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Monthly Community Public Tours



Tours

Thank you for your interest in attending a historical tour of the Nevada National Security Site.

The monthly community public tour dates for the remainder of 2023 are as follows:

  • July 24
  • August 21
  • September 18
  • October 9
  • November 13

Registration for the tour dates listed above will open at 10 a.m. PT March 28, 2023.

The NNSS offers free monthly historical tours of the Site. Join us on a guided tour to learn about how the Site has evolved over the years.

Tours are operated on chartered bus with a restroom. Visitors depart the museum and travel 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, where you will cover nearly 250 miles of the Site.

What you will see: Download fact sheets on tour points of interest.

pdf Mercury, NV
pdf Frenchman Flat
pdf Nonproliferation Test and Evaluation Complex
pdf Area 2 Gun Turret
pdf Icecap
pdf Sedan Crater
pdf T-1 Training Area
pdf Apple-2 Houses (Civil Effects Tests) 

Booking tours

Thank you for your interest in attending a historical tour of the Nevada National Security Site.

The monthly community public tour dates for the remainder of 2023 are as follows:

  • July 24
  • August 21
  • September 18
  • October 9
  • November 13

Registration for the tour dates listed above will open at 10 a.m. PT March 28, 2023.

Visitors are required to be at least 14 years old and either a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident/Permanent Resident Alien Foreign National. Individuals who are pregnant are discouraged from attending a tour due to the long bus ride and uneven terrain.

The NNSS complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need assistance to access the tour, please contact the Protocol Office at NNSSProtocolOffice@nv.doe.gov.

Members of the media seeking a tour of the NNSS should contact MediaRelations@nv.doe.gov. Please include your name, news outlet, topics or locations of interest and deadline or timeline.

Badging

The monthly community public tour dates for the remainder of 2023 are as follows:

  • July 24
  • August 21
  • September 18
  • October 9
  • November 13

Registration for the tour dates listed above will open at 10 a.m. PT March 28, 2023.

U.S. residents who complete the online registration do not need to complete the U.S. Badging Form linked below.

pdfIcon U.S. ​Badging Form​

pdfIcon Foreign National Form (only Lawful Permanent Resident/Permanent Resident Alien Foreign Nationals will be considered; form must be received 50 days prior to a scheduled tour date)

Submit the completed form via one of the following methods:

Email (expedited process): NNSSTours@nv.doe.gov

U.S. Mail:

U.S. Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Nevada Field Office
Office of Public Affairs
Visit Coordination Staff
P.O. Box 98521, M/S NLV139
Las Vegas, NV 89193-8521

* We strongly recommend you complete the forms electronically and email to NNSSTours@nv.doe.gov to expedite your tour request. Please password protect the forms when emailing to protect your information. Provide the password via separate email to the Protocol Office so they may access the forms. Learn how to password protect forms on the U.S. Department of the Treasury website.

Confirmation

Participants who completed the online registration will be notified via email of a confirmed visit. A welcome package will be emailed 10 days prior to the visit and will include: confirmation notice, agenda, acceptable forms of identification, prohibited articles list and a map with directions to National Atomic Test Museum.

For further information, please email NNSSTours@nv.doe.gov or call Sara Folkerts at 702-295-6477.

Required forms of identification

All visitors must possess valid forms of identification for tour badging as outlined below.

One of the following are acceptable forms of personal identification:

  • A REAL ID compliant state-issued driver's license or ID issued by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles
  • U.S. passport or passport card
  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection trusted travel card (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
  • U.S. military ID card, including military dependent ID cards
  • Department of Homeland Security-designated Enhanced Driver’s License
  • Native American tribal photo ID
  • HSPD-12 PIV card from any government agency (for identification only)
  • Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC)
  • Student ID (14-17 years old)

If an individual does not have a REAL ID, they may bring their non-REAL ID and one of the following documents:

  • Federal, state or local government-issued credentials for first responders with photo
  • Birth certificate (original or certified copy)
  • U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
  • Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)
  • Native American Tribal document

An individual who only presents their non-REAL ID-compliant state-issued driver’s license or identification card must be escorted at all times.

Foreign nationals

Only Lawful Permanent Resident/Permanent Resident Alien Foreign Nationals will be considered. Forms must be received 50 days prior to a scheduled tour date for processing.

Tour day

The monthly community public tour dates for the remainder of 2023 are as follows:

  • July 24
  • August 21
  • September 18
  • October 9
  • November 13

Registration for the tour dates listed above will open at 10 a.m. PT March 28, 2023.

Reservations are required for all tours. Participants will be notified via email when their visit is confirmed.

Most tours will depart from the National Atomic Testing Museum at 7:30 a.m. and return around 5 p.m. Please plan to arrive early as parking may be limited.

Tours are operated on chartered bus with a restroom. Visitors depart the museum and travel 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, where you will cover nearly 250 miles of the Site.

What to bring

Be sure to bring your required form of identification listed under “badging” on this page.

Southern Nevada, including the Site, is a dry climate and summer temperatures can top 100 degrees while winter can bring snow. Bring plenty of water and hydrate before and during your tour.

You can bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages on the bus. Lunch can be purchased at the Site Bistro. Please note it is a cashless facility that only accepts VISA or MasterCard. Alcohol and controlled substances, including marijuana, are prohibited on the bus and at all NNSS locations.

What to wear

Casual attire with sturdy, flat, close-toed shoes are recommended due to the rugged terrain at some of the points of interest on the tour. Shorts, capris and sandals are prohibited.

Sunscreen, long sleeve shirts, hats and sunglasses are recommended to limit sun exposure. Wearing layered clothing is recommended for cooler months.

What not to bring

The following items are prohibited from tours:

  • Cameras, camcorders or tape recorders
  • Binoculars or telescopes
  • Cell phones
  • Privately-owned laptop computers
  • Geiger counters or dosimeters not issued by the NNSS
  • Firearms, weapons or explosives
  • Controlled substances (including marijuana)
  • Alcoholic beverages

pdf Download a Comprehensive List of Prohibited Items

Visitors are prohibited from picking up or removing any objects, including soil, rocks, plant samples or metal, while at the Site.