Customer Questions

Hello Dorit!
I would be happy to help with any questions you might have, that I’m able to answer with some degree of authority, anyway 😉
I lived in Page, AZ, for 15 years, Grand Canyon South Rim for 7, and have been to all the other areas you mention, with the exception of Blue Canyon, which looks amazing. I can tell you re: Blue Canyon that a Hopi Tribal Authorized Guide is required to visit that area. Anyway, feel free to write back at your convenience with your American Southwest trip planning questions.
Alley 🙂

October 29, 2019 at 12:53 PM

Hey Steve, thanks for your compliments and best of luck in the Antelope Canyon Ultra-Marathon!
Honestly, the order in which you visit the attractions you list will depend largely on hotel availability, or lack thereof. It might be more conducive for you to hit Zion and Bryce en route to Page, or do a Grand Canyon-Page-Zion-Bryce loop.
With that in mind, you could do something along the lines of:
March 11: Arrive in Las Vegas, overnight in Vegas
March 12: Drive to Zion (~4-4.5 hour drive to due construction on I-15 through Virgin River Gorge), spend the day hiking and exploring, overnight in Kanab, UT
March 13: If desired, drive to Bryce Canyon (~90 minutes from Kanab), do some sightseeing, then on to Page, AZ (~3 hours from Bryce) to overnight
March 14: Race day, 2nd night in Page
March 15: Drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops), overnight at Grand Canyon
March 16: Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Las Vegas, with stop at Hoover Dam (~5 hour drive), overnight in Vegas
March 17: Fly home
Again, hotel availability will be the key determining factor in how you put your itinerary together. Start checking on that ASAP, the time of your visit coincides with Spring Break for some schools, so it will be busy!
If needed, you could also do this:
March 11: Arrive in Las Vegas, overnight
March 12: Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, overnight at South Rim
March 13: Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page (~3.5-4 hours), overnight in Page
March 14: Race day, 2nd night in Page
March 15: Drive from Page, AZ, to Zion, overnight in Springdale, UT
March 16: Drive from Springdale to Las Vegas (~3.5-4 hours), detour through Valley of Fire State Park, overnight in Las Vegas
March 17: Fly home
Whatever you decide, one important consideration is to do any and all driving during daylight hours. Roads in this part of the country are very dimly lit (a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky), plus deer, elk, and other wildlife tend to move about at night, which ratchets up your risk of an accident. Daylength also tends to be on the short side in March: sunrise occurs about 6:30 AM, sunset at around 6:30 PM. Utah will be 1 hour ahead of Arizona since the former DOES observe Daylight Savings Time, whereas the latter DOES NOT.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 24, 2019 at 12:52 PM

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From steve

Thank you so much for your insight! Very much appreciated!

October 25, 2019 at 6:47 PM

Hi Jim,
This is an excellent question. The town of Page, AZ, Antelope Canyon’s nearest gateway community, does have cell phone and internet service. Verizon tends to be the most popular wireless service provider IIRC. As for the Antelope Canyon area, cell phone signal can get spotty once you’re down off the mesa, and within the canyon itself, it typically doesn’t reach since you are enveloped by high canyon walls.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
P.S. Please check your e-mail for my personal reply to your other inquiry.

October 21, 2019 at 4:31 PM

Hi Hal and thank you for visiting!
Your plan sounds pretty fun, and realistic. As for “visiting Lake Powell,” remember that it’s huge; it actually straddles the border of two states, Arizona and Utah. Unfortunately, there’s no way to drive around it, but there are several points near Page, AZ, where you can get down to it if you wish. These are: Antelope Point Marina, Lake Powell Resort Marina, and Lone Rock Beach. In all cases, you would have to pay the $25/vehicle National Park Entrance Fee.
Another option would be to “bundle” either your Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon tour with a boat tour into the waterside of Antelope Canyon from Antelope Point Marina.
For Horseshoe Bend, plan on hitting that just after sunrise, which occurs shortly before 7:00 AM at this time of year. That’s the timeframe when you’re likely to have fewer hassles with parking and fewer people to contend with.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 22, 2019 at 2:08 PM

Hi Stephanie,
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, and it sounds like you have a realistic expectation of what you can and can’t accomplish this time around.
My only concern is that you’re having to pack up and drive to a new place every. single. day. A little downtime is sure to be welcome somewhere, and the most likely place where you can build this in is Monday April 6th, where you indicate wanting to visit Monument Valley.
For one, lodging in Monument Valley is scarce to begin with, so I wouldn’t be surprised if everything is sold out at this point. Another consideration is that, in my experience, kids aren’t that impressed with it. Don’t ask me why, but that’s just what I’ve observed 😉 If you do decide to take it off the table, what you could do is instead spend 2 nights in Page, AZ, and use your full day to take the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip. As the name suggests, it does not go through any rapids, but is a wonderful family-oriented trip with lots of beautiful scenery and compelling history. If for some reason that does not appeal, and Monument Valley lodging availability doesn’t cooperate, you could visit it as a day trip out of Page, AZ. It’s a 2-hour drive each way, and you’d have to keep an eye on the clock so you’re not doing the return trip at night, plus there’s a time difference (Monument Valley is one hour ahead of Page), but a day visit is doable at that time of year. I know, I’ve done it. Another option: fly over it! Fixed-wing airplane flights over Monument Valley depart from the Page Municipal Airport, run ~90 minutes long, and show you a ton of beautiful scenery in addition to Monument Valley.
When you get ready to return to Las Vegas, plan on making a detour through Valley of Fire State Park. It’s a stunning area, with scenery similar to that of the Coyote Buttes area, and you don’t need a permit to visit. April is a great time to be there since the weather isn’t so hot.
Whatever you decide, be sure to make reservations for all lodging and guided tours (especially Antelope Canyon) well in advance of your trip.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 22, 2019 at 2:01 PM

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From Kim Lynch

Hi Alley,
Your suggestions look amazing! We are looking to do a 7 night RV trip in June. We would like to fly in and out of Vegas and our two must do’s are the Grand Canyon and Moab. Do you have any suggestions on how to best schedule those two locations with a few of the other state parks mixed in? I know we’d like to spend 2 days in Moab.

Thanks so much in advance!!

November 03, 2019 at 11:50 AM

Hi Babak,
The online lottery for December Coyote Buttes North/Wave hiking permits took place in August. The only possibility now is to try your hand at the walk-in lottery, held daily at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitors Center in Kanab. During the winter months, weekend hiking permits are drawn on Fridays.
In the very likely event you are not chosen for a walk-in permit either, you might still be able to see The Wave and a ton of other amazing scenery by flying over it. Fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters can be chartered out of Page, AZ, or Kanab, UT. For more information, visit our companion site, TheWaveAZ.com and read “So You Didn’t Get A Wave Permit – Now What?”
If flying is not an option, there are many other areas of the Vermilion Cliffs/Paria Canyon Wilderness Area that are just as beautiful, but don’t require a permit to visit. We are partial to White Pocket, but strongly recommend going with a licensed guide service since the road there is rather tricky to navigate.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 18, 2019 at 2:11 PM

Hi Richard!
So first off, I’m assuming that you’ve already been to the Grand Canyon. If that is correct, then you should be able to make this itinerary work using either SLC or Las Vegas as a staging city. Which one you end up flying into will most likely come down to who’s got the better airfares, and most of the time, that’s Las Vegas. Another option? You could fly into Las Vegas and out of SLC, or vice versa. Before you commit to that, though, make sure that rental car drop-off fees aren’t too astronomical. Rental car outlets usually aren’t keen on one-way rentals, but to every rule, there are exceptions.
Secondly, the one destination that will probably have to come off the agenda as an overnight is Monument Valley. The reason for this is lodging, or lack thereof. There isn’t much to work with there in the first place, so I wouldn’t be surprised if everything is already sold out for Spring Break 2020. Seeing it shouldn’t be an issue, since it’s right on the way from Page, AZ, to Moab, UT. En route, you could also easily include a stop at Goosenecks State Park, but I’m getting ahead of myself 😉
So, assuming that Las Vegas will be where you fly into/out of, you could do something like this:
Day 1 – Drive from Las Vegas to Page, AZ (~5-6 hour drive [variance due to construction project taking place on I-15 through Virgin River Gorge]), overnight in Page, AZ
Day 2 – Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, tour Antelope Canyon, 2nd night in Page, AZ
Day 3 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Moab, UT via Monument Valley (~5-hour drive), overnight in Moab
Day 4 – Sightseeing in Arches/Canyonlands, 2nd night in Moab
Day 5 – Drive from Moab, UT, to Bryce Canyon via Capitol Reef (5-6 hour drive), overnight in Bryce Canyon area
Day 6 – Drive from Bryce Canyon to Kanarra Falls (~2 hour drive); after hike, drive to Springdale, UT (~1 hour drive), for overnight
Day 7 – Explore Zion National Park, 2nd night in Springdale
Day 8 – Drive back to Las Vegas (~3.5-4 hour drive [passing through construction zone mentioned above)

Depending on availability – or lack thereof – of lodging in some locations and/or Antelope Canyon tours, Kanarra Falls permits, etc. you can also flip-flop this itinerary. The only drawback to that would be that you’d have to do the longer drives of the trip on the back end, but then again, long drives are pretty much a given in this part of the U.S.!
If you were to use SLC as your staging city, your itinerary would look something like a “teardrop” shaped loop, with a couple of destinations rearranged for convenience:

Anyway, hope that helps. Please feel free to hit us up again if we can be of further guidance!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 17, 2019 at 1:13 PM

Hi Bala!
Your plan is OK, but the first thing that jumps out at me is that you’re packing up and driving someplace new every single day. IMO a vacation should have some “chill time” where you can kick back and relax. Sedona is the ideal place to build this in, and the way to accomplish it would be to take Flagstaff off the table. Not that it isn’t interesting and that you wouldn’t get to see it; you’d simply do so in between destinations. So here’s how I’d advise modifying your itinerary:
11/24 – Arrive in Phoenix and stay overnight
11/25 – Drive from Phoenix to Page, AZ (~5 hour drive), stop in Flagstaff, AZ, for lunch, overnight in Page, AZ
11/26 – Tour Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell , 2nd night in Page, AZ
11/27 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3-3.5 hour drive factoring in stops), stop for lunch at Cameron Trading Post, overnight at Grand Canyon
11/28 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Sedona (~3 hour drive), stop at Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff if desired, overnight in Sedona
11/29 – 2nd day in Sedona, take Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, overnight in Sedona
11/30 – Morning in Sedona, drive to Phoenix (~2.5 hour drive), overnight in Phoenix
12/01 – Fly home
In answer to your other queries:
How cold could it get in any of these areas? It can get quite cold, and you could encounter snow, especially in areas like Grand Canyon South Rim and Flagstaff. Of course, it’s too soon to call, so start monitoring the weather about 2 weeks before you travel.
Do we need jackets? Yes, bring them, but be prepared to dress in layers that you can easily remove and stick in a backpack as you acclimate to the outside temperatures.
For someone in their mid fifties with BP issues, could lower antelope canyon pose a challenge or do we just limit ourselves to Upper AC? As someone in her mid-50’s with BP issues, I wouldn’t hesitate to tour Lower Antelope Canyon, but I live 7,000′ above sea level. Everyone is different. You might want to take a look at this Full Video Walk-Through of Lower Antelope Canyon to judge for yourself. Maybe let your physician see it if you’re unsure.
Is it cooler inside the lower AC slot canyon than on the outside? Yes, by ~10 degrees (F).
Since the AC could experience flash flood even if the weather is dry, how could we recognize warning signs? At the time of year you’re traveling, flash flooding is really not an issue. That’s more of a concern during the late summer/early fall months. In the event extreme weather is expected, your tour company reserves the right to cancel all tours, in which case they will make every effort to reschedule you. If that’s not possible, you’d get a refund.
BTW, with AntelopeCanyonNow.com, you’re still doing a tour. It’s not possible to go to Antelope Canyon on your own.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 15, 2019 at 2:56 PM

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From Rachel

Hi Alley – My family and I are planning a trip to see the Mighty 5 in Utah as well as Grand Staircase, Antelope & Horseshoe in AZ. As a preliminary itinerary, I was thinking of flying into Salt Lake City staying one night there and then on the 2nd morning driving to Moab. I have found a place we are interested in staying while there. Was going to you that as home base for the days we tour Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef. Would 3 days be enough to see those 3 parks? At some point, we’d make our way across and have our second home base set up in Zion and I was thinking from there we could also hit Bryce, Staircase and Page, AZ. I was thinking 3 more days on the west side. and then we’d plan to fly out of Vegas. So maybe 7 nights? Does this sound reasonable or so you have a better itinerary you can share? Thanks in advance for any advice!

