No. Area 51, at Groom Lake in southern Nevada, sits inside restricted airspace known as R-4808N, part of the huge Nevada Test and Training Range. Civilian aircraft, including drones, aren't allowed in it at any height. The land around it is a closed military installation, and flying a drone over it can bring federal charges and confiscation of your gear.
The airspace
Restricted areas are shown on aeronautical charts and in apps like B4UFLY and Aloft. R-4808N, nicknamed "the Box" by pilots, is described in the FAA's 1995 rule realigning it as a non-joint-use restricted area that is active on a continuous basis, so it's never released for civil use. Even military and civilian aircraft without permission stay out. A drone launched from outside the boundary and flown in would still be entering restricted airspace.
The surrounding Nevada Test and Training Range adds thousands of square miles of restricted areas used for training with live weapons and high-speed jets. Nellis Air Force Base and Creech Air Force Base in Las Vegas and Indian Springs control much of it.
The ground
The base perimeter is marked with warning signs, cameras and patrols. Crossing the line is trespassing on a military installation, a federal crime. Security staff have stopped and detained people who crossed the boundary. Flying a drone toward the base from public land outside it is an obvious way to attract the same attention.
What the law says
- FAA rules ban operating in restricted airspace without permission from the controlling agency.
- Federal law makes it a crime to enter a military installation for a prohibited purpose, and photographing defense installations without authorization is also restricted.
- Nevada law adds its own drone rules, including limits near airports and critical facilities.
Penalties can include FAA civil fines, criminal charges and seizure of the drone. Read drone laws in Nevada.
Can you fly nearby?
The Extraterrestrial Highway (Nevada State Route 375) and the town of Rachel are outside the restricted area, on BLM and private land. Recreational drone flights there may be legal under FAA rules if you're clearly outside restricted airspace and any TFRs, but the map shows restricted airspace close to the highway in places. Check B4UFLY or Aloft at your exact spot, stay well clear of the boundary, and never point a drone toward the base. Low-flying military jets also train over this part of Nevada, so keep your drone low and in sight.
The federal basics for any Nevada flight
- Pass the free TRUST test for recreational flying.
- Register drones of 250 g or more and fly with Remote ID.
- Stay at or below 400 ft and out of restricted airspace.
For a full list of places drones can't go, see our no-fly zones guide. Heading to Las Vegas? Read drone laws in Las Vegas and Valley of Fire.
Rules current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
Related guides
- Can you fly a drone over Disney World, Disneyland or Universal?
- Can you fly a drone in a TFR or NOTAM area?
- Can you fly a drone over a school or a football game?
- Can you fly a drone over farmland or a quarry?
- Can you fly a drone over government or public property?
- Can you fly a drone over people? FAA rules explained
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