Is Area 51 On Google Maps?

Should you keep watching the skies to see aliens, or goof around Area 51 on Google Maps? The second option is a surprisingly accessible way to explore the infamous Air Force site. Area 51 is entrenched in American folklore partly because a sizable number of Americans still believe aliens or their technology were housed 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 look on Google Earth.

The CIA says Area 51 was built as a secret flight-test facility. Google Maps shows an airstrip, a flight line for parked aircraft, hangars, trailers, and other facilities. It's adjacent to Groom Lake, a dry lakebed considered ideal for testing. The CIA says reconnaissance aircraft like the U-2 and A-12 OXCART were developed and tested there. There's also speculation about the RQ-180 stealth reconnaissance aircraft and the B-21 Raider.

Despite the stealthy research, Area 51 is visible because Google does not blur satellite images. Agencies wanting an image blurred have to request it, though there is at least one instance of Google Earth imagery of a military base not being updated for years. Keep in mind, you're seeing static images that are, in some cases, composed from multiple dates. The Google Earth image at Area 51, as of September 2026, is a single picture from 2023. Interestingly, the existence of Area 51 was not classified. It has long been included in government phone directories and seen on local news reports. In fact, in 2013, the CIA officially acknowledged the Area 51 name and location, though details of what happens there remain classified.

Nearly half of Americans believe aliens have visited Earth. Area 51 would be an ideal place to hide them. It's deep inside the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), far from public scrutiny. That wasn't always the case. In the '50s and '60s, people nearby reported strange aircraft. The CIA says most UFO sightings in that era were actually reconnaissance aircraft test flights.

NTTR remains an active testing site for weapons, electronic combat, tactics, and aircraft. What the Air Force doesn't say is what lies underneath Area 51. A few jokes from the CIA may have fueled rumors. In 2015, the agency wrote a Twitter post with the hashtag "aliensinthebasement." Seven years later, a CIA blog post appeared to respond to speculation saying, "I'm sad to say there are no aliens in the basements..." That said, a 1992 CIA report on the history of reconnaissance testing, declassified in 2016, doesn't mention "basement", "underground", or "subterranean" at Area 51.

While what's underground at Area 51 remains a mystery, technology offers new clues above ground. Google Earth's Historical Imagery feature lets you see how the site has changed over the years. And simply looking around can uncover some surprises, like seemingly finding a UFO near Area 51 on Google Maps. It's what led to a claim in 2025 about a strange tower on the base. You can check it out by entering 37.246° N, 115.823° W into Google Earth. Internet speculation suggests this tower is part of a radar system built in the early 2000s. Whether you're watching the skies or the desert, for now, the best view of Area 51 may be on Google Maps. Serious enthusiasts can also simulate a flyover with a cool new Google Earth feature.