Customer Questions

Hi Eric!
Thank you for your inquiry that is clear, concise, and to the point 🙂 We definitely commend you for making your American Southwest vacation plans well in advance. So, let’s get on with it!
1. People who have had knee and hip replacements tour Lower Antelope Canyon every day without problems. As to whether your party member could manage it, only he or she can decide that. I would recommend that they watch this Full Video Walk-Through of Lower Antelope Canyon before committing. You’ll note that in the video, people are carrying backpacks. This is no longer allowed, FYI.
2. Lower Antelope Canyon is ~600m long; Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon (formerly Secret Canyon) is ~450m
3. Both Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon are beautiful, but there’s no denying that they’re different. Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon has no chambers, it is one continuous slot, but what it may lack in variety, it makes up for in ease of access. Since it has no stairs or ladders, most people in relatively good health with minor mobility challenges can handle it.
4. In mid-October, the Page, AZ, area will still be busy, but not as crazy as the summer months. It’s mostly adults out touring since most children are back in school. Still, “bottlenecking” does occur in the slot canyons as the day progresses. If you book a tour at mid-day, you can realistically expect a 5-10 minute wait before you begin your Antelope Canyon tour (not factoring in the requirement to check in 30-60 minutes in advance).
5. If you prefer to travel with an escorted tour, there are several companies out there offering a variety of trips to not only Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, but the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, and other local attractions. Viator is one such company. We also recommend MaxTour. If you go this route, remember that you’ll be at the mercy of their scheduling, and there is usually very little “wiggle room” for tourists to do their own thing. Northern Arizona and Southern Utah are very easy to explore on a self-drive basis, which will give you optimal freedom and flexibility!
For more suggestions on how to make the most of a 2-day visit to Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and more, check out our Ultimate 2-Day Itinerary in Page, Arizona
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 19, 2019 at 1:08 PM

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From Eric

Thanks Alley for all your suggestions, you’ve given us lots to think about!
Eric

September 20, 2019 at 7:50 AM

Hey Alex,
This is a great question!
While you might not find a multi-sport tour that includes this exact kayak tour, companies are out there that cater to, as you aptly put, “like-minded individuals.” These include, but are certainly not limited to, Escape Adventures, Backroads, and AOA Adventures.
While these tour companies offer the benefit of full-service planning, the biggest downside is that you’re at the mercy of their scheduling, which typically allows little to no opportunities to “do your own thing.” Many solo travelers have had very fulfilling trips to the American Southwest on a self-drive basis. Surely, you could be one of them! For more information and suggestions, check out our “Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary in Northern Arizona & Southern Utah.”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 18, 2019 at 12:38 PM

Hi Chad, and thank you for visiting our site.
You’ve obviously spent a great deal of time planning your trip out, which is why it pains me to say that it’s in need of a serious reality check. It seems to me you haven’t looked at a map and gotten a sense of where things are really located, so some highlights of certain days need to be shifted either forward or back, or eliminated altogether. Havasu Falls, for example (which you’ve indicated wanting to see on day 2 and 3) — it’s not going to happen, friend. This is a very remote area, only accessible on foot, and permits for lodging and camping are booked out months in advance. You also need at least 3 days to do the area justice (you are required to commit to at least that many days to get a camping permit anyway). For more information, visit www.HavasupaiReservations.com and think about saving this very special place for a future visit.
So let’s get down to it: first of all, when you state you’ll be going to “Havasu Springs,” I think you’re actually referring to “Lake Havasu City,” unless you’re referring to the Havasu Springs Resort, which is located in Parker, AZ, a suburb of Lake Havasu City. In any case, your drive time estimate is slightly off. According to Google Maps, it’s more like a 5-hour drive, and that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens since the drive does have some scenic, cultural, and historic highlights that have already piqued your interest, so you should pad drive times by anywhere from 20-30% just to be on the safe side.
You’ve also got the sequence of a few trip highlights mixed up on different days. On Day 1, for example, your travels will take you by Joshua Tree National Park, which is worth a stop, but other attractions, such as Seligman, and Tusayan, are closer to Grand Canyon Village, and Navajo National Monument is located between Grand Canyon Village and Monument Valley. Getting back to your first day’s plan, at 90 minutes minimum (one way) from Parker, AZ, Mr. D’s Diner in Kingman, AZ, is too far out of the way to be realistic. Ditto for Hoover Dam, which is another 90 minutes minumum (again, one way) from Kingman, AZ. If you’re prepared to get a very early start out of Santa Monica, CA, and are open to re-arranging your itinerary a bit, you could do something like this:
Day 1: Drive from Santa Monica, CA, to Hoover Dam (~6.5 hour drive with brief stop near Mojave National Preserve)
Continue on to Mr. D’s Diner in Kingman for late lunch/early dinner (90 minute drive from Hoover Dam)
Drive to Havasu Springs Resort to stay overnight (90 minutes-2 hours from Hoover Dam)

