Mercury (Desert Rock)

• Official Website: nnss.gov (Resource of the managing organisation — Nevada National Security Site; the airport does not have a separate website).
• Helpline Phone: +1 702-295-1000 (Main NNSS switchboard; the airport is a closed facility).
• Airport Address: Mercury, NV 89023, USA (Located within the secured territory of the Nevada National Security Site).
• Email: PAO@nv.doe.gov (Public Affairs Office of the site administration).
• Social Media: Information is published on the official NNSS pages on Facebook and Twitter (the airport does not maintain its own accounts).
• Lost Luggage Information: Service unavailable, as the airport does not serve commercial passenger flights.
• Passenger Support Contacts: Not provided (access to the facility is possible only for authorised personnel of the US Department of Energy).

When planning your route, it is important to consider the special status of Desert Rock (Mercury) Airport. As it is a closed departmental facility located within the Nevada National Security Site, civilian commercial flights are not accepted here. There is no direct access for tourists, shuttles, or public transport directly to the terminal.

For travellers wishing to visit the Indian Springs region or heading to this part of the Mojave Desert for business (with appropriate clearance), the main transport hub is the neighbouring metropolis — Las Vegas. Below are the logistics options to the nearest accessible settlement — Indian Springs, which is located at the entrance to the special territory.

Car Rental and the Road

The most reliable and common way to reach the vicinity of the airport is by car. You can rent a vehicle in Las Vegas, where all major international rental companies (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis) are represented.

• Route: Drive north on Highway US-95 N from Las Vegas. The road is straight, high-quality, with picturesque desert landscapes.
• Travel Time: The journey from central Las Vegas to the Mercury/Indian Springs exit takes approximately 45–60 minutes (about 70–80 km).
• Parking: At Mercury Airport itself, parking is available only for employees with a pass. You can leave your car in the village of Indian Springs at public parking lots.

Taxi and Transfer

Ordering a taxi or private transfer is possible from Las Vegas, but it has its nuances.

• Services: Uber and Lyft, as well as local Las Vegas taxi fleets, can take you to Indian Springs. However, drivers will not be able to pass through the security checkpoint (CPP) towards the airport without a special permit.
• Cost: A one-way trip will cost approximately $80–120 depending on the car class and current demand.
• Recommendation: Arrange your return journey in advance, as summoning a car in the desert village of Indian Springs can be problematic due to the lack of available drivers nearby.

Public Transport

There is no regular urban transport connection (buses, metro) to the airport. However, there are intercity bus routes running along Highway US-95 (for example, the Las Vegas — Reno route) which may stop on request in Indian Springs. This is the least convenient method, as you would have to walk from the highway stop to any facilities across desert terrain.

Nearest Alternative Airports

Since Mercury is closed to civil aviation, tourists should choose one of the neighbouring civilian airports for arrival in the region. The main air gateway is McCarran Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, which accepts flights from all over the world.

List of nearest civilian airports:

Mercury Airport (Desert Rock), due to its special status and closed operating regime, differs radically from customary civilian air harbours. Here you will not find an extensive network of terminals, gates with aerobridges, or noisy departure lounges with shops. The facility's infrastructure is subordinated exclusively to utilitarian tasks — ensuring logistics for employees and cargo for the needs of the Nevada National Security Site.

Number of Terminals and Their Purpose

The airport possesses one single functional terminal, which is a small single-storey building combined with the operations centre. This structure serves simultaneously as a waiting room, a control point, and an administrative office. Its main purpose is the rapid and safe processing of arriving and departing personnel (mainly on flights of the so-called "Janets" — aircraft without airline markings).

Airport Map and Navigation

Navigation within the Desert Rock territory is extremely simple and intuitive, as it is practically impossible to get lost here. The airport scheme includes one main runway, an apron for aircraft parking, and the adjacent terminal building. The territory is strictly zoned:

• "Clean Zone" (Airside): The fenced part of the apron where passengers enter immediately after disembarking or passing control. Movement here is permitted only when escorted.
• "Dirty Zone" (Landside): A small parking lot for service vehicles and a drop-off zone in front of the building entrance.

Terminal Features and Service Zones

Minimalism reigns inside the terminal building. Usual tourist amenities are absent here: there are no cafes, souvenir shops, currency exchange points, or car rental counters. The space is organised as efficiently as possible for official purposes.

• Arrival and Departure Zone: This is a unified space. Passengers arriving for a shift or inspection pass through a common hall. Flows are separated by time: the terminal services either an arriving or a departing aircraft.
• Waiting Hall: Equipped with a basic set of furniture for short-term stays. The main emphasis is on functionality, not comfort, as the time between flights is usually minimal.

