1957 realignment that the route of State Route 25 was finalized. The entire highway was paved by 1958. The route would also remain intact until 1976, when Nevada’s state highways were once again renumbered. The western section of State Route 25 became State Route 375.

How State Route 375 Became the Extraterrestrial Highway

As to how this state route got its famous name, it all started in 1989 with an engineer Bob Lazar. Lazar claimed that he worked on alien spacecraft and that he watched flying saucer test flights in Tikaboo Valley. He told his story to a television station in Las Vegas, and it was later broadcast as an exclusive report. Take a look at clip from the segment below.

The 1990s saw the mainstream emergence of the Area 51 government base, along with the books and accounts of sightings of alien spacecraft and activity in the area. Rachel, the town being the closest area to the top secret base, also attracted alien enthusiasts to visit the town. This led the Nevada Commission on Tourism to rename the highway.

Alien Legends Led to the Rebranding of State Route 375

The alien legends inspired state officials, and in February 1996, State Route 375 was named the Extraterrestrial Highway. The state’s tourism commission hoped that renaming the route would “draw travelers to the austere and remote reaches of south-central Nevada.” They cited the old atomic bomb testing sites, secret airstrips of the US Defense Department, and portions of military land that helped “create a marketable mystique.”

The route’s renaming caught the attention of then-20th Century Fox, using the route’s renaming as an opportunity to promote the film Independence Day. The film’s plot coincidentally involves an alien invasion and the secret Area 51 facility. A few months after the route’s renaming, in April 1996, a public dedication ceremony was held in Rachel. Among those who were present at the ceremony were state officials, studio executives, and some of the Independence Day cast.

Then-Nevada Governor Bob Miller presided over the ceremony and unveiled the special signs for the new highway. The signs included “Extraterrestrial Highway 375” and “Speed Limit Warp 7” for the highway.

The Journey Begins: Las Vegas to Tonopah

If you’re going on a road trip along the Extraterrestrial Highway, then your journey will most likely begin from Las Vegas. This city would become the starting point of your road trip as you drive down the famed highway. The journey will also include a night’s stop at either Rachel or Tonopah. Travel Nevada highly recommends staying in one of the two towns for a better experience.

During the journey, there’s time to stop for gas at Alamo or Ash Springs. This is because the next gas station would be at the Alien Cowpoke in Rachel. Travel one mile further west to the iconic Extraterrestrial Highway sign, then enter State Route 375. You won’t be able to miss the Alien Research Center on the way. The same can be said for the infamous Black Mailbox, or the Little A’Le’inn in Rachel.

There are more activities to join in when arriving in Tonopah. Aside from embracing everything alien and outer space, Tonopah has some exciting tourist attractions like the Central Nevada Museum, the Tonopah Historic Mining Park, and the Belmont Ghost Town.

Tonopah will become the starting point if you’re traveling the Extraterrestrial Highway the other way around.

Major Attractions along the Extraterrestrial Highway

The fun in traveling down the Extraterrestrial Highway is in all the tourist attractions in store. These attractions have drawn many UFO enthusiasts to visit the famed route. Here are some of the sites you can visit while traveling down the Extraterrestrial Highway.

Lunar Crater National Natural Landmark

If you ever decide to go a little beyond the Extraterrestrial Highway, you’ll find this space-themed attraction. A UFO didn’t actually form the Lunar Crater National Natural Landmark. Rather, this volcanic landmark was named that way because it resembled the moon’s surface.

Death Valley Inn

If you’re opting to break up your road trip on the Extraterrestrial Highway into two days, booking overnight accommodation is the way to go. Aside from the Little A’Le’Inn, which we’ll get to later, there’s also the Death Valley Inn. It’s located less than 10 miles from the national park itself.

Alien Research Center

The Alien Research Center in Hiko, Nevada, is another popular stop along the Extraterrestrial Highway. Despite its name, this is more of a gift shop. The Alien Research Center has a lot of alien-themed souvenirs but also has the actual research area. It’s also quite hard to miss because of the giant silver alien in front of it.

Area 51

Alright. You can’t really stop at Area 51. The area is a unit of the Nevada Test and Training Range at the Nellis Air Force Base. And while the top-secret facility is the most famous location along the route, it’s on government property, and trespassing is illegal.

While it might seem tempting to try and stop by this place, avoid doing so. Though, if you’re determined, there are some hiking trails in the vicinity that would get you close. Just make sure you stay aware of local wildlife, if you need help, you’re far from it.

Tikaboo Peak

Speaking of those hikiking trails, they’re located at Tikaboo Peak. This particular hiking trail, which brings you to the top of Tikaboo Peak, is the only legal way you can “see” Area 51, which is in the distance once you get to the top of the peak.