Still, man, you’re looking at a LOT of driving, anywhere from 8-9 hours, at a time of year when you only have about 12.5 hours of daylight to work with. Personally, I’d recommend taking Hoover Dam and Mr. D’s off the table and just concentrate on getting to Havasu Springs, with a stopover at Joshua Tree. That will make for a shorter drive at a more relaxed pace.
On the drive to Grand Canyon Village for day 2 and 3 of your trip, here’s where you’d want to hit Seligman, AZ, then see the IMAX movie in Tusayan, AZ. Regarding Havasu Falls?

The Little Colorado River Outlook, Historic Cameron Trading Post, Moenkopi Dinosaur Track, Navajo National Monument and the Navajo Code Talkers’ Exhibit would be the agenda for Day 4, when you drive from Grand Canyon Village to Monument Valley. That’s really cool that you got reservations at Goulding’s Lodge!

Unfortunately, Arches National Park needs to come off the agenda, too. For one thing, it’s a 3-hour drive, one way, bare minimum, from Goulding’s Lodge to Moab, UT, the gateway community for both Arches and Canyonlands. This is another area that requires at least 4-5 days to explore fully. That’s time that you just don’t have. Sorry 🙁
Monument Valley is an area where you should plan on doing a guided tour. There are a variety to choose from, including jeep tours, horseback riding, guided hikes, and photography tours. For more information, visit the Navajo Tribal Park authority’s website, where you can find a complete list of authorized Monument Valley tour companies. Regarding photography permits, unless you plan on selling your photos or using them to promote a product or generate some sort of profit for yourself, your tour price typically includes the right to take as many photos as you want. Your tour ticket will also include your Navajo Tribal Park entrance fee, so be sure to keep your receipt as you should be able to apply it to your Antelope Canyon tour ticket, too.
In Page, AZ, the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour departs at 7:30 AM and can last anywhere from 6-8 hours depending on the level of Lake Powell. In any case, be prepared to take a 2-3 mile round-trip hike to see Rainbow Bridge, and not to plan any other activities for that day. Even though the weather in April is typically pleasant, being out on the water and in the sun for that length of time can zap your strength if you’re not used to boating, so, all you’re likely to want to do afterward is grab a good dinner and maybe a cocktail and go to bed. Fortunately, the Lake Powell Resort complex has all that on site. Horseshoe Bend is best visited just after sunrise, which you’re apparently already planning to do, which is good. Be sure to book your Antelope Canyon tour in advance, which you’ll be able to do in November-December of this year, when the tour companies open up seat inventory for 2020.
On Day 7 & 8 where you indicate you’d do “river rafting in Bryce Canyon N.P.,” here again, that’s not quite right. There are no river rafting trips offered in Bryce Canyon National Park itself. There are some offered in nearby Marysvale, UT, on the Sevier River, but they don’t start running until Memorial Day. Limited rafting opportunities have been available on the Virgin River near Zion National Park in the past, but recent low water levels have rendered that portion of the river “unraftable” of late. Of course, things could change by the time you arrive, but obviously it’s too soon to call. If you are wanting to include river rafting in your trip, a more reliable option would be the Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip out of Page, AZ. It does not go through any rapids, but it does include a lot of beautiful scenery and compelling history. The downside is you’d probably have to give up the Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour in order to accommodate it in your schedule. I know it’s a hard choice!
So… now to answer your “burning questions:”
1. See the above paragraph for advice re: river rafting
2. Antelope Canyon definitely requires a guided tour; for Monument Valley, it’s strongly recommended, but not 100% required
3. See the advice on Monument Valley for information on commercial photography permits (which I don’t think you’ll need)
4. You acquire your Navajo park permit when you purchase a guided tour in any Navajo Nation Tribal park
5. Your brother’s National Park Pass will cover you for all National Parks, Monuments, and U.S. Federal Fee areas on your trip
Oh, time permitting on the drive from Bryce to Vegas, try and make the easy detour to the stunning Valley of Fire State Park. It’s a beautiful area that you won’t regret making the time for!

