Groom Lake
Groom Lake is a dry lake, also described as a salt flat, in Nevada. On the map, it sits 36 mi west of Alamo. Pleasant highs of 73–82°F mark the mildest months, April, May and October.
A lake, 36 mi west of Alamo
Plan where you’ll sleep
The nearest town with many places to stay is Alamo, 36 miles east. Where to stay ↓
Summers are hot
July and August highs run 97–98°, and about 115 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
A day trip from Las Vegas
Las Vegas is about 77 miles southeast (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May and Oct
April, May and October are the mild months, with highs of 73–82°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
A month-by-month look
A visit to Groom Lake can follow the seasons below.
Groom Lake
Groom Lake is a dry lake, also described as a salt flat, in Nevada. It is used for runways of the Nellis Bombing Range Test Site airport (KXTA). Part of the Area 51 USAF installation, it lies at an elevation of 4,409 ft (1,344 m) and is approximately 3.7 miles (6.0 km) from north to south and 3 miles (4.8 km) from east to west at its widest point, and is approximately 11.3 miles in circumference. Located within the namesake Groom Lake Valley portion of the Tonopah Basin, the lake is 25 mi (40 km) south of Rachel, Nevada.
The nearest publicly accessible vantage point is Tikaboo Peak, 26 miles (42 km) to the east. There were two closer vantage points, dubbed "Freedom Ridge" and "White Sides", but they were closed to public access in 1995 to prevent people from taking pictures of the installation.
- Type
- Lake
- Elevation
- 4,409 ft
- Wikipedia readers
- 48K a year
Hotels and campgrounds near Groom Lake
Lodging nearby is in Alamo (5) and Beatty (7).
Compare 3 towns
| Town | From Groom Lake | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamo | 36 mi east | 55 min | 5 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 1 RV park | 736 | $197K |
| Beatty | 54 mi west | 1.5 hr | 7 5 motels · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 387 | $165K |
| Indian Springs | 48 mi south | 1 hr | 1 1 RV park | 1,180 | $349K |
Day trip from
Straight-line miles.
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Nearby, too
Every place here is under 70 miles away.
64 mi CaveDevils Hole
69 mi MountainCharleston Peak
68 mi National MonumentTule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument52K visitors a year
63 mi MuseumGoldwell Open Air Museum67 mi Ski areaLee Canyon29 runs · 792 ft verticalPhoto credits
Devils Hole: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Charleston Peak: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument: National Park Service, Public domain · Goldwell Open Air Museum: Finetooth, CC BY-SA 3.0
Before visiting Groom Lake
What town is Groom Lake near?
Alamo, NV, about 36 miles east.
When is the best time to visit Groom Lake?
April, May and October, with highs of 73–82°.
How far is Groom Lake from Las Vegas and Henderson?
About 77 miles southeast of Las Vegas and about 97 miles southeast of Henderson, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Groom Lake?
Harry Reid (LAS), about 89 miles away.
Where should I stay near Groom Lake?
Alamo (36 mi, 5 places to stay) and Beatty (54 mi, 7 places to stay).
Local tips in Alamo
Be the first to share a tip in Alamo’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.