Transfers Between Terminals

Since the airport consists of one compact building, there is no need for shuttles, travelators, or complex passageways. The distance from the terminal entrance to the aircraft stairs is covered on foot in one to two minutes.

Procedure Times and Screening

Despite the absence of queues typical for major hubs, procedures at Mercury have their own specifics:

1. Check-in and Control: There is no classic flight check-in with seat selection here. The main procedure is a strict identity check and verification of clearance (security clearance). Security officers check passenger data against approved lists.

2. Screening: Conducted with particular thoroughness corresponding to the standards of a secure facility. Passage time may vary but usually takes from 15 to 30 minutes for a group of passengers on one flight. It is recommended to have all necessary documents ready and unfolded.

Navigation Recommendations

For the few who have authorised access to Desert Rock, the main advice is to strictly follow staff instructions. Free movement around the territory, including walking onto the airfield without a command, is strictly prohibited. If you have arrived here for the first time, you will certainly be met by a curator or a representative of the host party right at the exit of the terminal building.

The history of Mercury Airport (Desert Rock) is inextricably linked with one of the most mysterious and significant chapters in US chronicles — the era of atomic testing. Unlike ordinary civilian airports built to connect cities, this facility emerged from the harsh necessity to ensure logistics in the very heart of the Mojave Desert, where "nuclear" history was being made in the mid-20th century.

The official starting point can be considered 1951, when Camp Mercury was founded. Initially, it was a temporary tent city for the personnel of the Nevada Test Site. Soon, a dirt runway appeared next to it, necessary for the rapid transport of scientists, high-ranking military officials, and special equipment from Las Vegas and other parts of the country. In those years, time played a decisive role, and aviation became the main artery feeding the site.

The airport's name — Desert Rock — refers to the military camp of the same name that was located nearby. In the 1950s, a series of large-scale exercises involving ground troops took place here, aimed at practising actions under conditions of nuclear weapon use. The airfield played a key role in supporting these operations, receiving hundreds of aircraft with personnel and observers. It was during this period that the simple dirt strip began to transform into a full-fledged engineering facility.

Significant modernisation of the infrastructure occurred in subsequent decades when testing moved to the underground phase. The runway was paved and extended to a modern 2,286 metres, allowing it to accommodate heavy transport aircraft and jet liners. In the 1960s and 70s, the airport became the main hub for transporting thousands of employees working daily on secret government projects.

Interesting Facts from Airport History:

• Witness to Explosions: During the era of atmospheric testing, the famous "mushroom clouds" of nuclear explosions rising over the test site could be observed from the airfield. Airport buildings were designed taking into account potential seismic impact from underground tremors.
• Home to "Janets": Desert Rock is one of the key destinations for the legendary airline unofficially known as Janet Airlines. Their white planes with a red stripe, but without logos, have been transporting employees from Las Vegas to work and back for decades.
• Closed Zone: The airport is located in the so-called "Area 23". Despite having an IATA code (DRA), it has never sold tickets to civilians and has not appeared in tourist aggregator schedules.
• Record Traffic: During the peak years of the Cold War, flight intensity here could rival busy regional airports, as more than 10,000 people worked at the site simultaneously.

Today, Desert Rock continues to function as a private departmental airfield of the US Department of Energy. Although the era of massive testing is in the past, the airport retains its status as an important logistics node, supporting the activities of the Nevada National Security Site and remaining a living monument to the scientific and technical progress of the 20th century.

The level of service and range of amenities at Mercury Airport (Desert Rock) are dictated by its specific status as a closed government facility. For passengers accustomed to a wide choice of entertainment and comforts in civilian terminals, the local infrastructure will seem extremely ascetic. Everything here is subordinated to one goal — the rapid and safe transport of personnel to workplaces and back. Below is an overview of what awaits travellers (with appropriate clearance) inside the terminal.

Restaurants, Cafes, and Retail Outlets

There is a complete absence of a commercial zone in the terminal building. You will not find restaurants, famous coffee chains, Duty-Free shops, or souvenir stalls here. The airport's "gastronomic" programme is usually limited to:

• Vending machines with drinks and light snacks.
• Water coolers with drinking water.

Passengers are strongly advised to arrange meals in advance or bring food with them if a long wait is expected, although flight schedules are usually designed to minimise time spent at the airport.

