The famous White Bus brings workers from Alamo and other nearby towns into Area 51 each weekday morning. There are several unmarked stops along Hwy. 93 where the workers park their cars and get in the bus to go to work at Area 51.

The bus enters the base by the signs on Groom Lake Road at about 7.30am, and leaves at 4.50pm. It takes about 10 minutes to get from the signs to the terminal inside the base, which means that the work hours for the workers are from 7.40am to 4.40pm. The windows are tinted as protection from the desert sun, but contrary to Area 51 folklore they are not "blacked out".

You can't miss the bus on Groom Lake Road; just look for the huge trail of dust that it leaves behind. When you meet it on Groom Lake Road you better get out of its way in a hurry. The driver may brake for aliens, but certainly not for curious tourists.

Seriously, please don't bother the driver or the passengers. They are just workers on their daily commute, just like the rest of us. And even if they wanted to, they would not be allowed to talk about their work. And please don't try to follow the bus around. You will very quickly have a close encounter with the Lincoln County Sheriff.

Here is the complete schedule of the bus, coming out of the base. The morning commute is the exact same in the opposite direction. The exact number of workers varies depending on the activities at the base. Usually there are about 10 to 20 workers at each stop, sometimes considerably less.

4:40pm: Workers board the bus inside Area 51. Bus takes off on Groom Lake Road towards the Guard Shack
4:48pm: Bus passes the barrier at the Guard Shack
4:50pm: Leaves the perimeter by the signs on Groom Lake Road
5:05pm: Gets onto Hwy. 375, at intersection with Groom Lake Road
5:18pm: Drops off workers at the dirt lot in front of the beef jerky place at the intersection of US-93 and Hwy 318. About 10 to 12 workers exit the bus, get into their private vehicles, which are parked at the north end of the dirt lot, and head home. Some head north on Hwy. 318 towards Hiko and some head north on US-93 towards Caliente and Pioche. The bus continues south on US-93.
5:25pm: Stops just south of the "R"-Place station in Ash Springs. More workers get out, and into their own vehicles. The bus continues south.
5:30pm: Turns right in Alamo, right behind the Chevron gas station. Continues straight for three blocks, then turns left and parks in front of the Alamo Court House/Town Hall, where the rest of the workers get out. The bus stays there over night and on weekends.

The white bus, just coming out of the restricted area on Groom Lake Road. When it approaches you better get out of the way in a hurry. The 35mph speed limit does not seem to apply for its driver.

  
The old bus stop, at the Y-intersection of Hwy. 318 and 375. Funny that the workers would exit the bus right at the foot of the ET Highway sign (seen from the back here). Their cars were parked in the shade, to the left of the bus. This stop is no longer used. Instead, the bus now stops at the beef jerky place about 1/2 mile further up the road, at the intersection of US-93 and Hwy 318. Photos taken in September 2001.

At night and on weekends the white bus is usually parked in front of the Alamo Court House, only three blocks from Hwy. 93. The white Jeep Cherokee in this picture is also usually parked there.

The bus at the intersection of Groom Lake Road and Hwy. 375 in September 2001. Notice the additional high beams and fog lights. The driver's face has been blurred to protect his privacy.
The US Government license plate "86B1371" (zoomed in the lower right corner) indicates that it was originally put in service in 1986. It is in use at Groom since about 1997.

More recently this bus is being used instead. License plate 98B00753 (photo 3/13/2007)

The White Bus checking out at the Groom Lake Road Guard Shack...

... and passing the Warning Signs a minute later on the way to Alamo (photos 10/09/2007)

A close-up look into the brand new "White Bus". Click photo to enlarge. Photo 09/2021 by WheresJanet with friendly permission.