October 29, 2019 at 7:51 PM

Hi Lien,
Glad you’ve decided to visit us in Page, AZ, on your upcoming vacation. October is a great time to visit the American Southwest!
Unfortunately, I have to start things off with a bit of bad news: you don’t have enough time to do the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour. The drive from Las Vegas to Page, AZ, via the Vermilion Cliffs (which is a beautiful drive!) will take you anywhere from 6-7 hours minimum due to construction taking place on a section of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge.

That’s going to take the better part of a day right off the bat. The Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour is an 8-hour commitment as well, due to the water level of Lake Powell. There are two daily departures, one from 7:30 AM-3:30 PM, and another from 12:30 PM-7:30 PM, so as you can hopefully see, it just won’t be practical this time around. But there still might be a way to work it in… more on that in minute.
As for whether you tour Antelope Canyon X or Cathedral, you won’t go wrong with either one! Personally, I’m partial to Cathedral Slot Canyon, because it has both “classic” slot canyon scenery, and some formations you won’t find in any other Page, AZ, slot canyons.
Back on the subject of Rainbow Bridge: since the boat tour is pretty much out of the question, you might consider flying over it in a fixed wing airplane! In just 30 minutes time, you’ll not only get to see Rainbow Bridge, but a ton of other amazing scenery. Mornings are generally regarded as the best time to fly optimal light and lack of wind. For more information, check out the Rainbow Bridge Air Tour
Hope that helps and that you have a wonderful time!
Alley 🙂

October 15, 2019 at 2:37 PM

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From Adwoa

Hello Alley,
Is the construction still happening on I-15? we planned on driving in from Vegas at dawn straight to Antelope Canyon. Then drive back same day. I read your post on trying to avoid driving when it was dark so i know if there was still construction, this whole plan would be null lol.
Thanks in advance

November 05, 2019 at 1:28 PM

Hi Vinesh,
Sorry to hear that you weren’t able to visit Antelope Canyon last year due to inclement weather. We hope it cooperates with you better this year!
I really wish you had a week or more to spend, because that’s the only way you’d be able to hit all the attractions on your wish list. Unfortunately, you only have 3 full days to work with, and as such, your itinerary will have to be trimmed back substantially. The areas near Salt Lake City (Bonneville Salt Flats, etc.), for example, are simply too far away to be practical. Ditto for Moab, UT (Arches, Canyonlands, Dead Horse Point, etc.), so take them off the agenda as well.
As for the order in which you do the rest of it, that will depend on when you can find availability for Antelope Canyon tours. If you can get on an early morning tour on December 1st, here’s what you can do:
November 27th – Arrive in Las Vegas, stay overnight
November 28th – Drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park (~4-4.5 hour drive due to construction project taking place on I-15 through Virgin River Gorge), sightseeing in Zion, overnight in Kanab, UT
November 29th – Drive from Kanab, UT (~90 minute drive), to Bryce Canyon National Park, return to Kanab, UT, for 2nd overnight after sightseeing in Bryce
November 30th – Drive from Kanab, UT, to Monument Valley (~3 hour drive), return to Page, AZ (~2 hour drive), for the night ***I propose this method because lodging in Monument Valley is most likely sold out, but keep an eye on the time so you are not doing any of the return trip to Page, AZ, in the dark. If this does not appeal, you could consider flying over Monument Valley out of Page, AZ, by fixed wing airplane***
December 1st – Tour Antelope Canyon, drive back to Las Vegas (~5-6 hour drive [see above reference to construction delays, which may apply on this leg of your trip as well]), overnight in Las Vegas
December 2nd – Fly home

Here’s wishing you safe travels and good weather,
Alley 🙂

October 15, 2019 at 2:19 PM

Hi Gwen,
I hope you have more than 1 week to spend, because there’s a lot to see and do out here!
One thing I’d advise right off the bat is to skip the Grand Canyon Railway trip. Not that it isn’t fun, but it’s not a very efficient use of what’s bound to be limited time: for one, it takes 2 hours and 15 minutes to make a trip that would only take you 1 hour by car. Another consideration is that you don’t actually see the Grand Canyon from the train; you don’t see it until you get to the park and get off the train. Upon arriving in the park, you only get 3.5 hours to explore, and without a vehicle, you will be limited to sightseeing within Grand Canyon Village, which is only the “tip of the iceberg.” If your interest in the Grand Canyon Railway stems from a love for old trains, you might get an early start out of Sedona so you can stop in Williams to see it take off, or venture down to the Grand Canyon Railway depot down the hill from the El Tovar Hotel to watch it arrive. Or consider the Grand Canyon Railway Express tour from the South Rim, where you are driven to Williams, AZ, by bus in the morning, and take the train back to the park, arriving back in time for lunch. For more information on why the Grand Canyon Railway may not be the best way to go this time around, watch this video on GrandCanyon.com: Should We Take The Train or Drive?
With that out of the way, here’s what I would suggest, using Las Vegas as a staging city as you originally planned:
Day 1 – Arrive in Las Vegas, stay the night
Day 2 – Drive from Las Vegas to Sedona (~5 hour drive), overnight in Sedona
Day 3 – Take Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, 2nd night in Sedona
Day 4 – Drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon South Rim, w/optional stop in Williams, AZ, to see GCRy depart (~3 hour drive), overnight at Grand Canyon or Tusayan
Day 5 – Morning hike to Cedar Ridge (3 miles round trip), or Grand Canyon helicopter tour, then drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops), brunch/lunch at Cameron Trading Post, tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page
Day 6 – Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, take Glen Canyon Float Trip or Lake Powell Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, 2nd night in Page
Day 7 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Bryce Canyon National Park (~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops), optional Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos hike en route, overnight in Bryce Canyon area
Day 8 – Drive from Bryce to Zion National Park (~2-2.5 hour drive w/stops), overnight in Springdale, UT
Day 9 – Hike The Narrows or Angel’s Landing, 2nd night in Springdale
Day 10 – Drive back to Las Vegas (3.5-4.5 hour drive depending on whether Virgin River Gorge construction project has been completed)
Day 11 – Las Vegas
Day 12 – Fly home

As you can see, there’s no shortage of fun to be had out here, and if you can spend more time, that’s even better! Check out this sample 14 Day Itinerary in Northern AZ & Southern UT on our companion site, HorseshoeBend.com
One thing to keep in mind is that the time of year you’re visiting is going to be hot, therefore, any vigorous activities should be done as early as possible to avoid the peak heat of mid-day. Also: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Be sure everyone in your party is carrying water, and drinking it, at all times.
First priority at this point is to book your lodging. In-park lodging especially tends to book out months in advance and might already be full. If you find that to be the case, look to the nearest gateway communities for your hotels. In November or December, 2020 seat inventory for Antelope Canyon tours will be opened up. That’s the 2nd most time-sensitive element of your itinerary.
Hope that helps. Feel free to contact us again if we can be of further assistance!
Alley 🙂

October 15, 2019 at 2:02 PM

Bonjour Brenda,
Pour réserver une visite de Lower Antelope Canyon, vous devez contacter l’une des deux agences de voyage de Lower Antelope Canyon, qui sont les suivantes:
Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours http://lowerantelope.com/ 928-606-2168
Dixie Ellis ’Antelope Lower Canyon Tours http://antelopelowercanyon.com 928-640-1761
Pour un tour en kayak du bord de l’eau du canyon Antelope, contactez:
Kayak caché dans le canyon http://www.lakepowellhiddencanyonkayak.com/ 928-660-1836 ou Kayak Lake Powell
https://www.kayakpowell.com/ 928-660-0778

Traduction française par Google Translate

November 11, 2019 at 4:48 PM

Hey Julie!
If you ladies enjoy hiking and great views, then Lower Antelope Canyon would be my recommendation. However, don’t be surprised to find that tours there are already sold out. The place is that popular! If you find that to be the case, consider one of several alternate slot canyons in Page, AZ, that are just as beautiful but far less crowded. I’m partial to Cathedral Canyon because it has iconic slot canyon scenery and some unique rock formations that resemble Coyote Buttes.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 10, 2019 at 2:43 PM

Hi Deneen and good luck in the race this weekend!
Coming from Las Vegas to Page, AZ, you could do one of two things to make the most of the drive:
1. detour through Zion National Park, or

2. detour on US89A by the Vermilion Cliffs/Marble Canyon area

Either one will tack another 90 minutes-2 hours onto your drive time, but if you don’t expect to return to the area anytime soon, you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the sights. Just be sure you’re at your final destination for the day before sunset. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to local roads that have very little ambient lighting, and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other wildlife that could pose a safety hazard. Sunset this weekend will occur 6:00 PM Arizona time.
With the time you have, you should be able to see Antelope Canyon and visit Horseshoe Bend without a problem, provided there are seats available on Antelope Canyon tours. Horseshoe Bend can be visited at your leisure, parking permitting, anytime between the hours of sunrise and sunset. A guided tour is required to visit Antelope Canyon and the majority of local slot canyons. At this late date, don’t be surprised if Antelope Canyon tours are sold out, in which case, you might look to one of many alternate slot canyons in Page, AZ, that are just as beautiful, but a lot less crowded.
Unfortunately, Rainbow Bridge is where we run into a problem. It’s not possible to drive there as it’s 50+ miles uplake from Page, AZ, and there are no roads that go into that area. Hiking there is a multi-day commitment that requires a permit from the Navajo Tribe, something you don’t have time to arrange. The other option would be to take a boat tour, but that takes the better part of a day, which again, you don’t appear to have at your disposal. The only option you appear to have available would be to fly over it. Fixed-wing airplanes depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily, contingent on good weather and mornings are the best time to fly for optimal light and less wind. Rainbow Bridge Air Tour
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 10, 2019 at 2:39 PM

Hi Maddie,
Sorry about the troubles with that link. It appears that their site may be down temporarily.
E-mail addresses for Antelope Canyon tour outfitters (since you’ll ultimately be traveling with one) are as follows:
Chief Tsosie’s Antelope Slot Canyon Tours – chieftsosie@yahoo.com
Roger Ekis’ Antelope Canyon Tours – tours@antelopecanyon.com
Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours – phone 928-310-9458 or 928-691-0244 (sorry, couldn’t find an e-mail)
Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tours – aacptreserve@gmail.com
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 09, 2019 at 3:07 PM

Hey Sarah and thanks for visiting our site!
If you’re wanting to avoid chilly temps, you might have chosen the wrong time to visit. Early April is in the “transitional” zone between winter and spring, and is notorious for late season snowstorms coming in from out of nowhere, especially at higher altitudes such as Zion and the Grand Canyon. Temperatures in Page and Sedona are usually pleasantly brisk at that time, while Phoenix will be on the balmy side. Unfortunately, if you wish to avoid crowds, too, you’re visiting over the Spring Break holiday, so things will be busy.
That said, a loop from Vegas to Phoenix should be doable, assuming that April 4th and/or 11th aren’t travel days from/to home. Here’s what I’d recommend
April 4th – drive from Las Vegas to Zion National Park (~4.5 hour drive), optional detour through Valley of Fire State Park (add another 1-2 hours to the drive time), overnight in Springdale, UT
April 5th – sightseeing in Zion, using free park shuttle, 2nd night in Springdale
April 6th – drive from Springdale, UT, to Bryce (~2-2.5 hour drive), overnight in Bryce Canyon area
April 7th – drive from Bryce to Page, AZ (~3 hour drive), tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page, AZ
April 8th – take Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip or Lake Powell Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, 2nd night in Page
April 9th – visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in photo stops, bathroom breaks, meals [Cameron Trading Post is highly recommended!], etc.), overnight at Grand Canyon
April 10th – drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Sedona (~3 hour drive), overnight in Sedona or Village of Oak Creek
April 11th – fly home

If the prospect of Sedona doesn’t appeal for the “chill time” portion of your holiday, you might consider flip-flopping the above itinerary (fly into Phoenix/out of Las Vegas) and use St. George, Utah, as your final “unplug and relax” destination. Like Sedona, it is surrounded by beautiful scenery, and is about 2.5 hours from Las Vegas.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 09, 2019 at 2:59 PM

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From Sarah Brown

This is very helpful! Thank you so much! I had never heard of st. George. I’ll explore that a little bit and make some decisions. Thanks again!