Lounges, Communication, and Finance

VIP Halls and Business Lounges: There is no division into service classes at the airport. The single common waiting room is equipped with standard seats. Separate zones of increased comfort for management or special guests are not provided — conditions are equal for all employees, from engineers to high-ranking officials.

Wi-Fi and Charging Stations: Internet access on the territory of Desert Rock is strictly regulated. A public Wi-Fi network for personal devices does not exist due to information security considerations. The use of mobile phones and gadgets may be restricted or prohibited in certain zones of the terminal. Sockets for charging official equipment can be found, but there are no dedicated charging stations for passengers.

Banks and Currency Exchange: ATMs, currency exchange points, and bank branches are absent from the airport territory, as the facility does not serve international tourist flows.

Medical and Special Services

Medical Assistance: Given the specific nature of the site's work, safety and health issues are paramount. Qualified medics are on duty at the airport or in its immediate vicinity (at the Mercury base), ready to provide emergency first aid. However, there is no pharmacy for purchasing civilian medicines in the terminal.

Passengers with Reduced Mobility: As a US federal facility, the terminal building complies with basic accessibility standards (ADA). Entrances are equipped with ramps, doorways are wide enough for wheelchairs, and restrooms are adapted for people with disabilities. However, there is no special escort service typical of commercial airlines here — assistance is provided by colleagues or security staff.

Services for Passengers with Children: Infrastructure for children (mother and child rooms, play areas) is completely absent, as the airport is not intended for family travel, and visits to the site by minors are strictly limited by safety rules.

Accommodation: Hotels at the Airport and Nearby

There are no hotels on the airport territory itself. Accommodation options depend on the visitor's status:

• Staff Dorms: In the settlement of Mercury, a few minutes' drive from the runway, there are residential blocks for shift personnel. This is functional accommodation of a barracks or dormitory type, available only to site employees.
• Indian Springs: In the nearest settlement outside the base perimeter (about 20 km away), the choice of accommodation is extremely limited and often linked to the activities of Creech Air Force Base.
• Las Vegas: The nearest comfortable hotels for those on business trips and guests of the region are located in Las Vegas, approximately 100 km to the south. This is where the majority of those flying into the region stay if accommodation on the closed territory is not provided.

Conference Rooms and Business Centres

Despite the fact that the airport serves business trips, there are no meeting rooms or business centres with office equipment in the terminal itself. All business meetings, briefings, and conferences are held directly in the administrative buildings of the Nevada National Security Site, where passengers head immediately after arrival.

The question of dining at Mercury Airport (Desert Rock) requires special clarification, as the rules of ordinary civilian airports do not apply here. Due to the closed status of the facility and the absence of commercial passenger flows, you will not find the usual food courts, fine dining restaurants, or cosy coffee shops with baristas here. The catering system is organised exclusively to maintain the performance of the site personnel.

Restaurants and Cafes in the Terminal

In the single terminal building (operations centre), catering outlets are completely absent. There are no bars or chain eateries here. Passengers waiting for departure or undergoing processing upon arrival have access only to:

• Vending Machines: Located in the waiting area. The assortment is standard: bottled water, carbonated drinks, chocolate bars, crisps, and packaged biscuits.
• Coffee Machines: Offer a basic selection of hot drinks (black coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate) made from instant ingredients.

Mercury Cafeteria

The only place where you can get a full hot meal is not in the airport itself (airside), but in the residential zone of Camp Mercury (landside), a short distance from the runway. Access there is possible only for authorised employees and guests with the appropriate level of clearance.

• Concept: This is a classic American departmental canteen (Mess Hall). Service follows a serving line principle.
• Opening Hours: Strictly tied to the site's work shifts. Usually, these are fixed hours for breakfast (05:30 to 07:30), lunch (11:00 to 13:00), and dinner (17:00 to 19:00). At night and during intervals between shifts, the cafeteria is closed.
• Average Cost: Prices are affordable and often subsidised for employees. A full lunch will cost in the range of $10–15. Payment is generally accepted by card or cash.

Menu and Local Features

Since Desert Rock is a rugged working facility in the desert, one should not expect gastronomic delights. The food here is filling, simple, and high-calorie.

• What to Try: "Signature" dishes include a classic American breakfast (eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes) and hearty meat dishes for lunch (steaks, meatloaf, fried chicken). Meals are prepared with people engaged in physical or strenuous labour in mind.
• Quick Snack: A "Grab & Go" station is often available in the cafeteria with ready-made sandwiches, burgers, and salads in plastic containers, which can be taken with you before departure.

