11 Must-Know Tips for Driving the Extraterrestrial Highway

Last Updated on October 5, 2023

Ready to learn helpful tips for driving the Extraterrestrial Highway?

Las Vegas has a lot to offer: vibrant shows, plentiful casinos, museums, nightlife and pools. But 100 miles north of Las Vegas is a town called Rachel, which lies on the outskirts of the high security base, Area 51. Road tripping to this tiny town is an exciting way to get out of the city, see the Nevadan landscape, and – learn about aliens.

While spending 5 days in Vegas, My friends and I decided to really lean into the alien jokes when we did this highway road trip! We brought along the kitschiest alien gear we could find, and the night before going, we sat in our Vegas hotel room making ourselves tin foil hats. When in Rome, right? 

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Before Your Trip: Extraterrestrial Highway FAQ

From Las Vegas: Area 51 Full-Day Tour

Prefer not to drive yourself? You can also book a Day Trip to the Extraterrestrial Highway From Las Vegas! This full-day Area 51 tour includes a drive along the Extraterrestrial Highway, with stops at the infamous Black Mailbox (a meeting place for UFO enthusiasts), a stop at the perimeter of Area 51, and stops at other epic landmarks along the highway.

 The highly-rated tour includes pick up and drop off from your Las Vegas hotel, as well as a guide who shares interesting stories, and will indulge you in all the conspiracies surrounding Area 51 and the Extraterrestrial Highway. Plus, you’ll get to stop at the famous Little A’le’Inn for lunch!

BOOK: From Las Vegas: Area 51 Full-Day Tour

Tips for Driving the Extraterrestrial Highway in Nevada

1. Plan Your Extraterrestrial Highway Route

The stretch of Extraterrestrial Highway that most roadtrippers want to see is a short stretch that runs between the towns of Crystal Springs and Rachel, Nevada. Crystal Springs is the official start of the highway. This litttle town is a 1 hour and 45 minute drive from downtown Vegas.

Getting to the start of the Extraterrestrial Highway from Las Vegas is simple. Follow the US-93 North to the small town of Alamo. You can spend the night there to break up the trip, or continue on to the town of Crystal Springs, where the Extraterrestrial Highway starts. If you’ve got a GPS or mobile device, just pop in Crystal Springs as your destination.

Your first official E.T. Highway stop will be in Crystal Springs. There you’ll find a shop called E.T. Fresh Jerky (address is 12600 US-93, Hiko, NV 89017). As you leave the jerky shop, you’ll get off U.S. 93 and drive down the road that is right across from the shop.

The road will split, at which point go to the left to get onto Route 375. Slow down at this point, because there you’ll find the famous Extraterrestrial Highway Sign. This is the start of the highway (and a great photo opp!).

The official stretch of Extraterrestrial Highway that you’re going to drive is from this highway sign, to Rachel, Nevada. This stretch of highway only takes about 40 minutes to drive, but there’s lots of iconic stops that you’ll make along the way.

Most roadtrippers stop in Rachel, Nevada, and then turn back rather than drive onward. After Rachel, there aren’t many stops to make, and the only landmark to see is the second Extraterrestrial Highway sign, which is an hour long drive onward from Rachel. Since you’ll see the sign in Crystal Springs, there isn’t really any need to drive to the second one.

The drive is straightforward and the roads are good. We didn’t experience any traffic along our route.

2. Set Rachel, Nevada As Your Destination

Rachel is a very tiny town ( only about 50 people live there!) that’s about 60 kilometres down the highway. Rachel exists as a convenient rest stop along the highway for those wanting to learn more about Area 51 and extraterrestrials.

There, you’ll find the famous cafe, the Little A’Le’Inn. It’s an eccentric little bar full of kitsch and memorabilia. One of my favourite tips for driving the Extraterrestrial Highway is to sit in the cafe for a while, have a drink and a meal, and chat with locals who are likely to drop by!

3. Tank Up With Enough Gas

The Extraterrestrial Highway is long, with very few towns and communities along the way. After the town of Alamo, your next opportunity to fill up your car with gas will be 52 miles away.

When you pass through Alamo, make a quick stop to fill your tank to the max. This way you avoid any risk of running out of gas while you’re out of range of a gas station.

4. Start Your Extraterrestrial Highway Road Trip Early

Driving the Extraterrestrial Highway takes a full day. You’ll spend about 5 hours total driving, and a few hours out of the car experiencing stops along the way. Given this, one of the best tips for driving the Extraterrestrial Highway is to start your Alien Highway road trip early.

Be sure to hit the road first thing in the morning so that you get the most out of your day. If you don’t fancy a long day of driving, you can opt to stay in the Little A’Le’Inn (Rachel, Nevada) for a night! This breaks the drive up nicely into 2 days.

5. Pack Plenty of Snacks and Water

Your Extraterrestrial Highway day trip will be a big day! While there are some shops along the route, stretches in between can be long. So an important tip for driving the Extraterrestrial Highway is to be prepared with enough food and water for several hours.

Swing by a grocery or convenience store in Las Vegas before starting your journey. Stock up on water, because you’ll be out in the desert which can get very hot, particularly in the summer months. It’s also not a bad idea to grab sandwiches and other snacks.

You can plan to have a full meal at your last stop on the Extraterrestrial Highway, Rachel. There is a small bar there (more on this below!) that serves all meals of the day.