October 09, 2019 at 10:57 PM

Hi Sally and thank you for visiting our site!
If you were traveling during the summer months, I wouldn’t hesitate to say, “go for it.” However, you’re traveling during a time of year when daylength is rapidly shortening and in this part of the U.S., you want to be sure to do any and all driving during daylight hours. The reasons for this are because local roads are very dimly lit (a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky), which tends to attract deer, elk, and other nocturnal wildlife. Trust me, you don’t want to hit a deer in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty (if you manage to get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive!
Another important consideration, especially on that first day, is going to be a time difference: Nevada is on Pacific Time, and Arizona is on Mountain Time, which means you will “lose” an hour traveling from Las Vegas to Page. Sunrise in Las Vegas will occur at around 6:30 AM, and sunset in Page, AZ, will take place just after 5:00 PM (local time). This means you have less than 12 hours of daylight to work with. It will take approximately one hour to drive from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam; it will then take about 2 hours to drive from Hoover Dam to Valley of Fire State Park. If you restrict your activities there to a quick drive-by, and a couple of stops at points of interest near the road, you could scoot by with about a 2-hour visit. After that, you’re looking at at anywhere from a 4-5 hour drive from Valley of Fire to Page, AZ. The reason for the variance is because there is a construction project taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that could hold you up anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Long story short, you should plan on leaving the Valley of Fire area no later than 12:00 noon if you want to make it to Page, AZ, by nightfall.
Similarly, you should also plan on leaving Page, AZ, earlier than 3:00 PM. Here, I’d also suggest 1:00 PM as “blast-off” time. The drive from the Grand Canyon to Page, AZ, is given on Google Maps, MapQuest, etc., as 2.5 hours; realistically, is more along the lines of 3.5-4 hours because the drive is very scenic and you will be stopping to take pictures. Photo ops and points of interest on the drive South include, but are not limited to, the “Cut” Overlook, the Gap Trading Post, Chinle formation views (rock formation found in the Painted Desert), the Cameron Trading Post (great place to stop for a late lunch/early dinner!), the Little Colorado River Overlook, Chief Yellowhorse’s souvenir stands, over half a dozen named viewpoints of the Grand Canyon within the park boundaries… just to name a few. Because you’ll end up doing a good chunk of your Grand Canyon sightseeing on the drive down from Page, you can scoot by with one night at the Grand Canyon, and you may indeed want to give that 2nd night at the South Rim to Sedona. Sedona is a stunning area, and you’ll definitely want to spend more time there than just a quickie drive by on the way to Phoenix! In fact, I’d even suggest taking that night you propose to spend in Phoenix and giving it to Sedona, too. Trust me, you won’t regret it! There’s plenty to see and do there. Plus it takes only 2-2.5 hours to drive from Sedona to Phoenix, so with a 5:00 PM flight, you should be fine to drive over that morning.

At the time of year you’re visiting, keep in mind that most of the destinations on your itinerary will be cooling off, so pack a jacket, gloves, etc., just to be safe.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 09, 2019 at 2:34 PM

Hi Alley,

I have been living in your site for a week now to come up with an itinerary for our trip on Nov 11-15 with my husband, mom and dad. I’d like to get your thoughts:

Nov 11 – Leave at 6am from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim. Sightseeing, helicopter tour (possible?), overnight
Nov 12 – More sightseeing til Lunch, drive to Page @ 1pm, Horseshoe bend sunset, overnight
Nov 13 – Lower and Upper Antelope + Lake Powell combo tour, overnight
Nov 14 – Drive to Zion NP, overnight
Nov 15 – Sunrise Hike @ Zion NP, drive back to Las Vegas after lunch

My mom and dad are coming from SEAsia and their only request is to see as much of the Grand Canyon as they can. I kind of want to spend more time in the South RIm but as I’ve read, the South Rim-Page drive has a lot of viewpoints that’s why i included Zion NP there. Would love for anymore suggestions from you. I’m finalizing everything so I can book the hotels and tours this weekend.

October 09, 2019 at 8:24 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hi Cha!
Your itinerary looks pretty fun and well-planned. If your folks are coming all the way from SE Asia, they should definitely take advantage of the opportunity to see as much as they can! Strange as it may sound, one night at the South Rim should be more than sufficient, because a good chunk of your sightseeing at the Grand Canyon will occur on the drive to Page, AZ. The route takes you along the East Rim/Desert View Drive of the park, which has over half a dozen named viewpoints of the Grand Canyon. Upon exiting the park, you’ll then be on Navajo Indian Tribal Land, which has many points of interest as well! These include, but are not limited to, the Little Colorado River Overlook, Chief Yellowhorse’s souvenir stands, the Cameron Trading Post (good stop for lunch), Chinle formation views (rock formations similar to the Painted Desert), the “Cut” Overlook, and, parking permitting, you can hit Horseshoe Bend on your way into town.
Where you indicate you might want to take a Grand Canyon helicopter tour on your travel day from Las Vegas, I’d recommend doing that first thing in the morning on November 12th. Mornings in general are better times for flying due to light conditions (more shadow play on the canyon walls due to angle of the sun) and lack of wind. At the time of year you’re visiting, the first flights of the day go out at 9:00 AM.
Do make sure that you’re on the road from Grand Canyon Village to Page, AZ, no later than 1:00 PM since the drive can take as long as 4 hours due to the potential number of stops you might make. It’s important to get all driving done by nightfall in this part of the U.S. since area roads are very dimly lit, and nocturnal wildlife such as deer, elk, and even free range cattle and wild horses, like to congregate near them. A collision with a large animal in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty to non-existent, and where help will be a long time coming (and very expensive) is an unnerving experience that we don’t want you to have! Sunrise takes place at ~7:00 AM, and sunset occurs at around 5:15 PM at the time of year you’re visiting.
For the Zion leg of your trip, Springdale, UT, would be the best place to stay since it’s on the Western border of the park, which places you well for the drive back to Las Vegas. On the return trip to Vegas, be prepared to encounter slight delays due to a long-term construction project taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge. Hopefully you do not have anything time-sensitive scheduled for that evening. Due to the difference in time zones between Utah and Nevada, sunset in Las Vegas will occur at ~4:30 PM.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 10, 2019 at 2:10 PM

Hi Stephanie!
For visiting Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, the town you want to stay in is Page, Arizona. It is situated just minutes from both attractions, and has a fine selection of traditional hotels and vacation rentals.
Hopefully, you’re planning on taking advantage of the opportunity to visit the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon as well!

One thing to be careful about at the time of year you’re visiting, however, is that it’s winter. Snow is a very real possibility in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, so hopefully your schedule has some “wiggle room” in case you find yourself delayed or detoured by inclement weather.
Remember also that the time of year you’re traveling is the Christmas/New Year’s holidays, so it will be busy. Be sure to book all lodging and Antelope Canyon tours ASAP.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 07, 2019 at 3:13 PM

Hi Kat,
The short answer to your question (“Is it possible to visit grand canyon south rim, antelope, and horseshoe bend in one day?”) – no.
The long answer to your question is it takes approximately 5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim. It then takes ~3 hours to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, where it will take at least 4 hours to tour Antelope Canyon and visit Horseshoe Bend. You’d then be facing a 5-6 hour drive from Page, AZ, back to Las Vegas. So that’s 13-14 hours of driving (factoring in restroom breaks, photo ops, meals, etc.), and 4-5 hours of touring, when you only have 11 hours of daylight to work with.

Sorry, but the math just doesn’t add up. You need to set aside at least 2 days to pull all that off; better yet 3 days/2 nights if you don’t want to feel as though you’re racing against the clock the whole time.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 07, 2019 at 3:04 PM

Hey Tiffany!
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, and I don’t think it has too much “fluff” time at all — we’d rather see folks take their Southwest vacations at a nice, relaxed pace instead of a daily race against the clock in an attempt to cram as many destinations as possible into their trip. It’s also great that you’re planning things well in advance.
Still, your plan warrants a couple of minor observations and reality checks.
On Day 1 of the Zion leg of your trip, going to Hoover Dam beforehand will add another 90 minutes onto a long-ish drive since it’s in the “wrong direction.”

I’d recommend doing Hoover Dam on one of your “open” days in Las Vegas, or, on the way back to Las Vegas if you opt to return there instead of Phoenix at the end of your trip. Instead, take the easy detour to the stunning Valley of Fire State Park on the way to Zion. Get an early start out of Las Vegas if you want to take us up on that as VOF does get hot during the day.

When you say “tour the park by vehicle” on day 2, keep in mind that you’ll only be allowed to drive into Zion Canyon in your own vehicle if you are staying at the Zion Lodge. Since you are planning so far ahead, you should be able to manage that, but keep in mind that the Zion Lodge books up one year in advance. Be ready to reserve a room first thing in the morning on May 1st, 2020! If you end up staying anywhere else, such as Springdale, UT, or Kanab, UT, you’ll need to utilize the free park shuttle to access Zion Canyon.
If you want to include Sedona in your itinerary, that’s great, it’s a gorgeous area, but honestly, doing it as a “drive-by” between Grand Canyon South Rim and Phoenix won’t do it justice. You need at least 2-3 days to at least “scratch the surface.” You might want to trim a day off Las Vegas, and even 1 day off Grand Canyon South Rim in order to accommodate that. Crazy as that may sound, you can scoot by with 1 night at Grand Canyon South Rim because a good chunk of your sightseeing will take place on the drive from (or to) Page, AZ.
If you opt to skip Phoenix and do a Las Vegas to Las Vegas loop instead, you might add Bryce Canyon to your itinerary. One day in this area is sufficient since it’s a small park, square mileage-wise. For more information on a “classic” American Southwest trip itinerary using Las Vegas as a staging city, check out our “Ultimate 7 Day Itinerary in Northern AZ & Southern UT”
You are correct in that the drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Los Angeles is a “whole lot of nothing” that might be a little much for a 3-year-old to handle. If you do decide to flip-flop the itinerary, it will be “six of one/half a dozen of another” in terms of temperatures, crowds, water levels in the Narrows, etc. Bear in mind that you’re traveling during the Memorial Day holiday, so it will be busy everywhere.
Regarding Grand Canyon’s newly acquired status as a Dark Sky Park, star-gazing and astronomy programs may indeed be occurring, but it’s too soon to call this far out. Maybe check the Grand Canyon National Park events calendar a little closer to your trip date to see what’s going on. Check the other parks as well as they all take steps to preserve the natural quality of the night sky, even if they’re not yet “officially” recognized as Dark Sky Parks.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 07, 2019 at 2:57 PM

Hi Kanchan,
Honestly, the manner in which you plan your itinerary will come down to availability of Antelope Canyon tours. Book a tour that fits your schedule, then plan the remainder of your activities around it. For Horseshoe Bend, just after sunrise is the best time to visit since the overlook tends to get crowded between 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM and then again at sunset. In the winter months, it’s not so much that the views aren’t great (they still are), but some activities such as the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip and the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour are on seasonal hiatus. If you do a water-based activity, it’s best to keep it short for the sake of your family’s comfort due to colder weather. Antelope Canyon waterside tours from Antelope Point Marina are a good choice, which can be “bundled” with Antelope Canyon slot canyon tours.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 07, 2019 at 2:28 PM

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From Jessica

Hi Alley,

Can I run this itinerary by you!

May 17 – Scottsdale
May 18 – Prescott
May 19 – Grand Canyon
May 20 – Page (Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon)
May 21 – Zion National Park
May 22 – Lake Powell
May 23 – Sedona
May 24 – Leave from Phoenix Airport

Does that seem doable?

October 07, 2019 at 3:37 PM

Hi Teresa,
MaxTours’ Las Vegas-Antelope Canyon Tour package only goes to one branch of Antelope Canyon. If you wish to visit both Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon, you will have no other option except to drive yourself. At 5 hours each way, I know it’s a long drive. If you have a problem with that, which I don’t blame you one bit for, you’ll need to rearrange your schedule so that you can stay overnight in Page, AZ. You won’t regret doing so as it will allow you to enjoy Antelope Canyon and everything else the area has to offer at a more relaxed pace, with more freedom and flexibility.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 07, 2019 at 2:11 PM

Hi Anna,
The online lottery process for December Wave permits takes place in August. On the rare occasions that permits are cancelled or returned prior to December, the BLM will post these on their calendar, but again, that doesn’t happen often. Your best bet will be to try your hand at the walk-in lottery at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Visitors Center in Kanab. Walk-in permits are issued the day before you wish to hike, so be sure to arrange lodging in Kanab, UT, or Page, AZ, for both the day you apply for the walk-in permit and the following day in case your party is chosen to hike The Wave.
In the very likely event that you are unable to hike The Wave, there might still be a way you can see it, and that is to fly over it. Airplanes and helicopters can be chartered out of Page, AZ, or Kanab, UT. Neither aircraft will land in the Coyote Buttes area, and the trip will be pricey, but you’ll see a lot of amazing scenery in addition to The Wave.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 07, 2019 at 2:07 PM

Hi Linda, and apologies for the delay in response to your inquiry. I was working over the weekend!
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, but I’d still recommend making a couple of minor changes.
On your first travel day, for example, you propose to drive to Tusayan via Grand Canyon West. This is a lot of driving for one day’s time. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West. It would then take you another 4.5 hours or so to drive from GC West to Tusayan.

