Route 375 cuts through a desolate part of Nevada’s Mojave Desert. Created in 1933, the lightly trafficked road is most famous for skirting secret military bases nestled in the desert. Coupled with the desolation, this has led to an above-average rate of extraterrestrial sightings.
Sensing a tourism opportunity, Nevada opted to capitalize on these alien sightings in the 90s by officially designating the road as the Extraterrestrial Highway.
The road runs about 98 miles from Warm Springs, NV to Crystal Springs, NV.
I’ve created the perfect guide to accompany a trip down the highway. Don your tinfoil hats, grab your binoculars and buckle up!
Our journey starts at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.
Grab a rental and leave the neon of The Strip for the desert.
You’ll be on Interstate 15 for about 50 miles before the first stop. While it’s not affiliated with extraterrestrial beings, the site houses some cool natural features, so it’s worth the detour!
Arrow Canyon / Warm Springs Natural Area
Arrow Canyon is a slot canyon about an hour away from Las Vegas.
Just a little off the route to the Extraterrestrial Highway, an 8-mile hike along the Muddy River leads to the canyon. This hike is time-consuming, so if you’ve already seen slot canyons, this one probably isn’t worth a stop.
For a faster exploration of the area, nearby Warm Springs Natural Area encases a 1,250-acre oasis. Included in it is the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which exists to protect the Moapa dace and seven other species found only in the area. The headwaters sit at a warm 90 degrees, but access to the water is not allowed.
All of this to say, the natural area has a 1/2-mile trail around the oasis.
Tikaboo Mountain
The only place you can (legally) gaze into Area 51 is the 8,000-foot Tikaboo Peak.
It’s quite a diversion from the route, but I consider this worth it. From Warm Springs Natural Area to the trailhead, it’s about an hour and 42 minutes.
The roundtrip hike to the summit is about 3 miles. The trail climbs about 1,250 feet, so it’s not exactly easy. If you do decide to attempt this one-of-a-kind view, be sure to account for the heat and bring plenty of water.
Alien Research Center
Ok, we’re done with diversions for now! After a busy morning, I think it’s time to actually start on the Extraterrestrial Highway.
Just over an hour from Tikaboo Peak is the Alien Research Center, which fittingly marks the official start of the highway.
At the diverging point of NV-375 and 318 sits the road sign welcoming you to the Extraterrestrial Highway.
Less than a mile down the road is the Alien Research Center. Guarded by a towering alien, the “Research Center” is almost exclusively dedicated to souvenirs. Arguably the most popular item is alien jerky! What better snack to accompany a trip down the highway!?
The Black Mailbox
Just 15 minutes down the Extraterrestrial Highway at the intersection of Mailbox Road, this mysterious mailbox sits quietly along the road. I’m pretty sure it serves no real purpose, but has cemented itself as an iconic part of the highway.
According to Atlas Obscura, an Area 51 employee used to use the mailbox as a meeting place for people wanting to watch the US test “reverse-engineered UFOs.” I don’t necessarily think this was true, but I could imagine that a defected military officer saw an opportunity to capitalize on the government’s testing of new aircraft.
Since then, it’s become known as a gathering place for those interested in the extraterrestrial and a prime spot for photos along the drive.
Unfortunately, people tend to steal the mailbox. If you have a lot of trouble finding it, it may be gone.
Rachel, Nevada
The main draw of this tiny desert town is the Little A’Le’Inn. A hotel/restaurant combination, this place is about 20 minutes from the Black Mailbox.
Guarded by a pickup truck lugging a UFO, this is a great spot to get some local alien encounter stories. Be sure to also ask about some recommendations on where to see extraterrestrial activity!
Warm Springs
From Little A’Le’Inn, it’s about an hour to the ghost town of Warm Springs. I wish I could pack this hour full of adventures, but there’s not much to do along the way.
The monotonous straight road will seem like it never ends.
As someone who grew up on the East Coast, we don’t have desolation like this.
From my Google Maps stalking, which you can see above, I did find a few things to spot as you drive by!
Approaching Warm Springs, there’s a salt flat on the right:
…and some cool rock formations on the left:
According to Atlas Obscura, the road also passes the point in the continental U.S. where you’re farthest from a McDonald’s restaurant!
Talk about being remote!
Just when you think you’ve finally made it back to civilization, the ghost town of Warm Springs will convince you otherwise.
Warm Springs had its heyday back in the 1920s, when its post office was open. In the 1940s the dwindling town’s population hit nine people.
