Can you do both Lower and Upper in a day?

Dear Quynh:
Frankly, I’d recommend trying to free up another day to pull this trip off.
On Day 1, you’re proposing to do a LOT of driving: it takes approximately 4.5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim. Then, it takes 2.5-3.5 hours to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page. Not knowing what time of year you’re traveling, I can’t say this for certain, but this plan could put you at risk of having to do some of your driving at night, which we strongly discourage due to the relative absence of artificial/supplemental lighting on local roadways, and the tendency of deer, elk, and other nocturnal wildlife to congregate around them. Try instead to overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim on your first travel day, then overnight in Page on your 2nd day, then drive back to Las Vegas (which also takes ~4.5 hours from Page) the following day.
Regarding which branch of Antelope Canyon you should visit, that probably will hinge on how much physical activity your mom will be able to endure. At only 100 yards in length, Upper Antelope Canyon tends to be the “go-to” tour for seniors, families with very young children and people with limited mobility. Those who are relatively fit and are OK with navigating some stairs and stepping over a few boulders are usually able to manage Lower Antelope Canyon. To judge for yourself, watch this Full Walk-Through Video of Lower Antelope Canyon. Both branches of the canyon require a guided tour to visit. Allow 90 minutes to 2 hours to tour either section of Antelope Canyon.
Horseshoe Bend also requires a good chunk of time, typically 60-90 minutes, but here again, consider carefully whether your mom would be able to handle it if she has respiratory or mobility issues, or if you plan to travel during the peak heat of summer. For suggestions on how to see Horseshoe Bend for those who can’t make the hike, read this article on our sister site, http://www.HorseshoeBend.com “Help! I Can’t Make The Hike To Horseshoe Bend”
Hope that helps. Best wishes for safe travels!
Alley 🙂

Hi Imma and thank you for visiting our site.
Your plan, I’m afraid, is overly ambitious and involves too much driving.
It takes 4.5 hours approximately to drive to Page from Las Vegas. It then takes 2 hours to drive from Page to Monument Valley, then another 3-3.5 hours to drive from Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon. With only 2 days to work with, I strongly recommend eliminating the trip to Monument Valley, but there is still a way you can work that into your trip (more on that in a minute).
It is not necessary to tour both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon in order to have a fulfilling visit to Page. Besides, you’re so limited on time anyway, that I would not recommend even trying.
Try and get an early start out of Las Vegas on 04/29 so you can do a tour of Lower Antelope Canyon that afternoon. The next morning, take a scenic airplane flight over Monument Valley, which lasts approximately 90 minutes. Then head to Grand Canyon. You can stop at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook on your way out of town. The drive from Page to Grand Canyon takes about 2.5 hours driving direct, but that rarely happens as there are many other points of interest on the route that you’ll no doubt want to stop at, including, but not limited to, the Cameron Trading Post, kiosks run by Navajo tribe members where jewelry and other wares are sold, the Little Colorado River Overlook, and about half a dozen viewpoints on the Grand Canyon once you enter the park. It’s not uncommon for this 140-mile drive to take people in excess of 4 hours.
Be sure to reserve your Grand Canyon hotel, Page, AZ hotel, and Antelope Canyon tour in advance of your arrival.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

Dear Venkat,
Hi and thank you for visiting.
Sunrise is at about 6:30 AM and sunset occurs at approximately 6:30 PM during early March, so you will have ample sunlight in order to enjoy both tours. Be sure you make reservations for both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours before you arrive. How To Book A Tour For Antelope Canyon
If you find you have time to spare on either end of your sightseeing day, you might visit the John Wesley Powell Museum, the Navajo Village Heritage Center or the Carl Hayden Visitors Center at Glen Canyon Dam. Make reservations for hotels, and don’t forget to stop by Horseshoe Bend, too.
Hope that helps. Enjoy your visit!
Alley 🙂

Hi Lorna –
First and foremost requirement: choose which branch of the canyon you wish to tour. It will come down to how much exertion you are willing to do, or not do. Upper is “easy peasy,” just 100 yards in length, pretty flat the whole way. Lower is a bit more physical, requiring some stair climbing and simple bouldering. Once you decide on Upper or Lower, make a reservation. How to book a tour for Antelope Canyon
Since you’re coming from Las Vegas, I strongly recommend you plan your visit as an overnight tour, two nights if you can swing it. It takes approximately 5 hours one way to drive from Las Vegas to Page, so that makes for a very long day tour. If you weren’t planning on driving, you’ll need to take a tour of some sort. Package tours are available from Las Vegas by bus or by plane. How to get to Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

Hi Ricky,
Early October in Page, AZ is typically marked by very stable weather, warm but not excessively hot, with chances of precipitation usually slight. You should have sunshine and blue skies! But, I would keep an eye on the weather about 2 weeks prior to your trip date to anticipate a potential cold snap or stray thunderstorm. As for a good itinerary, it’s difficult to recommend one not knowing how long you’ll be staying, but popular activities in the area include the Colorado River Discovery Half-Day Float Trip, Lake Powell Boat Tours, the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, walking tours of the Glen Canyon Dam, and ample easy but scenic hikes. Check out this sample 2-day itinerary for more ideas! Ultimate 2-Day Itinerary in Page, Arizona
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