That’s at least 7-8 hours of driving (factoring in restroom breaks, the inevitable photo op, etc.) in one day. Another consideration at the time of year you’re traveling is daylength: in early April, it’s still relatively short. Sunrise occurs at ~6:00 AM and sunset takes place at around 7:00 PM. You’d need to time your trip so that you’re not doing any of the drive at night. Roads in this part of the U.S. tend to be very dimly lit, which is a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night skies, plus deer, elk, and other wildlife tend to be wandering about after dusk. Believe me, you don’t want to get into a collision with a large mammal in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where cell phone service is spotty (or nonexistent), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. In light of those concerns, I would recommend either skipping Grand Canyon West, or lodging that first night somewhere between Grand Canyon West and Tusayan, maybe Kingman, AZ, or Laughlin, NV.
On April 5, where you indicate you want to “hike Grand Canyon,” I hope you’re referring to a day hike, because attempting to hike rim to river and back in one day is strongly discouraged. Fortunately, there are many day hikes available in the Grand Canyon that will be fulfilling and fun for your family. If you opt for anything on the South Kaibab Trail, remember that the trailhead parking lot is closed to private vehicles and you will need to utilize a shuttle to get there, which is free of charge.
On April 6, plan on the drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page taking at least 3.5-4 hours, longer if you detour to Marble Canyon. It’s a very scenic drive with lots of photo opportunities, especially between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View Point. There over half a dozen named Grand Canyon Viewpoints along this route, not including the fascinating Tusayan Ruins & Museum. Plan on stopping at either the Cameron Trading Post for breakfast/brunch, or, if you do make the detour to Marble Canyon, you might grab a bagel or muffin for breakfast at your hotel, then save your appetite for the Cliff Dweller’s Restaurant. However you decide to go, again, keep an eye on the time so you’re at your hotel well before nightfall. If by chance you arrive in Page, AZ, around sunset, you might find the parking lot at Horseshoe Bend full already. If this takes place, plan on hitting it just after sunrise the following morning.
On April 7, where you propose to tour both Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon before driving to Moab, UT, here again, you’ll need to make sure you’re on the road so that you’re settled into your hotel well before dusk. The drive from Page, AZ, to Moab, UT, will take you at least 5 hours, but don’t be surprised if you end up taking more like 7 because – surprise surprise LOL – it’s a beautiful drive that will take you through Monument Valley, and the Eastern flank of Bears Ears National Monument.

One factor working in your favor is the fact that Utah DOES observe Daylight Savings Time, where Arizona (most of it, anyway) does not. Even though you will “lose” an hour traveling from AZ to UT, sunset in Moab will occur at around 8:00 PM, which buys you a little time. Be sure to book your Antelope Canyon tours as soon as possible. Seat inventory for 2020 will open up in November or December, and the time of year you’re traveling is Spring Break, so demand for tickets will be high.
On April 9, where you indicate “hiking in Arches and Canyonlands,” chances are, you’ll only get to do one or the other. Both parks are huge, with lots of opportunities for exploration. Frankly, this area needs 4-5 days to fully explore and enjoy. I can pretty much guarantee you’ll be planning a return trip before you leave the Moab, UT, city limits! Ditto for Capitol Reef and Grand Staircase, but seeing these areas on a “drive-by” basis is better than not seeing them at all. Here again, the drive time is given as 5 hours on Google maps, but plan for it to take longer.

This leg of the trip in particular (Utah Scenic Byway 12) is absolutely stunning, and you will be stopping to take photos often! One thing to remember about Bryce is that it’s 8,000′ above sea level, so it will be cooler up there, possibly even snowing. Pack jackets, gloves, etc., and be prepared to dress in heavier layers that you can easily remove and put back on if needed.
Zion National Park is another area that deserves more of your time, but at least you’ve given it one night, which is better than nothing at all. If you’ve booked lodging inside the park, that’s pretty sweet! On your way back to Las Vegas, plan on making a detour through Valley of Fire State Park. Gorgeous area, with rock formations a lot like “The Wave,” but you don’t need a permit to get in.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 07, 2019 at 2:01 PM

Hey again, Susan!
Thank you SO much for further clarification on your itinerary and goals for your vacation. Unfortunately, I still have to tell you that your plan is not realistic. You’re going to have to whittle back your expectations a bit, unless you want to be packing up and driving every single day of your vacation.
For example, Bryce Canyon and Zion cannot be fully explored in one day. You need at least one day for each park. Kanab, UT, makes for a good central location to base yourself for this purpose. Also, the Moab, UT, area really requires at least 4-5 days to do justice to. Arches National Park only represents a small fraction of all there is to see and do there. There’s also Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse Point State Park, Corona Arch, Hell’s Revenge, Castle Valley, ziplining, wine tasting… just to name a few! 25 Best Things To Do in Moab, UT So you’ll either need to take it off the table, or go into this trip knowing that you are only going to scratch the surface of Moab’s potential.
If you want to add the Grand Canyon to your itinerary, the most logical place to do it would be between Sedona and Page. It’s possible to do it as a “drive-by,” but not ideal. It takes ~3 hours to drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, then another 3.5-4 hours to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ. These are not Google maps figures, mind you, they’re more like “real life” figures, factoring in the many stops you’ll make along the way to take photos, grab a meal (Cameron Trading Post – Navajo tacos – yummo!), bathroom breaks, etc. To pull it off, you’ll need to keep an eye on the clock and be aware of when sunrise and sunset occur. You don’t want to do any driving after dark in this part of the U.S. due to roads that are very dimly lit, and populated by deer, elk, and other wildlife that pose a collision risk. Trust me, you don’t want to hit a deer in an area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty at best (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. In late October, sunrise occurs at ~6:45 AM, and sunset takes place at around 5:30 PM.
In light of those concerns, here’s what I’d recommend:
Day 1 Sunday: fly into phoenix and take rental car and drive to sedona
Day 2 Monday: tour Sedona (Pink Jeep, hiking, etc.), spend 2nd night in Sedona
Day 3 Tuesday: drive from Sedona to Page, AZ, via the Grand Canyon, visit Horseshoe Bend on way into town, overnight in Page, AZ
Day 4 Wednesday: tour Antelope Canyon in AM, drive to Moab, UT, via Monument Valley (~5.5 hour drive), overnight in Moab, UT — note I have you doing Monument Valley as “drive by” due to lack of lodging in the immediate area and possibility that all rooms are booked
Day 5 Thursday: tour as much of Arches/Canyonlands area as possible, drive to Kanab, UT (~5 hour drive), overnight in Kanab, UT
Day 6 Friday: Explore Zion National Park, 2nd night in Kanab, UT
Day 7 Saturday: Drive to Bryce (~90 minutes from Kanab), explore the area for a couple of hours, then drive to SLC (~5 hours) for flight home

If you were to take Moab off the table, that would free up more time to take a “quality over quantity” approach and enable you to take things at a more relaxed pace. But I understand if this trip is a “once in a lifetime” or at least a blue moon type of opportunity.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 04, 2019 at 3:04 PM

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From Kellie

Hi, Alley!

Wow! I am blown away by your knowledge of the area and would love your advice. I am looking to plan a similar trip, arriving in Phoenix late afternoon of Nov. 12 and departing late morning from Salt Lake City on Nov. 18. I’ve been to Sedona, so no need to spend time there. I also have the annual national parks pass that’s itching for a good workout before it expires. 🙂

What would your recommended itinerary be? Would like to walk/hike 3-8 miles each day (intermediate hiker; nothing too strenuous). I’ll likely be traveling solo, so safe travels by car/accommodations are hugely welcomed!

Thank you for your time and expertise!

October 21, 2019 at 2:27 PM

Hi Sara,
I recommend calling Groome Transportation. They offer shuttle service between Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon, but to my understanding, they also do group and corporate charters. Their website is www.GroomeTransportation.com, but in your case, I would recommend speaking with someone by phone. Their number is 928-350-8466.
You might also try National Park Express, but they’re based out of Las Vegas, and they do offer shuttle service to Page, AZ, but may not travel to Sedona. In any case, their # is 702-948-4190.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 04, 2019 at 2:28 PM

Good morning Susan!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there’s no way you’re going to accomplish everything on your “wish list” with the limited time you have. First thing you’ll have to take off the table: Arches/Canyonlands. This area is simply too far out of the way to be realistic using Phoenix as your staging city, plus it requires at least 4-5 days to do justice to. Monument Valley may have to go as well, not so much because of the lack of time, but more due to the lack of lodging in that area; there’s not much to work with in the first place, and rooms are probably booked up already. Otherwise, you’ll be packing up and driving every single day of your trip, and that doesn’t sound like my idea of a vacation. You need some “chill time,” and Sedona is the most good place to get that. However, it’s another area that deserves 4-5 days time minimum to fully enjoy and explore, so don’t be surprised if after 2 days, you find yourself wishing you could stay longer! There might still be a way you can work Monument Valley in, even if you don’t go there; more on that in a minute….
One piece of information I wish I had is where you’re flying out of, as that would help me advise you most accurately. In all honesty, this trip would work a lot better if you were flying out of Las Vegas, but for now, I’ll assume you’re flying into and out of Phoenix. How you structure your itinerary will depend on 3 things: 1. whether you want to get the longer drives out of the way first 2. availability of Grand Canyon lodging and 3. availability of Grand Canyon tours. Assuming that you’ll hit Sedona first, here’s how you can make the rest of it work.
October 20th – Arrive in Phoenix, drive to Sedona (~2 hours), overnight in Sedona
October 21st – Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour, 2nd night in Sedona
October 22nd – Drive to Zion National Park (~6 hours, factoring in stops), overnight in Kanab, Utah
October 23rd – Drive to Bryce (~90 minutes from Kanab), hike and explore, 2nd night in Kanab, UT
October 24th – Drive to Page, AZ (~60 minute drive, remember that Kanab is 1 hour ahead of Page), check in 10:00 AM for Glen Canyon Float Trip, visit Horseshoe Bend afterward (parking permitting), overnight in Page, AZ
October 25th – Visit Horseshoe Bend first thing in AM if unable to do say day before (sunrise is at 6:45 AM), tour Antelope Canyon, then drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5 hour drive factoring in stops), overnight at South Rim
October 26th – Sightseeing at Grand Canyon in AM, drive back to Phoenix (~4.5 hour drive), overnight in Phoenix
October 27th – Fly home

Back to the subject of Monument Valley: if you really want to see it (which I don’t blame you one bit for!), a couple of ways you could go about it in the likely event you can’t find lodging in the area, you could visit as a day trip from Page, AZ. It’s a 2-hour drive each way, and you’d have to keep an eye on the time so that you’re not doing any of the return trip in the dark. There’s also a time difference to contend with since the Navajo Reservation DOES observe Daylight Savings Time, but Page, AZ, does not, therefore, you’d “lose” an hour driving from Page, AZ, to Monument Valley, then “gain” it on the drive back to Page. Another option: you could swing by Monument Valley on the drive between Page, AZ, and the Grand Canyon, but if you did that, you’d be looking at a 2 hour drive from Page, AZ, to MV, then a 3.5 hour drive from MV to Grand Canyon South Rim. Day trips and “drive-by’s” are less than ideal, but with an eye on the clock and careful planning, they can be made to work. I know, I’ve done it 😉 The best solution to the problem of how to work Monument Valley IMO is to fly over it out of Page, AZ. Fixed-wing airplanes take ~90 minutes to fly over not only Monument Valley, but Rainbow Bridge, Lake Powell, and the Glen Canyon Dam. It’s a beautiful flight; I know, I’ve done that, too 😉 Mornings are the best time to fly for good light and less wind. For more information on Monument Valley air tours out of Page, AZ, visit Westwind Air Service Page/Lake Powell Air Tours
Hope that helps – good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 04, 2019 at 2:21 PM

Hi Mandy!
Since Antelope Canyon is the only component of your day that requires a tour booking, you can essentially build the rest of your day around it. Horseshoe Bend can be visited at your leisure, in your own vehicle – parking permitting, of course. Allow approximately 90 minutes to visit Horseshoe Bend, which includes time to walk the .6 miles from the parking lot to the overlook, take photos and admire the view, then walk back to the parking lot.
One piece of information I wish I had was the time of year you’re visiting. That will have a direct effect on the “urgency” of getting back to the Strip before dark. If your trip is toward the end of this month, sunrise occurs at ~6:45 AM, and sunset takes place at around 5:30 PM. That’s not even 12 hours of daylight to work with, and an Antelope Canyon tour is going to take up 2-2.5 hours of your already limited time in Page, AZ. Another consideration is that there is a construction project occurring on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge, which could tack another 30-60 minutes onto the drive between Las Vegas and Page, going in either direction. If your visit is taking place sometime next year, in the spring or summer, you have more daylight hours to work with, but still, if you’re not locked into your Las Vegas hotel reservations that night, I would strongly consider staying overnight in Page, AZ, for optimal safety and comfort.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 04, 2019 at 1:43 PM

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From Gitesh Chopra

Hi Alley!