I know that’s a lot to digest, and I get that you’re coming from a long way away and that this trip might be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Still, we want you to remember it as a vacation and not a constant race against the clock to get to your next destination.
Feel free to contact us again if we can be of further assistance,
Alley 🙂

September 17, 2019 at 4:14 PM

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From Chad Meyer

Hi Alley,

It seems that my idea of where some of these places was a bit far off so having said that the first day we will travel from Santa Monica to Havasu Springs resort, AZ and will pass via the Joshua Tree N.P.

I think it’s best to drop Seligman and reserve more time for hiking in the Grand Canyon.

I will definitely follow the idea for the itinerary before arriving at Monument Valley.

I will sadly remove Arches N.P. as per your advice.

Everything else is noted and greatly appreciated. I actually forgot to ask you about the Valley of Fire so that’s a plus.

You are a star. Thanks for all your help.

September 17, 2019 at 5:00 PM

Hi Gail!
October is a great time to be here, and that’s awesome that you have 10 days to work with instead of 7. As for where you allocate those extra days, it will be highly dependent on lodging availability. That said, I would recommend giving an extra day to the Grand Canyon and one to Zion. If you can’t get an extra hotel night at the Grand Canyon, then do an extra day at Bryce and one at Zion. Trust me, you won’t find any shortage of things to see and do at any of the parks!
As for which branch of Antelope Canyon you tour, it sounds as though Upper Antelope Canyon would be your best bet. The trail through the canyon is relatively flat and even, no sharp drop-offs anywhere. If you find that Antelope Canyon tours are sold out — which is entirely possible at this point in time — you might consider Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon. At ~500 yards in length, it is significantly longer than Upper Antelope Canyon, however, like Upper Antelope Canyon, this slot canyon features no stairs. Another advantage to this alternate slot canyon is that tour groups are deliberately kept smaller, which most visitors tend to appreciate, but this does make the tour a bit pricier.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 17, 2019 at 3:00 PM

Hi Mary!
The Grand Circle of the American Southwest is absolutely worth visiting over the Thanksgiving holiday. There are definitely advantages to doing so, namely, cooler weather, especially in “true” desert areas such as Page, AZ, Navajo National Monument and Canyon de Chelly. Bear in mind, however, that late November typically falls in the “transitional” time frame between autumn and winter, and snowstorms are not unheard of in higher altitude areas such as the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce Canyon. I wouldn’t let that discourage you from visiting at all. The rock formations, which are beautiful during the drier months of the year, are absolutely stunning with a layer of white “frosting” on them! In the rare instance that copious amounts of snow fall in the Page, AZ, area, slot canyon tours can be cancelled for safety reasons, but again, that’s pretty unusual.
You have correctly deduced that water-based activities may be on seasonal hiatus at the time of year you’re visiting. While tours like the Glen Canyon Float Trip “theoretically” run through the end of November, operation of the trip is usually contingent on good weather and a certain number of passengers booked. Antelope Canyon boat tours also operate on a similar basis during the shoulder season. Whichever one you take, it will be jacket weather and not swimming weather, so keep that in mind.
As for whether you should delay the trip to spring, weather does tend to be a bit warmer and more stable, although the possibility of a late-season rain or snowstorm is still there, especially in the early part of the season. Whenever you decide to travel, be sure to book all hotels and guided tours in advance of your arrival.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 17, 2019 at 2:20 PM

Hi Magrid,
Watch your e-mail for a printable copy of the article!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 17, 2019 at 2:07 PM

