Should you keep watching the sky for aliens, or blunder around Area 51 on Google Maps? The second option is a surprisingly accessible way to explore the infamous Air Force site. Area 51 is ingrained in American folklore in part because a significant number of Americans still believe that aliens or their technology were harbored there. Yet the supposedly secret site is suspiciously visible on Google Maps at 37°14′06.0″N, 115°48′40.0″W. You can get an even clearer view on Google Earth.
The CIA claims Area 51 was built as a secret flight test facility. Google Maps shows an airstrip, a flight line for parked planes, hangars, trailers and other facilities. It is adjacent to Groom Lake, a dry lake bed considered ideal for testing. The CIA says reconnaissance aircraft like the U-2 and A-12 OXCART were developed and tested there. There is also speculation about the RQ-180 stealth reconnaissance aircraft and the B-21 Raider.
Despite furtive searches, Area 51 is visible because Google does not blur satellite images. Agencies wanting a blurry image must request one, although there is at least one example of Google Earth imagery of a military base that hasn’t been updated in years. Keep in mind that you are seeing static images that, in some cases, are made up of multiple dates. The Google Earth image of Area 51, from September 2026, is a single image from 2023. Interestingly, the existence of Area 51 has not been classified. It has long been listed in government telephone directories and appeared in local news reports. In fact, in 2013, the CIA officially recognized the name and location of Area 51, although the details of what happens there remain classified.
Why Area 51 continues to fuel extraterrestrial theories
Nearly half of Americans believe aliens have visited Earth. Area 51 would be a great place to hide them. It lies in the heart of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), far from public scrutiny. This was not always the case. In the 1950s and 1960s, people nearby reported strange planes. The CIA claims that most UFO sightings at that time were actually test flights of reconnaissance aircraft.
NTTR remains an active testing site for weapons, electronic combat, tactics and aircraft. What the Air Force isn’t saying is what lies beneath Area 51. A few CIA jokes may have fueled the rumors. In 2015, the agency posted a message on Twitter with the hashtag “aliensinthebasement.” Seven years later, a CIA blog post seemed to respond to the speculation by saying, “I’m sad to say there are no aliens in basements…” That said, a 1992 CIA report on the history of reconnaissance testing, declassified in 2016, does not mention “underground,” “subterranean,” or “subterranean” in Area 51.
Although what lies underground at Area 51 remains a mystery, technology offers new clues above ground. Google Earth’s historical imagery feature allows you to see how the site has changed over the years. And just looking around can reveal surprises, like finding a UFO near Area 51 on Google Maps. This is what led to a claim in 2025 about a strange tower on the base. You can check this by entering 37.246° N, 115.823° W into Google Earth. Internet speculation suggests that this tower is part of a radar system built in the early 2000s. Whether you’re looking at the sky or the desert, for now, the best view of Area 51 may be on Google Maps. Serious enthusiasts can also simulate a flyby with a cool new Google Earth feature.