Wonderful and helpful article. Went through the comments and they were super helpful.
We are planning to go to Las Vegas from San Jose on friday, 8th November and come back on Tuesday, 12th November 2019.
We are planning to enjoy in Vegas for the weekend and leave early morning from Vegas on Monday 11th around 5 am to go to Page and directly reach the antelope Canyon tour. May be book a tour between 1 and 3 pm. After that we plan to rest and stay in page overnight.
12th morning we can see Horse Shoe Bend and Lake Powell and return to Vegas to catch a flight in the evening at 9:30 pm. Does this sound like a feasible plan, given the construction on the route, less lighting on the track and less than 12 hours of daylight in November?
Or should we change our plan? What would be your thoughts to optionally plan our tour in the current scenario and enjoy these beauties of nature?
Do you also suggest accommodating Grand Canyon in our trip or is this optimal already?

October 05, 2019 at 5:24 AM

Hi Sharron!
Visiting both Grand Canyon South Rim and the Grand Canyon Skywalk as a day trip from Las Vegas is not realistic. I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but the Grand Canyon Skywalk is located at Grand Canyon West, a Native American Tribal Park that’s in a totally separate area from Grand Canyon South Rim, which is the National Park. It takes approximately 2.5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West; it would then take another 4.5-5 hours to drive from Grand Canyon West to Grand Canyon South Rim, then another 4.5-5 hours to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim back to Las Vegas.

Another thing working against you at the time of year you’re visiting is daylength. In late October, it’s short: sunrise occurs at ~6:30 AM, and sunset takes place at around 6:20 AM. You want to be sure to get most of your driving in the more rural areas done by nightfall, and as it stands, you’re proposing to do 12+ hours of driving at a time of year when you barely have that much daylight to work with. The math just doesn’t add up.
What you need to do is prioritize whether you want to see Grand Canyon National Park or the Grand Canyon Skywalk, and if it’s your first visit to the area, I’d recommend choosing the park. The drive from Las Vegas to GC South Rim is ~5 hours each way, and ditto for Las Vegas to Page. Therefore, instead of doing day trips to both the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon, I’d recommend doing a loop from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend), then back to Las Vegas, with overnight stays at the Grand Canyon and Page.

Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 03, 2019 at 3:58 PM

Hey Leigh,
Your itinerary looks really fun! The only change I would propose making is try and squeeze out another day or two for Sedona. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. It’s a stunning area with lots to see and do. Folks often report that after spending 4-5 days there, they still felt as though they’d only “scratched the surface.” The most logical place and manner to accommodate this would be to drop that day in Monument Valley and just drive straight to Page, AZ, from the Grand Canyon. If you did that, yet still really wanted to see Monument Valley — which I wouldn’t blame you one bit for! — one way to “have your cake and eat it too” would be to fly over it out of Page, AZ. Fixed-wing airplanes take ~90 minutes to fly over not only Monument Valley, but Rainbow Bridge and a sizable chunk of Lake Powell. Mornings are the best time to fly for the most dramatic light and lack of wind. For more information on Monument Valley flights from Page, visit Westwind Air Service Page, AZ
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 03, 2019 at 3:47 PM

Hey Calvin,
First thing’s first: 99.999999% probability that The Wave is not going to happen. This is a specially managed area due to its geological uniqueness and the relative fragility of the formations. Therefore, only a handful of hikers are allowed there daily on a permit system. The online Wave permit lottery took place in July; 10 more permits will be given out via walk-in lottery the day prior to when you wish to hike, and the first part of November is prime time to make this hike, so competition for those few permits will be fierce. Even if you luck out on getting a permit, you wouldn’t be able to squeeze in The Wave hike and an Antelope Canyon tour in one day. The Wave hike would take the better part of a day, so you’d want to have two full days for it, and an Antelope Canyon tour. One possible exception to all that: fly over The Wave out of Page, AZ, or Kanab, UT. In the course of a 2-hour flight, you’d not only see The Wave, but a ton of other amazing scenery. Yes, it would be pricey, but it would be unforgettable! Mornings are the best time to fly for light and lack of wind. For more information, check out this piece on our companion site, www.TheWaveAZ.com: So You Didn’t Get A Wave Permit — Now What?
Sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news. BTW, if you’re staging out of Las Vegas, it would be most logical to go from Las Vegas – Page – Grand Canyon – Las Vegas, or reverse depending on availability of Grand Canyon lodging and Antelope Canyon tours.

Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 03, 2019 at 3:40 PM

Hi Moon!
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, although just a tiny bit rushed. Your current plan has you packing up and driving every single day of your visit. If possible, free up an extra day somewhere so you can relax and explore. Also, if I interpret you correctly, you intend to drive from Page, AZ (Antelope Canyon) to the Grand Canyon, then back to LA after visiting Grand Canyon? If so, this is not a good plan. It takes approximately 3.5-4 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. I know that Google Maps gives the drive time as 2.5 hours, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens as the drive is very scenic and you will be stopping to take pictures more often than you realize. The drive from Grand Canyon to LA is then ~9 hours. Set aside 1 night to stay at the Grand Canyon, then drive back to LA the following day.

Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 03, 2019 at 3:15 PM

Hi Aditya,
Glad to hear that you can give the Grand Canyon and surrounding attractions the time they deserve on your upcoming trip!
With the timeframe you specify, also the requirement of spending the last two nights of your vacation in Las Vegas, you can accomplish quite a bit, but keep in mind with an infant in tow, that you’ll be somewhat limited on the activities you can realistically partake of. Another thing to keep in mind is that you’re traveling around the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., which is very busy to begin with. Don’t be surprised if you find that lodging at some attractions is sold out, so you need to be willing and able to reverse your itinerary if the situation warrants it.
The two key things to check availability for are: Grand Canyon lodging and Antelope Canyon tours. Regarding Antelope Canyon, you’ll be limited to touring Upper Antelope with a baby.
Assuming that you can find lodging and tours on your desired dates, you could do something like this:
November 23rd: Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, optional stop at Hoover Dam (~5 hour drive), overnight at Grand Canyon
November 24th: 2nd day/night at Grand Canyon, sightseeing around Grand Canyon Village Historic District, Hermit’s Rest/West Rim overlooks using free shuttles
November 25th: Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops in the East Rim/Desert View Drive and in the Navajo Reservation), tour Upper Antelope Canyon in the afternoon, take boat tour of waterside of Antelope Canyon overnight in Page, AZ
November 26th: Visit Horseshoe Bend, drive from Page, AZ, to Zion National Park (~2 hour drive), overnight in Springdale, UT
November 27th: 2nd day/night in Zion, Springdale, UT, lodging Family-friendly hiking in Zion
November 28th: Drive from Springdale, UT, to Las Vegas (~3.5-4 hours factoring in possible delays due to a construction project in the Virgin River Gorge)
November 29th: Overnight in Las Vegas
November 30th: Fly home
One area I have not included in this itinerary is Bryce Canyon. Not that it isn’t beautiful, but at the time of year you’re visiting, it is very likely the area will have snow, making travel with an infant more challenging than it already is.
Regarding places where you can get Indian/Asian food, inside the parks like Grand Canyon, Zion, etc., won’t feature that type of dining. Flagstaff (~90 miles Southeast of Grand Canyon South Rim), has several fine Indian restaurants; my personal favorite is the Delhi Palace (I like Indian food, too ;). In Page, AZ (by Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend) and Springdale, UT (near Zion), the closest you’ll probably be able to get is Thai food. In Las Vegas, you have your pick of over 20 Indian/Asian restaurants. If you are vegetarians, and are OK with dairy products, you shouldn’t have much of a problem accommodating your dietary preferences wherever you go. If you are vegan, you might have to get a bit more creative, and might want to invest in a small cooler so you can purchase your own food to be on the safe side.
Also, start monitoring local weather about 2 weeks before you get ready to travel. Best case scenario, the weather will be cold; worst case, you could encounter snow. Be ready by packing jackets, gloves, etc. at the very least.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

October 03, 2019 at 2:36 PM

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From Aditya

Thanks a ton AlLey! That’s a very detailed plan and covers my dream Grand Canyon. Can we make a slight modification please, On Nov 23rd after visiting Hoover Dam can we drive towards North rim, as I listen that Hoover Dam to North Rim have beautiful views but the South Rim is dry.

October 03, 2019 at 6:34 PM

Hi Vivian,
I wish I knew when you were planning to visit, as that has a direct effect on how I advise you. Also, be aware that Grand Canyon North Rim visitor services are only open between May 15th and October 15th, so this year’s season will be drawing to a close very soon.
If you are planning to come out to the North Rim in the next couple weeks, you’re likely to find all lodging in the immediate vicinity of the area sold out. If that’s the case, Kanab, UT, makes for a good place to stay and visit the park as a day trip. It takes approximately 90 minutes, one way, to drive from Kanab, UT, to Grand Canyon North Rim. If you go about it in this manner, it’s very important that you get any and all driving done during daylight hours. Roads in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah are very dimly lit, a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night skies. Another consideration is wildlife: deer, elk, and other animals are out and about 24/7, and tend to congregate near the roads to graze, ratcheting up your risk of an auto accident in an area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty at best (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. Also, you’ll be dealing with a time zone difference: Utah is on Mountain DAYLIGHT Time, whereas Arizona is on Mountain STANDARD Time. You’d “gain” an hour traveling from Kanab to the North Rim, then “lose” it on the return trip to Kanab.
Since Kanab, UT, is also a relatively short distance from Page, AZ (~1 hour drive), you could use it as a “base” from which to tour Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend if need be.
Now, if your visit is in the future, say, for next year, the best place to stay would be inside the park if at all possible. Fair warning, though, Grand Canyon North Rim doesn’t have much lodging to work with in the first place (one hotel in the park, two within an hour’s drive), so don’t be surprised to find all North Rim lodging sold out for 2020 already!
As for the best driving route between Grand Canyon North Rim and Page, AZ, it’s a very scenic 2.5 hour drive that will take you through the Kaibab National Forest, the Vermillion Cliffs, Marble Canyon and Lees Ferry. The restaurant at Cliff Dweller’s Lodge makes a great stop for lunch or dinner and is one of Northern Arizona’s best-kept culinary secrets!

Please feel free to write in again if we can be of further guidance.
Alley 🙂

September 30, 2019 at 3:35 PM

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From Rona Burke

Hi Ally

I am planning a trip at the beginning of October 2020.
Itinerary so far, Fly into Phoenix and drive to Sedona, for 2 nights. Pink Jeep tour
Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim, lodging in park booked, 1 night.
Drive to Page- Antelope Canyon. Lake Powell boat tour of canyon 1 night in Page
Drive to Horshoe Bend See Monument Valley 1 Night in Kenab
Drive to Bryce 1 Night booked
Drive to Zion 2 Nights booked
Drive to Las Vegas Stopping at Valley of Fire 2 nights then fly home.

Would you rearrange any of these stops? My plan was to reduce the amount of driving each day by changing hotels. Since it will be dark fairly early we will relax at each stop in the evening. We have flexibility with our time but Zion was already booked out for the weekend dates, so I but itinerary around available reservations.

Your information is incredible, I appreciate any advice you can provide.

October 02, 2019 at 8:30 PM

Hi Annick,
Yes, you absolutely can tour Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon in one day! Book both tours as a “bundle,” and you will be given a choice of how much time you would like to have between tours, whether you prefer them back to back, or if you’d like to take things at a more leisurely pace. For more information, visit Upper & Lower Antelope Canyon Bundle
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 30, 2019 at 2:22 PM

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From Annick

Thanks Alley,
If we were to visit only one, which one would you suggest ? What are the main differences ? Is there one that is more spectacular than the other ?