Dietary Requirements (Vegetarian, Halal, Gluten-Free)

Choices for people with special dietary needs in Mercury are extremely limited:

• Vegetarians: Can usually count on a salad bar, side dishes (rice, steamed vegetables), and possibly meat-free pasta. Specialised vegan dishes are generally not on the menu.
• Halal and Kosher: Strictly certified meals are not available. Given the remoteness of the facility, there is no guarantee against cross-contamination with other products in the kitchen.
• Gluten-Free: There is no separate menu. Passengers with coeliac disease should exercise extreme caution, as the risk of gluten traces in a shared kitchen is high.

Recommendations for Travellers

Given the specifics of Desert Rock Airport, the best dining strategy is autonomy.

• For a Full Lunch: If you do not have access or time to visit the cafeteria in Camp Mercury, it is strongly recommended to eat a substantial meal in Las Vegas before flying.
• Food for the Journey: Be sure to take a lunch box, fruit, protein bars, and a supply of water with you, especially if you have specific dietary restrictions. Remember that the nearest civilian shop is tens of kilometres away from the airport checkpoint.

Travelling through Mercury Airport (Desert Rock) is a unique experience that differs radically from a standard tourist flight. Since this is a closed departmental facility, rules here are dictated by strict security protocols, not passenger comfort. Here are some useful tips to help you avoid misunderstandings and make your official trip as smooth as possible.

Arrival Time: Punctuality is Key

Unlike major international hubs, you do not need to arrive 3 hours before departure here. However, being late is categorically impermissible. Flights operated for site personnel (often called "Janet") follow a rigid schedule.

• Recommendation: Arrive at the gathering point or terminal at least 30–40 minutes before departure. This time is sufficient for document checks.
• Important: The aircraft will not wait for late passengers, as flight schedules are synchronised with work shifts at the facility.

Check-in and Screening Features

Forget about mobile boarding passes and QR codes. Your main document here is your official ID and the presence of your name on the approved flight list.

• Documents: Keep your identity document (ID) and pass (badge) in hand or in a visible place. Verification is carried out by security officers, not airline agents.
• Screening: The procedure resembles standard TSA control but with an emphasis on information protection. Be prepared for checks not only for liquids but also for recording devices.

Seat Selection on the Plane

Flights serving Desert Rock usually operate an open seating system. Seats are not assigned in advance.

• Tip: If you want to sit by the window to admire the harsh views of Nevada from above, try to be among the first to board.
• Warning: Despite the beautiful views, photography and video recording on board and from the window are strictly prohibited. Violation of this rule may lead to revocation of clearance and confiscation of the device.

Hand Luggage: What is Allowed and Prohibited

Luggage regulations here are specific and related to the facility's secrecy regime.

• Strictly Prohibited: Personal cameras, binoculars, optical instruments, as well as personal laptops and tablets without special permission. In some zones, even smartphones are banned. Firearms and alcohol are also completely prohibited.
• Allowed: Personal necessities, lunch (lunch box), books, paper documents.
• Tip: Travel light. A backpack or small bag is the optimal option. Large luggage is rare here, as most passengers arrive for a single day.

Recommendations for Connecting Passengers

Desert Rock Airport is the end point of the route; there is no transit zone here. If you are flying from afar, your "connection" will take place in Las Vegas.

• Plan your logistics to reach the special terminal at Las Vegas airport with time to spare. Note that departure takes place not from the main McCarran passenger terminal, but from a separate secured parking area.

Customs Control

The airport serves exclusively domestic departmental flights, so there is no classic customs control here. However, there is an internal security control upon departure and arrival. You may be asked to show the contents of your bag to check for prohibited items (flash drives, electronics) when entering or leaving the site territory.

How to Save Time and Nerves

• Clothing: Choose comfortable clothing and footwear appropriate for your workplace dress code. Remember that you may have to walk across the airfield under the scorching desert sun.
• Preparation: Remove all metal items and electronics from your pockets in advance before the metal detector frame. This will significantly speed up the screening process for you and your colleagues.
• Water: Take an empty bottle with you. You can fill it with water from a cooler in the waiting area, as service on board may be minimal or non-existent (due to the short flight duration).

What to Do in Case of Flight Delay

Delays at Desert Rock happen rarely, most often due to weather conditions (strong wind or sandstorms) or technical reasons.

• Communication: If the flight is delayed, immediately contact your curator or supervisor at the facility. Given restrictions on mobile phone use, look for fixed-line service phones in the terminal.
• Waiting: Since there are no shops or entertainment in the airport, it is better to have a book or printed work materials with you to pass the time.