Hi Elena, and thanks for visiting our site.
I’m going to get the bad news out of the way first: if you don’t have reservations to go to Havasu Falls already, you’re not going there. Permits are required to visit this area, and due to the nature of the logistics involved to get there, camping or staying in the local lodge for at least 1 night is recommended. Unfortunately, these accommodations are few in number and are booked months in advance. Sorry, but that’s the reality of the situation.
As for the rest of your itinerary, it’s feasible – if you act quickly. Grand Canyon South Rim lodging also books up well in advance, so the order of your trip should revolve around when you can find availability of hotels. Staying in the park is always most desirable, but if you can’t find availability there, Tusayan (aka Grand Canyon Village South) is your next best option. If nothing is available there, try Williams, Cameron, or Flagstaff, AZ. Visit this link for more information on Grand Canyon Hotels in order of proximity to the park At the Grand Canyon, hiking alone is perfectly fine; in fact, you’re not likely to be alone on the corridor trails Bright Angel and South Kaibab. Just remember that 1 hour down = 2 hours up. Water, sun protection and high-energy snacks should be carried with you at all times.
For Antelope Canyon, you are required to go with an authorized tour company. Horseshoe Bend can be visited on your own. For Lake Powell, you have a choice of taking a boat tour, renting a boat, or simply going down to a convenient beach and taking a swim. The best place to stay to visit these attractions is Page, AZ.
Now, seeing as though you’ve had to take one item off your wish list (Havasu), you might consider substituting it with Zion National Park. There’s alot to see and do in this area, and it’s right on your way back to Las Vegas. Lodging location recommended for this park is Springdale, Utah.

Hope that helps. Thanks again for visiting and best wishes for safe traveling!
Alley

Hi Ivy,
Thanks for visiting!
In late October/early November, lighting in both Upper and Lower Antelope will be optimal at mid-day, however, the light shafts you’ve no doubt seen pictures of are starting to fall short of extending all the way down to the canyon floor. Still, you might catch a glimpse of them, particularly in Upper, if you time your tour for around 11:00-12:00. Then Lower can be fit in around that.
Hope that helps,
Alley

Dear Charles,
Wow – we are humbled and flattered by your praise! I’ll be sure to pass it on to Ryan, who’s out of the office at present.
So, I’m assuming you have already been to the Grand Canyon, and that’s why you haven’t included it in your itinerary? Going off that assumption, here’s what I’d recommend.
1. On your way from Las Vegas to Page, consider stopping at the Paria Rimrocks/Toadstools Trail. It’s a fairly easy walk, about 1.5 miles roundtrip. The trailhead is located at Mile Marker 19 of Highway 89, between Page, AZ and Kanab, UT and rewards you with some really cool rock formations.
2. If you arrive in Page in the early afternoon hours before sunset, consider hitting Horseshoe Bend before settling in for the evening. This timeframe is one of the best for photos.
3. Make a reservation for your Antelope Canyon tour. The time of year you’re visiting is very busy and if you have your heart set on seeing the light beams at mid-day, the canyon will be busy. Since you’re travelling to Arches, I would recommend picking up your tour at the entrance to the canyon on Highway 98 instead of one of the tours out of Page.
As you can see, I haven’t even brought up the possibility of a Lake Powell boat tour. With only one night in Page, you might not be able to squeeze one in, unless it’s a short one like the Canyon Princess Dinner Cruise. Another night in Page may be in order!
Hope that helps in your planning. Have a wonderful trip.
Alley

Hi Sandy and thank you for visiting our site!
As you’ve already gathered, heat is a very important consideration when planning your itinerary. During the month of July, it’s not uncommon for daytime temperatures to reach above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Fortunately, though, the interior of Antelope Canyon tends to remain cool due to the fact that it’s shaded for most of the day. Since Lower Antelope Canyon requires more physical exertion, I’d recommend doing that activity during the cooler parts of the day, which tends to be early morning before 10 AM. Upper Antelope Canyon tends to be most brightly illuminated during the mid-day hours, so that section of the canyon is best visited between 10 AM and 1 PM. Horseshoe Bend is the most exposed of the 3 sites, so care must be taken if any of your traveling party is sensitive to extreme heat. Mid-afternoon tends to offer the best photo opportunity, but in July, this might become a secondary consideration to safety and comfort. Mid-morning, after sunrise, might be a better time to visit.
Another factor that might decide the order in which these 3 sites are visited is your trip itinerary. For example, if you’re coming to Page from Grand Canyon South Rim, Horseshoe Bend Overlook is a convenient stop on your way into town since it’s located just 5 miles South of the city. If you’re driving in from Monument Valley, you could easily hit Antelope Canyon en route to Page since the canyon’s entrance is located on Highway 98 just Southeast of town.
Whatever you decide, make sure you wear comfortable shoes for walking and bring plenty of water. At the present time, there are no water sources at either Horseshoe Bend or Antelope Canyon, but that could change in the future.
Hope that helps. Happy traveling!
Alley