October 01, 2019 at 2:06 PM

Hi Marta and thank you for your inquiry.
The good news is, all popular National Parks and Monuments in the Southwestern U.S. are open over the Christmas holiday. The bad news is you might encounter difficulty finding lodging or availability on tours since that is a very popular time of year to travel.
You have correctly deduced that self-driving is the best way to enjoy optimal freedom and flexibility, but without a place to stay, it won’t do you much good. If you find that you are unable to secure hotel or tour reservations, you might indeed consider going with an escorted tour. For ground tours (vehicle) out of Las Vegas we recommend MaxTour. If you’re open to doing an air/ground combination tour, Scenic/Grand Canyon Airlines Las Vegas-Antelope Canyon Expedition can show you Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and a whole lot more in one day.
Whatever you decide, be prepared for winter weather, up to and including snow at that time of year. Pack jackets, gloves, etc. and be prepared to make alternate plans in the case of inclement weather. A day trip to Death Valley might be a nice alternative in that situation.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 30, 2019 at 2:20 PM

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From Shirley

Hi Alley,

Thank you for sharing! We are planning a family trip to Grand Canyon and beyond for 6 days around Christmas 2019. Below is my itinerary. I know I’m a bit ambitious but the kids really want to explore as many parks as possible. My husband thinks we should skip Canyonlands and Arches but I really want to keep them on the list if we can. Can you please comment on my plan and let me know if you think it’s feasible. Your suggestion would be greatly appreciated!
Day 1 Morning- drive about 3 hors from Phoenix to Grand Canyon South rim; explore in Grand Canyon in the afternoon, Overnight at Grand Canyon south rim.
Day 2 Early morning – explore more at Grand Canyon, then drive 2 hours to Antlope Canyon Upper and Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam; Late afternoon drive 3 hours to Monument Valley, overnight at Monument Valley
Day 3: Morning – explore at Monument Valley, Afternoon – drive 3 hours Canyonlands National Park, overnight at Moab
Day 4: Morning – drive 30 minutes to Arches National Park, late afternoon – drive 4 hours to Bryce National Park, overnight at Bryce
Day 5: Morning and early afternoon – explore at Bryce National Park, late afternoon- drive 1.5 hours to Zion National Park, overnight at Zion
Day 6: Morning and early afternoon – explore at Zion, late afternoon, drive 3 hours to Las Vegas

October 02, 2019 at 2:19 PM

Hi Jess and congratulations on your impending bundle of joy!
Honestly, the order in which you plan your trip will come down to two key components: Antelope Canyon tour availability and availability of Grand Canyon lodging.
I can certainly understand the appeal of getting the longer drive out of the way first, so if you can find lodging in Page, AZ, and slots on Antelope Canyon tours for that first leg of your trip, then rooms at a Grand Canyon hotel on that second night, you should be golden! However, be prepared to reverse the order in which you visit these two attractions should hotel or tour availability dictate doing so. If you were to have to visit the Grand Canyon first, then Page, then Sedona, it won’t make much of a difference in the drive times, since Phoenix to Page or Grand Canyon South Rim is ~4.5-5 hour drive in either case. If you were to have to do a Phoenix-Grand Canyon-Page-Sedona loop, you would end up doing some backtracking, but it won’t be significant enough to negatively impact your experience, IMO.
An important consideration at the time of year you’re visiting is to ensure that you’re doing all your driving during daylight hours. Days in December are short — sunrise occurs ~7:20 AM, sunset at around 5:15 PM — and local roads are minimally lit, which is a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night skies. Another potential hazard is the tendency of deer, elk, and other wildlife to graze or migrate at night, which ratchets up your risk of a collision in an area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

September 30, 2019 at 1:45 PM

Hi Nag,
First thing’s first: The Wave is not going to happen. This is a specially managed area in the Paria Canyon/Vermilion Cliffs National Monument that is restricted to 20 hikers per day. Permits are issued via online lottery 4 months in advance, with whatever is left going out to people who apply for a walk-in lottery in Kanab, UT, the day prior to when they wish to hike. With a group your size, the probability of getting in via either means is slim to none. But, there might still be a way you can see it. More on that in a minute.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you’re traveling during the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., so don’t be surprised to find lodging (even Air BnB’s), tours, etc., to be booked up already. Be flexible with your plans, and be ready to accept the fact that you might have to drop a few items off your “wish list,” and one you’ll most likely have to sacrifice is Monument Valley. That area doesn’t have much lodging to work with in the first place, and what with it being so popular, hotels and vacation homes are often booked up a year in advance. However, there might still be a way for you to see that, too. More on that in a minute…
So, with the timeframe available to you, you could do something like this:
November 24th – land in Phoenix, overnight in Phoenix
November 25th – drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5-6 hour drive, factoring in stops), overnight at Grand Canyon Village, Tusayan, Williams, or Flagstaff. Grand Canyon lodging options
November 26th – drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (~3.5-4 hour drive, with stops including the Cameron Trading Post for breakfast/brunch), overnight in Page, AZ vacation home , visit Horseshoe Bend, tour Antelope Canyon
November 27th – drive from Page, AZ, to Zion National Park (~3 hour drive), overnight in Springdale, UT
November 28th – drive from Springdale, UT to Las Vegas, NV, w/detour through Valley of Fire State Park if desired (~5 hour drive), overnight in Las Vegas
November 29th – day trip to Death Valley National Monument (~2.5 hour drive each way), overnight in Vegas
November 30th – 3rd day/night in Las Vegas or fly home
A couple of things to bear in mind as you make your plans: you’re traveling during the early part of winter, so, best case scenario, you’ll encounter days that are sunny and brisk; worst case, you could run into a snowstorm. It’s too soon to call at this point, of course, but start monitoring local weather about 2 weeks before you get set to travel, and plan on at least packing a jacket, gloves, etc. for each member of your party. Another factor potentially working “against” you at the time of year you’re traveling is daylength: it’s short, and you want to make sure you do any and all driving during daylight hours here. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged due to lack of ambient lighting on area roads, and the tendency of deer, elk, and other wildlife to congregate around them at night, ratcheting up the possibility of you having an accident. That’s something you DON’T want to have happen in an area that’s pitch black, where cell phone service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. The week you’re traveling, sunrise in Arizona occurs at around 7:15 AM, and sunset takes place at approximately 5:15 PM. Move that up an hour for Las Vegas, since Nevada is in a different time zone.
Oh, RE: The Wave and Monument Valley – if you’re not able to get to either of these places in person, a way you might still be able to work them into your itinerary is to fly over them. Airplanes and helicopters can be chartered out of the Page Municipal Airport by advance arrangement. Yes, it will be pricey, but you’ll get to see some amazing scenery you couldn’t get to by car or by foot! For more information, visit this article on our companion site, www.TheWaveAZ.com: So You Didn’t Get A Wave Permit – Now What?
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

September 27, 2019 at 2:31 PM

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From Nag

Thanks for the detailed itinerary Alley!!

We will try to follow the trip as suggested. We are ok to skip Wave but we will see if we can include Monument Valley.
Thanks again for the detailed explanation.

September 27, 2019 at 6:00 PM

I would like to plan a trip to include rim to rim south to north, antelope canyon and harsh bend. Looking for tips on time of year and logistics.

September 28, 2019 at 5:26 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hi Peg!
Since Grand Canyon North Rim is only open between May 15th and October 15th, that will be the linchpin around which the rest of your trip planning revolves. In light of its abbreviated season, and the fact that there isn’t much lodging in that area to work with, you shouldn’t be surprised if all hotel rooms in that area are booked for the 2020 season already. Grand Canyon North Rim lodging Should you find that to be the case, there are alternatives, such as visiting the park as a day trip from places like Kanab, UT, or Page, AZ, or taking a scenic flight over it from the South Rim.
If you are able to pick and choose what time of year to visit, late September and early October is my personal favorite, a sentiment which is echoed by many longtime locals. Autumn offers the benefits of cooler temperatures, thinning crowds, and in some areas, beautiful autumn foliage to compliment your photos!
Las Vegas would be the best place to stage your trip from, as it is conveniently located to Grand Canyon North and South Rim, as well as Page, AZ (for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend), and other beautiful parks such as Bryce Canyon and Zion.
For suggestions on how to get the most out of a 1-week visit to the Grand Circle, check out our “Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary in Northern Arizona & Southern Utah”
Please feel free to write in again if we can be of further guidance.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

September 30, 2019 at 2:32 PM

Hey! We are trying to fit these in while staying in Kannab Oct 14-18th. Trying to figure out the best way to plan our trip.

We land in Vegas at 7:30am on Monday, and fly out at 6pm on Friday.

Of course Zion and Bryce are places of interest, but want to fit these in as well. Don’t want to waste Monday and Friday, as there is still a lot of time to fit something in those days. Please help! 😊

September 29, 2019 at 7:42 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hi Jennifer!
You’ve picked a wonderful time to visit Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, and Kanab, UT, is a good “base camp” from which to explore the many attractions of the Grand Circle.
The main priority on your sightseeing days is going to be making sure you get any and all driving done during daylight hours. Roads in this part of the U.S. are very dimly lit, a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night skies. Plus deer, elk, and other wildlife tend to be nocturnal, and Kanab, UT, is located on a migratory route which is very heavily trafficked at the time of year you’re visiting. Another consideration is that there will be a time difference between Nevada and Utah, and Utah and Arizona: Nevada is on Pacific Daylight Time, Arizona is on Mountain STANDARD Time, and Utah is on Mountain DAYLIGHT Time. You will “lose” an hour traveling between Las Vegas and Kanab, “gain” an hour traveling from Kanab to Page, AZ, to tour Antelope Canyon, then “lose” it again traveling back to Kanab. The week you guys are here, sunrise in Kanab occurs at ~7:30 AM and sunset takes place at around 6:45 PM. Move that up an hour for Page, AZ.
In order to make the most of your time, I’d recommend visiting Zion on the way from Las Vegas to Kanab since your flight arrives early. It’s a relatively easy detour that wouldn’t add a lot of miles to your drive anyway. Stop in Springdale, UT, and utilize the Zion Canyon Shuttle System to get around the park. If desired, take a couple of easy but scenic hikes before making the remainder of the drive to Kanab, which is about 1 hour.
On October 15th, make a day trip to Grand Canyon North Rim. By coincidence, that is the seasonal “closing day” of the visitor services facilities. The drive from Kanab, UT, to Grand Canyon Lodge takes approximately 1.5 hours each way. Plan on stopping at the Jacob Lake Inn to pick up a bag (or two!) of delicious home-made cookies from their world-famous bakery! Again, be sure to time your return trip so that you’re not doing any of it in the dark. Trust me, I’ve seen my life flash before my eyes making nighttime runs from the North Rim back to Page with all the deer out there.
For your other full days, plan to visit Bryce Canyon (also a 1.5 hour one way drive from Kanab), and Page, AZ (~1 hour from Kanab and one hour “behind”), to tour Antelope Canyon and visit Horseshoe Bend. A guided tour is required to visit Antelope Canyon, so be sure to make your reservations ASAP!

On your sightseeing day in Page, AZ, you might make a nice little “loop” out of the drive by going the direct route from Kanab, UT through Big Water in the morning, then returning to Kanab via Marble Canyon and Lees Ferry. At Lees Ferry, you can actually park your car just yards from the banks of the Colorado River and dip your feet in the very cold water. Also plan on having dinner at the Cliff Dweller’s Restaurant — it’s one of Northern Arizona’s best kept culinary secrets! The route will take you back through Jacob Lake in case you run out of cookies 😉

On your return day, get an early start out of Kanab, UT, and make a couple of short detours through Snow Canyon State Park near St. George, UT, and/or the Valley of Fire State Park just outside of Las Vegas. These are both stunning areas that won’t take you too far off I-15.

Speaking of I-15, there is a construction project taking place in a section of the Virgin River Gorge that could tack some time onto your drive out of and back to Las Vegas. For real-time updates, or to post some of your own, you might join the Facebook group “Pain In The Gorge.”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 30, 2019 at 3:15 PM

Yo Russ 😉
It’s definitely good that you’re planning your Northern Arizona vacation well in advance, especially if you’re traveling over the Memorial Day holiday! 2020 Antelope Canyon tour inventory will be made available in November-December of this year, so keep checking back.
As for where the Antelope Canyons are located, they are about 8 miles Southeast of the town of Page, Arizona.

If possible plan on staying at least 2 days here so you can enjoy one of our world-famous lake or river tours, such as the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip, the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, or a waterside boat tour of Antelope Canyon! Ultimate 2-Day Itinerary in Page, AZ
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 27, 2019 at 2:07 PM

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From Bernie

Dear Alley
We, 3 adults have this last minutes plan to visit Grand Canyon, Horsebend and Antelope Canyon. We will drive from Humble Texas on 30 Sept, Monday and would arrive in Grand Canyon on 01 October night.

