Nellis Air Force Base is located on the northeast side of Las Vegas, just south of Interstate 15. The base is actually located along Las Vegas Blvd, which farther south, is called The Strip. As I understand it, base personnel don't really like Plane Spotters, but it is legal to photograph aircraft (America really is a great country!), and so they tolerate us. In that spirit, please don't antagonize the MPs.

Plane spotting can be done from several locations. Perhaps the best place (site map) is from along the north side of Las Vegas Blvd, starting just east of North Hollywood Blvd and extending east for several hundreds of yards. This is on the desert end of the runway, and much of the air traffic comes and goes from this end, especially when loaded with live bombs.

Nellis hosts Aviation Nation: a spectacular air show held every year in the fall with ground and aerial displays showing American and allied skills and strength. Aviation Nation is open to everyone, including foreign nationals from any country on earth.

The corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Eren Dr is a good place to park on pavement off the roadway. When photographing here, stay on the north side of Las Vegas Blvd and don't approach the fence. Also, do your best to stay northeast of Hollywood Blvd and away from base buildings. Also, highway traffic flies along here, so stay back from the pavement too.

The easiest way to Eren Dr from town is to drive north on Interstate 15 to Exit 54 (Speedway Blvd and Hollywood Blvd). Exit right onto Speedway, then immediately right onto Hollywood Blvd. Follow Hollywood around to the left and then drive south to Las Vegas Blvd. Turn left and drive east to somewhere near Eren Dr. Link to Google Map.

Off the southwest end of the runways, good places to Plane Spot are near the corner of E Cheyenne Ave and N Ringe Ln. Aircraft often land from this end of the runway (planes flying low and slow), and sometimes the lighting is better here. The low hilltops in Nellis Meadows Park (E Cheyenne Ave and N Lamont St) also provide views of the sky at this end of the runway.

During Red Flag and Green Flag exercises, there often are three shifts: morning, afternoon, and night. I try to get there around noon and stay until about 5 PM to catch the comings and goings of the afternoon shift.