Whether it’s worth a stop is up to you. There are a few abandoned buildings (though they don’t fit the whole ‘ghost town’ aesthetic) and you can technically trespass to swim in the spring.
If anything, take a photo next to the abandoned building displaying itself as “Warm Springs Bar & Cafe” and poke around the unfenced area to see the water flowing from the spring and into the abandoned pool.
More importantly, this town signifies the end of the Extraterrestrial Highway…
…but our adventure isn’t over yet!
Lunar Crater
Turning east onto US-6, you’ll drive about thirty miles before reaching a turnoff onto an unpaved road. Please don’t attempt this is your car isn’t suited for offroad conditions.
Following the dusty, rocky road will lead you to the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field National Natural Memorial. Operated by the Bureau of Land Management, this 400-foot crater was created from volcanic activity a long time ago.
When a volcano erupted close to ground level, the hole it created filled with water. After mixing with magma and hardening, it left behind this massive crater.
In the vein of our ‘extraterrestrial’ themed trip, NASA used the site to train astronauts before sending them to the moon in the 1960s! According to Travel Nevada, the site looks very similar to craters found on the moon.
The rest of the area has some other cool mountains, 20 extinct volcanoes and even remnants of lava flow in black rock scattered around.
Tonopah, Nevada
Just under 73 miles west on US-6 is the area’s largest town. Tonopah is home to just under 2,000 people and has a rich history in mining.
The Tonopah Historic Mining Park holds a preserved 1900s-era silver mine across its 100 acres.
Covering over 100 acres, the park preserves four sections of the old mine. You can peer down into mine shafts, examine old mining equipment and walk through the old mining tunnels.
The Mining Park also has a short trail you can hike to see an overlook of the town. Admission to the park is only $5/person.
Now here’s where the real fun begins.
If you’re planning to stay the night, which you should be, there are two options.
You can play it safe with the Mizpah Hotel.
The hotel looks like a pretty nice property, its website claims it combines history and luxury. The Mizpah’s most famous asset, however, is the alleged Lady in Red. The ghost of a former sex worker has been claimed to haunt the fifth floor of the hotel ever since her untimely death.
Legend says an enraged lover found the woman with another client. He stabbed and strangled her in the hallway outside room 502. The spirit is said to whisper into men’s ears and leave pearls underneath pillows.
USA Today ranked the property as the “Best Haunted Hotel in the US” in 2018.
The hotel even has a ‘Lady in Red Suite.’ With “vintage glamour with modern indulgence,” the room is decked with touches of red, ghost sightings not included.
Tami, owner of the Nevada Ghost Towns and Beyond blog, has an excellent write up on the history of Tonopah and the Mizpah Hotel. I would definitely recommend giving it a read before your visit.
If ghosts aren’t your thing, I hope you’re comfortable with clowns!
The town’s Clown Motel is truly one of a kind. I’m not going to lie, it’s freaky. There are over 6,500 clowns around the property, ranging from friendly to downright demonic. If that’s not enough, some of their rooms are even themed after infamous slashers, such as Halloween and Friday the 13th.
This hotel is also allegedly haunted and has inspired several low budget horror flicks of its own.
If you survive the night at either of these properties, then congratulations!!! You completed the Extraterrestrial Highway!
What better way to head back to Vegas than under the cover of darkness? Taking all you’ve learned, it’s time to look for aliens.
Don your convertible and drive into the warm desert night.
Let the darkness envelope your car, there’s virtually no light pollution out here, and keep your eyes on the stars!
Area 51 Lore:
I figured it may be fun to throw some lore in to acquaint you with some spooky stories.
I read rumors that an extraterrestrial survivor of the Roswell incident lives at Area 51.
The Alien Research Center states: “Even though you may not see many guards, someone is always watching. Cameras cover every angle beyond the gate. On a distant hill, a white pickup truck with dark, tinted windows often sits quietly, facing the road below. Locals say the base notices everything—every desert tortoise, every jackrabbit, and every human who gets too close. Some even believe sensors are buried under the road, alerting the base the moment a vehicle approaches.”
This is from The Clown Motel in Tonopah: “Room #107 was closed for the last 4 years after a couple of deaths in the room in the last 10 years and was used as a storage on and off, but last 2 years. Guests next door room #108 started reporting so frequently many weird and mysterious things. They reported next door guests moving furniture all night long, banging walls and all. Finally, May 4th it was open to the guests.”
Spooky!
** Cover Image from the story is of the Black Mailbox. The image was taken from Travel Nevada.
Turquoise Skies 