As is last minutes, I would appreciate it very much if I could seek your advise on what is the best way to visit. As i have 2 seniors who are not able to walk that much. i plan to take a plane tour to view the Grand Canyon in the morning on 02 October, wednesday follow by visiting Horsebend and Antelope Canyon in the afternoon. Do you think is viable?

Also, may i know where is the best town should i stay? I have check the lodging inside the GC and all are fully booked.

Thanks in advance for your help, thank you.

September 28, 2019 at 1:02 PM

Oops, Staying in Page Sunday evening May 24th…!! Wish to tour Antelope Monday the 25th. Have res @ North Rim Monday evening. – Russ
JUST SAW UR Reply, Thank You…. – Russ

September 27, 2019 at 4:43 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hey again Russ!
Good job on scoring a reservation at Grand Canyon North Rim. Be sure to allow for plenty of time to make the drive from Page, AZ. Although Google maps gives the figure as roughly 2.5 hours, that’s wheels turning, no stops, which rarely happens since the drive is very scenic and you will be stopping to take pictures often, I guarantee it!
Consider having lunch at the restaurant at Cliff Dweller’s Lodge — it’s one of Northern Arizona’s best kept culinary secrets! Plan on stopping at the Jacob Lake Inn to grab a bag (or two!) of delicious home-made cookies from their world-famous bakery as well 🙂
Have fun and let us know how you get on,
Alley 🙂

September 30, 2019 at 1:53 PM

Hi Kim!
We’re all for taking a “quality over quantity” approach to a vacation, especially if you want to include Sedona in your trip plans. Sedona is a stunning area, and you’ll quickly find that even if you spent a week there, you’d merely scratch the surface of all there is to see and do! Still, with the time you have, you could enjoy a nice 2-day visit there, topped off with a night at the Grand Canyon, or vice versa depending on Grand Canyon lodging availability. As for the backtracking issue, I wouldn’t sweat it too much. It would give you an opportunity to catch things that you might have missed on the drive over, such as one of the last remaining intact sections of Historic Route 66. Long drives are how we roll in this part of the U.S., so, not much to be done about that!
Zion National Park is another area that warrants more time than a quick drive-by. It’s a huge park with lots of opportunities for hiking and sightseeing geared to people of all ages and physical fitness levels. At least an overnight is preferable to a look-see from a car window! Springdale, UT, a small community on the Western border of the park, would be where you’d want to stay as it is the central hub of the Zion Canyon Shuttle System, which is mandatory to use for those not staying inside the park.
Another consideration at the time of year you’re traveling is weather. Early November is in the transitional zone between fall and winter. Weather will be cold, and worst case scenario, you could encounter snow. Being able to take your trip at a more relaxed pace definitely works in your favor in case you are delayed or detoured by inclement weather. Of course, it’s too soon to call, but you should start monitoring the weather about 2 weeks before you get set to travel.
As you’ve also seen, many water-based activities at Lake Powell are on seasonal hiatus, like the kayak tour. However, shorter boat tours are still running, such as Antelope Canyon waterside boat tours from Antelope Point Marina. These can easily be “bundled” with land-side tours of Antelope Canyon, which makes the reservations process a lot more convenient than in was in years past.
If you do wish to visit Antelope Canyon and Zion this time around, the best way to go about that is to drop Sedona and do something like this:
November 6 – Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hour drive), overnight at Grand Canyon
November 7 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops), visit Horseshoe Bend, tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page, AZ
November 8 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Zion National Park (~2.5-3 hour drive with stops), overnight in Springdale, UT
November 9 – Drive back to Las Vegas w/detour through Valley of Fire State Park if desired (it’s amazing!) (~5-6 hour drive), fly home
Yes, the above trip plan is rushed, but could work with careful planning, including advanced reservations at all lodging and for Antelope Canyon tours.
Which way would be best for you to go? IMO it comes down to asking yourself if you realistically think you might be able to return to the area in the foreseeable future. If the answer is “yes,” then I’d say take things slow this time around and enjoy some “chill” time in Sedona and a night at the Grand Canyon! If this trip is going to be a once in a lifetime (or at least a blue moon) thing, then make the most of the time you have.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 27, 2019 at 1:58 PM

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From Kim

Thank you so much Alley! Your advice and suggestions are incredibly helpful! We’ll likely follow your suggested itinerary and return in the near future (flying into Phoenix) to see Sedona at a more relaxed pace.

September 27, 2019 at 11:50 PM

Hi Anissa, and kudos for planning your Grand Circle vacation well in advance.
In the summertime, activities in Page, AZ, and the surrounding parks are in full swing. IMO you won’t have any problem finding things to see and do on any leg of your trip! If you are wanting to free up a day to allocate to Zion, I’d recommend dropping at night at the Grand Canyon in order to do so. I know, that sounds totally crazy, but here’s the deal: you’ll end up doing a good chunk of your Grand Canyon sightseeing on the drive down from Page, AZ. The route will naturally and logically take you along the East Rim/Desert View Drive of the park, where there are over half a dozen named Grand Canyon viewpoints you can stop at, as well as the Tusayan Ruins & Museum. Before you even get to that part, however, there are plenty of other photo ops to pique your interest on the Navajo Reservation, such as Chinle formation views, the Little Colorado River Overlook and Chief Yellowhorse’s souvenir stands. The Cameron Trading Post is a good place to stop for breakfast/brunch, too! So by the time you arrive at Maswik Lodge (which is a perfectly fine place to stay, you’re inside the park and that’s the important thing), you’ll have already seen a lot of the canyon. When you do the helicopter flight, you’ll see even more. With that in mind, you could scoot by with just one night at the Grand Canyon.
BTW, re: your time in Page, AZ, I’d recommend changing the order in which you do some of the activities, namely the “boat trip.” If you’re referring to the Glen Canyon Float Trip, Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour or other half-day+ water-based activities, these are best taken first thing in the morning so you can enjoy cooler temperatures. Daytime temps in June tend to get up above 100; not so comfortable for being on the water for hours at a time with little or no shade.
RE: Angel’s Landing, it is regarded as one of the most difficult hikes in Zion National Park. Definitely do your homework before committing to it, and if you should decide against it, no worries: there are plenty of awesome hikes available in Zion that won’t have you seeing your life flash before your eyes!
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 25, 2019 at 2:55 PM

Hi Regina,
Using Sedona as a “base camp” from which to explore the various attractions in Northern Arizona is less than ideal, especially at the time of year you’re traveling. Driving distances are long, anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours one way. In November, you’re bound to encounter cold weather, up to and including snow, and days that are very short: sunrise occurs at ~7:15 AM, sunset takes place shortly after 5:00 PM. You want to avoid nighttime driving at all costs in this part of the U.S. due to roads that are very dimly lit (a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night skies), and the possible presence of deer, elk, free range cattle, and other wildlife. A nighttime collision with one can be a very nerve-wracking experience, especially in an area you’re unfamiliar with, where it’s pitch black, cell phone service is spotty (if you can get service at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Therefore, it’s best to overnight in the areas you wish to visit. In Sedona, the Pink Jeep “Broken Arrow” Tour is considered a definite must, and for good reason, it’s a lot of fun, and the scenery is beautiful.
On Tuesday, when you go to Page, AZ (no “i” ;), remember it’s about a 3-hour drive from Sedona, but don’t be surprised if it takes longer. The drive is very scenic, and you will be stopping along the way to take pictures! The Cameron Trading Post is a good place to stop for brunch/lunch. Parking permitting, you can stop at Horseshoe Bend on the way into town (a tour is not required), or just after sunrise on the way out of town the following morning. BTW, the rafting and other water-based tours are on seasonal hiatus at that time of year. Some may operate with a certain number of passengers, but you would need another night in Page, AZ, to accommodate such a tour as they usually take up the better part of a day.
As for making a side trip to Monument Valley on the way back to Sedona, I wouldn’t recommend that. It takes 2 hours to drive from Page, AZ, to Monument Valley. It then takes at least 3.5 hours to drive from Monument Valley to Sedona. At a time of year when you only have 10 hours of daylight to work with, that’s cutting things a bit too close to dark for my taste. If you really want to see Monument Valley, which I don’t blame you for in the least, doing it as a day trip from Page, AZ, would give you more time to enjoy a tour and get back to your hotel by nightfall. Another way to go about it would be to fly over it. Fixed wing airplanes depart from the Page Municipal Airport daily, and overflights of Monument Valley usually run about 90 minutes. They also swing over Rainbow Bridge, which is a definite bonus! For more information on Monument Valley air tours, visit Westwind Air Service. Mornings are the best time to fly for optimal light and lack of wind.
RE: visiting the Grand Canyon, here again, go there and spend the night. It’s a 2.5-3 hour drive one way from Page or Sedona to the park, and you really should experience a sunset or sunrise on the canyon rim! If Grand Canyon park hotels are sold out, look to Tusayan, AZ, the gateway community 7 miles outside the park gate.
On your wrap-up days in Sedona, the area has plenty to offer for families like yourselves! The Verde Canyon Railroad would certainly be a good choice, as would a helicopter tour or a visit to the Chapel of the Holy Cross. For more suggestions, visit www.Sedona.net Family Vacation
One last thing: the time of year you’re visiting is the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. There will be lots of families out touring and taking advantage of a long weekend. If you don’t have lodging or tours reserved, strongly recommend you get on that ASAP.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 25, 2019 at 2:34 PM

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From Regina Cofino

Thanyou so very much!! We are traveling from Guatemala to do an Ironman competition that weekend so we are very excited! Thanks for all you tips.
One last question.
Do you recommend sleeping in Monument Valley, and then the next day drive to Grand Canyon? Or is it better to spend the day, drive back to Page or Sedona and the next day head to Grand Canyon?
Thank you!

September 25, 2019 at 3:22 PM

Hi Nathan!
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, and very logically planned. Hopefully you’ve made advance reservations for all lodging and Antelope Canyon tours.
If there’s anything I’d change, however, it would be to try and accommodate Zion National Park in there somehow. You’re practically going to be passing right by it on the way from Las Vegas to Page, AZ, anyway, and it’s a stunning area with lots of hiking and exploration available to people of all ages and physical fitness levels! Due to the park’s size, it’s best to plan for at least 2 days in the area, and the gateway community of Springdale, UT, has many good choices of chain and independent hotels to stay at. In order to manage it, I’d recommend dropping a day in Page, AZ, and one in Las Vegas, NV. If this is not possible for whatever reason, keep your current plan as is, but definitely plan on a future trip to Utah when you can tour Zion, Bryce, and the rest of Utah’s “Mighty 5!”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 25, 2019 at 2:03 PM

Hi Bryan and thanks for your compliments!
Every slot canyon in the Page, AZ, area is beautiful, and it’s highly doubtful that you’ll be disappointed, whichever one you choose to tour! In your case, being that you are physically active and healthy, I would recommend either Antelope Canyon X or Cathedral Canyon. I’m personally partial to Cathedral because, being located in LeChee, it’s somewhat far removed from the “hubbub” of Page, AZ, and has some features that are unique to it. A few other slot canyons not listed in this article are Ligai Si’Anii, Ram’s Head, and Wind Pebble Canyons. These are also located near the LeChee area, were only opened to the public ~3 years ago, and offer everything from beginner to advanced level hiking. For more information, visit Ligai Si’Anii Antelope Valley Canyon Tours at www.HikingSlotCanyons.com
As for nightlife in Page, AZ, there are a few bars and cocktail lounges that offer live music and dancing. There’s also the Mesa Theatre, our local movie theatre that features first-run films, and are pretty quick about getting them in soon after release for such a small town.
As for watching sunset at Horseshoe Bend, actual sunset time is around 5:45 PM in mid-October (we don’t observe Daylight Savings Time in Arizona). However, you might want to re-think that plan and catch sunrise at Horseshoe Bend. Sunset is usually very crowded at the overlook and you might have trouble finding a place to park. At sunrise, you typically have thinner crowds, and cooler temperatures. Regarding getting away from the “light dome” of Page, there are places where you can do that, you just have to be careful that you’re not inadvertently trespassing on Navajo land. This is typically an issue in the areas South and East of the town. If you were to go across the Glen Canyon Dam Steel Arch Bridge and go to Lone Rock Beach, you could do some stargazing from there, although you wouldn’t by any means be alone; it’s a popular spot to camp.
Time/inclination permitting, you could proceed further Northwest on US89 to the town of Big Water, UT, ~15 miles from Page, AZ. There’s an unpaved road that goes by a patch of badlands and a place informally known as “The Moon.” To reach it, exit off of Hwy 89 in Big Water, UT, then turn onto Ethan Allen St. Drive for 1/3 mile, then turn right at the sign in between two large yellow warehouse buildings that says “Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.” This is UT Highway 12, aka County Road NP 230. A mile after the turn you will come to Wahweap Creek crossing, under normal conditions the crossing is fine for any type of vehicle, but if there is water running through it, no go. The Moon turn off will be a left about 1/4 mile past the creek crossing. There is a wash about 100 yards of the road that requires a 4×4 to get through, the walk is 1.5 miles. Word of warning: be extremely careful venturing into this area! Stay on paved or semi-paved roads, or you could find yourself stuck in deep sand in an area that’s pitch black, where cell service is spotty (or non-existent) and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. If you’d prefer to play things a little safer, you might consider going with a licensed tour outfitter to this area, and to Alstrom Point, a stunning viewpoint that’s estimated to only see a handful of visitors annually due to its remote location and challenging terrain! For more information, visit AlstromPoint.com: Ground Tours BTW, the full moon in October occurs on Sunday the 13th.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 25, 2019 at 1:53 PM