You better have good hiking shoes ready if you are, because hiking this trail will take around two hours.

Little A’Le’Inn

In case you’re feeling hungry, there’s the famous Little A’Le’Inn in the Extraterrestrial Highway. The diner fully embraces the alien theme, and it has a gift shop where you can buy more alien-themed merchandise. If you manage to talk to the staff, they’re bound to tell you many stories.

As far as the food there, it’s typical dinner food along with a bar. You can grab a burger, sandwich, hot dog, or salad, along with a few other options (and a nice breakfast selection as well). It’s a hot spot for tuckers to stop as well, as there aren’t many spots to stop along the route if needed.

I myself have stopped by there before, and I absolutely loved it. It may seem underwhelming on the approach, as it’s essentially in a trailer. But it’s still one of my favorite memories. And, when I visited, they had an ET Highway sign close by for a great photo op and a UFO on the back of a wrecker – which makes for another great photo.

Rachel, Nevada: The Heart of the Extraterrestrial Highway

Let’s talk a little more about the history of Rachel, Nevada. At the heart of the Extraterrestrial Highway is the town of Rachel in Lincoln County. Because it is the closest settlement to the infamous Area 51, it’s been the place that many UFO enthusiasts travel to.

Rachel was founded in May 1973 by a local farmer named DC Day. It was first known as Tempiute Village and later Sand Springs. It was renamed to Rachel on February 15, 1978, after the first baby, Rachel Jones, was born in the area.

A little over a month later, on March 22, 1978, electricity arrived in the Sand Springs Valley. The electricity was provided to Rachel by the Penoyer Valley Electric Cooperative. The only church in the town, the Rachel Baptist Mission, started its service in 1980.

Because of its proximity to Area 51, the town received an influx of UFO hunters, especially at the time leading up to the “Storm Area 51” raid event. Swathes of people were reported to show up at Rachel and camped around in preparation for the raid, which all stemmed from a Facebook post in 2019.

Rachel has also embraced its association with the extraterrestrial with its tourist shop and the Little A’Le’Inn diner. In 1996, the producers of Independence Day gave the town a time capsule to be opened in 2050. The town has also been featured in Louis Theroux’s Weird Weekends and referenced in a two-part episode of The X-Files.

The Black Mailbox: An Iconic Symbol of Alien Enthusiasts

Between Alamo and Rachel, Nevada, on Extraterrestrial Highway, is the iconic Black Mailbox. It’s one of the two lone mailboxes on a deserted stretch of road between the two towns. One mailbox was labeled “Steve Medlin,” and the other mailbox was labeled “Alien.” The black mailbox caught the attention of UFO hunters simply because of its proximity to Area 51.

The alleged former Area 51 employee Bob Lazar said he would bring people to the spot to see scheduled flights for alien spacecraft. Since that claim, the Black Mailbox has become a popular meeting place for UFO hunters over the years. Others come to see the mailbox itself, while others camped near the mailbox in the hopes of spotting alien life.

Despite reports of alleged sightings of strange lights along with other indicators, the mailbox’s owner, Steve Medlin, thinks otherwise. Medlin doesn’t believe that aliens are involved with the sightings. Over time, the box has been painted white and shuttered with padlocks. This was due to UFO hunters trying to steal the mailbox and even firing guns at it.

The original mailbox has been gone since 2015 (it was originally white). A more ordinary-looking black mailbox has replaced it. Its owner has seemingly abandoned it. Today, that black mailbox contains random items and notes to aliens.

Tips for Your Road Trip on Extraterrestrial Highway

What to remember when traveling the Extraterrestrial Highway is pretty much the same as going on any other trip. Make sure to plan your route before anything else. The best time to drive down the Extraterrestrial Highway is first thing in the morning. This is because driving to and down the famed route takes most of the day, with around five hours of driving with a few hours in between to visit the attractions.

But if you prefer breaking up your road trip into two days, you can stay overnight at an accommodation in the area.

Also, make sure to fill your car up with enough gas, as there are very few towns and communities along the highway. If you see a gas station, stop and get gas. That was our mentality when we visited. If you’re already on the road, refill your tank at Alamo, as the next chance to fill your car with gas is 52 miles away.

Naturally, be prepared for Nevada weather when you go on a road trip. The cold season in Nevada takes place from November to February. If you’re going on a road trip during the hotter months of the year, stock up on water, apply sunscreen often, and keep yourself covered for further protection.

Because you’ll be on the road the whole day, be sure to stock up on snacks, too, in case you get hungry. If you’re starting out from Las Vegas, stop by a convenience store to pick up what you need before you get out into the desert. But you can plan to have a full meal when you reach a small bar at Rachel, Nevada, as your last stop. 

Enjoy the trip! It’s one of the most fun and quirky road trips I’ve ever taken!