6. Be Prepared for Nevada Weather

Before heading out on your Alien Highway roadtrip, be prepared for the weather. The cold season in Nevada lasts for about 3 months, from November to February. During this time, weather is mild with an average daily high temperature below 11.°C (53°F).

The spring, summer, and fall months are much hotter. The hottest month of the year in Nevada is July, with an average high of 32°C (90°F) and low of 21°C (71°F). If you’re driving the Extraterrestrial Highway during the hottest months, make sure you’ve stocked plenty of water, sunscreen, and clothing for coverage to keep the intense sun off your skin.

7.Know the Best Stops on the Extraterrestrial Highway

One of the most important tips for driving the Extraterrestrial Highway is to know where to stop for all the kitschy fun! Most of these are roadside stops that are along the Alien Highway, and so they’re easy to spot on your drive. But it isn’t a bad idea to pin them on your map to make sure you don’t miss any of them.

E.T. Fresh Jerk

The first stop on your drive is E.T. Fresh Jerk, at the Intersection of U.S. 93 and the Extraterrestrial Highway. This unusual shop specializes in beef jerky, but also sells an array of souvenirs. Be sure to grab some of the E.T. Fresh Jerk to have as a midday snack later on.

The Extraterrestrial Highway Sign

You will find yourself pulling over often to snap pictures of the various photo ops while road-tripping the Extraterrestrial Highway. The first stop, E.T. Fresh Jerky has a hilarious extraterrestrial mural and giant sign, kicking off your photoshoot. Not much further down the driving route, you will encounter the first of the famous Extraterrestrial Highway signs.

Alien Research Center Gift Shop

Shortly after you turn onto the Extraterrestrial Highway, you’ll come to the Alien Research Center Gift Shop. This is a nice place to stretch your legs, grab something to drink, and look at some sci-fi themed merchandise. If for some reason the centre is closed, stop anyways to get a photo with the giant extraterrestrial statue that’s outside!

The Little A’Le’Inn

This is your final destination while road-tripping the Extraterrestrial Highway, and I guarantee you, it is worth the drive. This small bar, restaurant and motel is about all you’ll find in Rachel, Nevada. The town of Rachel is impossible to miss given it being the only civilization for miles. The Little A’Le’Inn is right off the Extraterrestrial Highway, easily identifiable with its expressive signage.

8. Have an Alien Burger at the Famous Little A’Le’Inn

When you reach The Little A’Le’Inn, you will be warmly welcomed by the bartender, and there might be some local Rachel dwellers enjoying a beer. After all the driving you are bound to be hungry, so make sure to get yourself the famous Alien Burger. You’ll easily spend an hour here, looking at all the decor and chatting with fellow patrons. If you really fall in love, you can check into the motel for the night!

9. Enjoy the Desert Views While Driving the Extraterrestrial Highway!

Throughout the drive up to Rachel, Nevada from Las Vegas, the desert views range from rocky, to mountainous, and flat. Most of the terrain is barren and unoccupied. A lack of population and tourism means that these highways, specifically Route 375, are eerily quiet. While road-tripping the Extraterrestrial Highway you may encounter only 3 other vehicles.

Accessing such a remote desert area will give you a sense of freedom and independence. Blast your favourite tunes, imagine your favourite road movie, enjoy watching the tumbleweeds bounce along, and of course, keep your eyes peeled for extraterrestrials, alien life, and UFOs. Just make sure you’ve filled up on fuel, because gas stations on an extraterrestrial highway road trip are scarce.

10. Chat Up Locals While Road-Tripping the E.T. Highway!

On this epic drive you’ll encounter curious tourists, serious UFO believers, hilarious costumes and quirky shop owners. Be sure to strike up conversations with those whom you encounter, because you might hear about an extraterrestrial encounter or two. Because of this regions proximity to Area 51, be sure to ask locals you encounter about this mysterious military base – they have stories to share!

Chatting with one of Rachel’s residents, I heard about black SUVs zooming out of the desert to arrest people who have ventured to close to Area 51. I also learned about the dedicated UFO enthusiasts, who camp out all night with their binoculars, keeping watch. These stories never run out, and add to the bizarre lore of this Nevada region. Rest assured most of those you encounter on your E.T. Highway road trip will be friendly and helpful!

11. Be Cautious of Area 51

There are lots of fun and friendly places to stop along the Extraterrestrial Highway. But it’s important to know that throughout this drive you are in close proximity to Area 51. This is a US government base, which the government calls the Nevada Test and Training Range. It’s a unit of the Nellis Air Force Base, and highly protected.

Attempting to enter the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis Air Force Base is illegal. If you venture too close to the area, expect security will warn you to go away or run the risk of prosecution. Therefore, one of the most key tips for driving the Extraterrestrial Highway is to keep your distance from Area 51.

It’s easy to avoid Area 51 because it is very well marked. You will see signs warning that you are near the base, and to stay away. As long as you respect the signage, you won’t have problems.

Final Thoughts: Tips for Driving the ET Highway

A road trip from Las Vegas to Rachel along the Extraterrestrial Highway is a great opportunity to get out of the city, enjoy the desert landscape, meet some great people, and pick up unique alien paraphernalia. But most of all, the trip is guaranteed to spur lots of laughs and memorable photos. The most important of all the tips for driving the Extraterrestrial Highway? Keep your eyes peeled for extraterrestrials at ALL times.