Hey Dorothy!
Kudos on planning your Grand Circle vacation well in advance, and congratulations on scoring that reservation at El Tovar! As you’ve correctly deduced, you need to build your trip itinerary around that highly-coveted reservation, which may necessitate some backtracking. In order to minimize that, however, here’s how I’d recommend changing it:
Day 1: Saturday, flight from Maryland, overnight in Las Vegas
Day 2: Sunday, get an early start, drive to Page, AZ. Make short detour through Valley of Fire State Park (stunning!), then, instead of traveling via Kanab, UT on US89, take US89A through Colorado City, Jacob Lake, and Marble Canyon, maybe stop for late lunch/early dinner at Cliff Dweller’s Restaurant (delicious!). Time/parking permitting, stop at Horseshoe Bend for sunset, overnight in Page, AZ. Factoring in stops, what’s listed as a 5-hour drive could take anywhere from 7-8 hours, but it’s very scenic and the time will go by quickly!
Day 3: Monday, tour Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell, spend 2nd night in Page, AZ.
Day 4: Tuesday, drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. Stop at Horseshoe Bend that morning if you couldn’t manage it in days previous. Stops to make include but aren’t limited to: The Cut overlook, the Gap Trading Post, Chinle formation views, the Cameron Trading Post (good breakfast/brunch stop), Little Colorado River Overlook, Desert View Point, Tusayan Ruins & Museum, other Grand Canyon overlooks. Overnight at El Tovar (make dinner reservations 6 months out!). Drive time factoring in stops: ~3.5-4 hours
Day 5: Wednesday, Drive to Bryce Canyon (~5-6 hour drive), overnight in that area. Potential stops: Big Water Visitor Center & Dinosaur Museum, Paria Rim Rocks & Toadstools Trail
Day 6: Thursday, take free shuttle around Bryce Canyon Rim Drive, then drive to Zion/Springdale (~2.5 hour drive) for overnight.
Day 7: Explore Zion National Park, lots of hiking available in varying lengths and degrees of difficulty! 2nd night in Springdale
Day 8: Drive back to Las Vegas (~3 hour drive), fly home

Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 23, 2019 at 3:44 PM

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From Dorothy Harting

Hi Alley,

Thank you for the great suggested changes to optimize our itinerary and the many points of interest to visit along the way. We are really looking forward to this trip and always heard to make plans a year in advance so your input is very helpful in making the other reservations we will need to make. I can’t wait to see this beautiful part of our country. Thank you for all your help.

Dorothy

September 23, 2019 at 6:19 PM

Hi Dee,
The assumption that a Navajoland hogan/tipi stay is going to be less expensive than a traditional hotel due to lack of amenities is unfortunately not correct. Many hogan/tipi/glamping properties are on privately owned land on the Navajo reservation, and the owners can and do charge whatever they want, whether they’re off-grid or on. That said, another property worth considering is the Shash Dine Eco Retreat, about 20 miles South of Page, AZ. Slot Canyon tours are not included in their overnight rates, so be aware of that before you commit.
If saving money is a priority, you may wish to abandon the Navajo Air B & B idea and stay at one of the independently owned facilities on the “Street of Little Motels” in Page, AZ. These properties are in a residential area of the town and are typically not “bookable” through online reservations platforms; you have to go the “old-school” way and contact the properties directly. A huge plus, though, is that they’re actually converted apartments, and for about the same price as a traditional hotel/motel, you get a unit with separate living and sleeping quarters and a full kitchen where you can do your own cooking if you prefer.
As to whether you can do the Antelope Canyon and Boat Tour in one day then drive back to Phoenix that same evening, that depends on availability of tours. The main priority is to be sure that you time the drive back to Phoenix so that you’re not driving in the dark. Roads in Northern Arizona are very dimly lit (a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky), plus large animals such as deer and elk tend to pose a collision risk, especially at the time of year you’re visiting when they’re migrating to their winter grazing areas. Since the drive from Page, AZ, to Phoenix, AZ, runs ~5 hours, that means you’d want to leave Page, AZ, by 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM at the latest. You would have some wiggle room since the latter part of your drive would put you in Phoenix’s artificial light dome, but still, best to be settled in for the day at or before dusk, especially in an unfamiliar area.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 23, 2019 at 3:20 PM

Hi Alley, our family of 5 adults are planning on visiting the canyons Feb 24 – Mar 4, 2020 and are wondering how should we be dressed that time of the year. We are from the prairies in Canada and are fairly used to the cold weather but being in the mountains can be quite different. Please advise.

October 03, 2019 at 2:44 AM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hey Barbara,
The weather at the time of year you’re planning on visiting will be cold, with snow possible/likely in areas like the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, which are 7,000′ and 8,000′ above sea level. Then again, you might encounter a small “teaser” of spring weather where you feel comfortable in short sleeves and may even brave an outdoor picnic! Long story short ……. start monitoring local weather about 2 weeks before you get ready to travel, and be prepared to pack jackets and gloves regardless. When you’re out sightseeing, dress in layers that you can easily remove and stash in a backpack or duffel bag, then put back on as your comfort level dictates.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

October 03, 2019 at 3:30 PM

Hi Muthu!
First off, visiting the North Rim won’t be possible at the time of year you’re visiting. Visitor facilities there close on October 15th, and the road into the park is bound to be closed by the time you arrive since that side of the canyon gets heavier snowfall than the South. There might still be a way you can see it, though. More on that in a minute…
Given your arrival and departure dates, you have three full days to work with. How you arrange them will largely depend on two key factors: availability of lodging at the Grand Canyon, and availability of Antelope Canyon tours. Because you’re traveling over Thanksgiving weekend, don’t be surprised if you find both to be sold out already, or close to it!
That said, a “classic” Northern Arizona weekend itinerary would go something like this:
Day 1 (November 28th) – Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, with stop at Hoover Dam if desired. Drive time: 5-6 hours, overnight at the Grand Canyon, Tusayan, Williams, or Flagstaff, AZ.
Day 2 (November 29th) – Take helicopter flight over Grand Canyon North Rim in AM; then drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, stopping at Grand Canyon viewpoints on Desert View/East Rim drive, breakfast/brunch at Cameron Trading Post, Chinle formation views, Horseshoe Bend on way into town. Overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 3 (November 30th) – Tour Antelope Canyon, then drive to Las Vegas (5-6 hours), overnight in Las Vegas.
Day 4 (December 1st) – Fly home

You can also reverse the above-referenced itinerary if you find that lodging or tour availability is more conducive to doing so.
A couple of things to keep in mind: days are short – sunrise occurs at about 7:15 AM, sunset at around 5:15 PM. Any and all driving needs to be done in daylight hours due to roads being very dimly lit and the possible presence of large animals such as deer, elk, free range cattle, even wild horses nearby. You’re also visiting during the transitional period between fall and winter, so, best case scenario, it will be cold; worst case scenario, you could encounter snow. It’s too soon to call at this point, but start monitoring the weather about 2 weeks before you get ready to travel, and plan on packing jackets, gloves, etc., regardless.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 23, 2019 at 2:28 PM

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From Muthu

Hi Alley,

For now, in Page AZ, the weather seems to be pretty normal during the thanksgiving holidays. Is it still a better time to visit the Antelope Canyons?
We are planning to visit on Saturday the 30th.

November 18, 2019 at 4:38 AM

Hi Kaydee,
How you travel from Las Vegas will largely depend on lodging availability at the Grand Canyon and availability of Antelope Canyon tours.
Assuming your flight to Las Vegas arrives on time and you don’t encounter any difficulties collecting your rental car, it will take you approximately 5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim. Spend the night at the Grand Canyon, then, the following morning, make your way to Page, AZ, to visit Horseshoe Bend and tour Antelope Canyon. Parking permitting, you can hit Horseshoe Bend on your way into town, then tour Antelope Canyon the following morning. Afterward, start the trip back to Las Vegas, which will run anywhere from 5-6 hours depending on traffic through a construction zone on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge.

The main thing working against you on that first day is daylength: in late November, it’s very short, with sunrise occurring at 7:15 am and sunset taking place at around 5:15 pm (Arizona time, which is 1 hour ahead of Las Vegas time). You’ll want to do everything possible to be sure that you arrive at the Grand Canyon before sunset so you can actually see sunset on the rim, and avoid doing the last half of that drive at night. Deer, elk, and other wildlife tend to be nocturnal, and they have a tendency to congregate around the roads to graze. That means high-tailing it out of Las Vegas as fast as possible, and only making stops that are absolutely necessary. Maybe grab an In-N-Out Burger in Kingman, AZ, about 2 hours outside of Las Vegas.
Another consideration you might have to take into account is weather: the time of year you’re visiting is within the transitional period between fall and winter in the American Southwest. Best case scenario, you’ll have days that are sunny but cool; worst case, you could encounter true-winter weather, including snow, especially at the Grand Canyon, which is 7,000′ above sea level. Of course, it’s too soon to call at this point, but I’d recommend monitoring the weather about 2 weeks before you get set to travel, and packing jackets, gloves, etc. regardless.
If all that rushing around doesn’t appeal to you, and you’d prefer to spend that first night in Las Vegas, then I’d recommend prioritizing the Grand Canyon, and saving the visit to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon for a future trip when you can take things at a more relaxed pace, and maybe spend a week or more exploring Northern Arizona and Southern Utah!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 23, 2019 at 2:14 PM

Hey Jessie!
If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon before, I would definitely recommend prioritizing it first. I would also recommend setting aside at least one night to stay in a hotel there, since the drive from Phoenix is long, 5 hours each way. For information on Grand Canyon hotels, visit GrandCanyon.com, GrandCanyonLodges.com, or VisitGrandCanyon.com
If you can possibly set aside another day/night, you could include the trip to Page, AZ, which is ~a 3.5-4 hour drive (factoring in the many stops you’ll invariably make) from Grand Canyon South Rim. While in the area, be sure to make plans to tour Antelope Canyon as well. The drive back to Phoenix from Page, AZ, is also ~5 hours.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

September 23, 2019 at 1:23 PM

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From Cassandra

Hi Alley,
How do you recommend doing the Grand Canyon? What exactly do you recommend? We will have one day there in mid November. Please let me know! Thanks 🙂

September 23, 2019 at 7:32 PM

Hello Lalana, or sawatdee kah!
With a toddler in tow, you will be limited in the slot canyons that you are allowed to enter, which is 100% for your little one’s safety.
Upper Antelope tours are open to people of all ages (with the exception of Chief Tsosie’s Slot Canyon Tours, which requires that children be at least 6), as is Lower Antelope Canyon. In the case of Upper Antelope Canyon, because a truck/bus ride is required to get to the entrance, you must provide a car seat for your child, and book a space designated for children 2 and under. However, with Lower Antelope, you’ll need to consider carefully whether your child will be able to handle it. Full Video Walk Through of Lower Antelope Canyon Backpack carriers are allowed, but this type of child carrier is actually preferred. Antelope Canyon X also allowed children 2 and under, with the same cautions given as with Lower Antelope, since the two are very similar. Strollers are not allowed in any Page, AZ, area slot canyons. Of the slot canyons you have listed, Secret Canyon (now known as Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon), and Waterholes Canyon do not allow children under the age of 6. More tips for visiting Antelope Canyon with kids
Antelope Canyon tour reservations should be made well in advance of your visit. Bookings for 2020 can be made in November-December of this year, when seat inventory for the following year is made available.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 23, 2019 at 1:17 PM