Hi Ciara,
You’ve actually planned your trip quite well and are making good use of an admittedly short time frame.
Folks do tour Lower Antelope Canyon with infants and toddlers, but for everyone’s safety, we tend to recommend Upper Antelope for families with younger kids. Bringing Kids to Antelope Canyon
If you end up touring Lower Antelope, what you do there is check in at the visitor services kiosk, then walk to the canyon’s entrance (~10 minutes, no truck ride). If you opt to tour Upper, then you must provide a car seat on the vehicle for the ride to the canyon’s entrance.
Instead of visiting Horseshoe Bend at sunset, when it’s super-crowded and you might have trouble finding a place to park, I’d recommend popping in just after sunrise on the way out of town to the Grand Canyon. Early morning visits offer the dual benefits of cooler temperatures and smaller crowds.
As for visiting the Grand Canyon in one day’s time, in your case, you don’t need a tour. You’ll actually see quite a lot of it on the drive from Page, AZ, since the route naturally takes you along the East Rim/Desert View Drive of the park. Here, there are over half a dozen named Grand Canyon viewpoints you can stop at if you wish, so what is given as a 2.5 hour drive “on paper” can realistically take you 3.5-4 hours factoring in stops. Be sure to stop for breakfast/brunch at the Cameron Trading Post! Time permitting, you might use the free shuttles to tour the Grand Canyon Village Historic District and the viewpoints on the West Rim/Hermit’s Rest Road.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

September 16, 2019 at 1:24 PM

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From Ciara

This is super helpful! Thank you 🙂 I can’t wait for our trip up there!

September 19, 2019 at 5:01 PM

Hi Corey,
Actually, your itinerary should revolve, and evolve around availability of Antelope Canyon tours and lodging, not the other way around.
With 3 full days to work with, I’d recommend spending 2 days in Sedona and 1 day in Page, AZ. Check availability of Antelope Canyon tours first, then Page, AZ, hotels and Sedona, AZ, hotels.
Most visitors prefer to get the longer drives of their trip out of the way first. If you feel the same way, try to hit Page, AZ, first since it’s ~a 5-hour drive from Phoenix. Sedona would then be a 3-hour drive from Page, AZ, then it would be a 2-hour drive back to Phoenix from Sedona. However, if availability of Antelope Canyon tours or hotels in Page or Sedona dictate doing it the other way around, c’est la vie.
If you’re prepared to save the Grand Canyon for another visit, you might consider flying into/out of Las Vegas and doing the “classic” loop that includes Grand Canyon South Rim, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce and Zion. Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

September 16, 2019 at 1:05 PM

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From Sarah Elizabeth

Hi Miah, you have great info! Like others, I’m planning a trip mid-Nov but have different facts: I’m going to Vegas for a meeting, but will have from arrival Sat night until Mon AM meeting to travel (ie, basically Sunday). From your prior comments, i’m thinking some possibilities are: fly in, drive to Page (& stay there), then tour Upper Antelope and hike Horseshoe Bend, then back to Vegas OR rent car, drive to Zion & stay & hike there, then back to Vegas Sun night. I’ll need to cover the Saturday night stay (where ever it is) & all Sunday expenses & I’m on a tight budget. BUT, YOLO & you know the area, so I’d like to do what you recommend, with you knowing my facts. Thanks!

September 16, 2019 at 3:07 PM

Hi Leann,
The light in Antelope Canyon would be perfectly fine at either time. Pick the time slot that works for you and enjoy it, because in the time it takes to debate when the light is best, someone else could grab your seats!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 16, 2019 at 12:09 PM

Hi Miah,
Yes, 7 days is the perfect timeframe in which to cover all the attractions on your “wish list!” As for the route you take, it will most likely come down to a couple of key factors: availability of Grand Canyon hotels, and availability of Antelope Canyon tours. Start by checking those two elements, and let the rest of your trip planning revolve, and evolve around them.
That said, a “classic” 7-day vacation itinerary, using Las Vegas as a staging city, goes something like this:
Day 1 – Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, stop at Hoover Dam if desired, drive time ~5 hours, overnight at Grand Canyon Village or Tusayan.
Day 2 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, ~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops at Grand Canyon viewpoints, and points of interest in the Navajo reservation. Stop at Cameron Trading Post for lunch, overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 3 – Tour Antelope Canyon, visit Horseshoe Bend (which can be done at your leisure in your own vehicle between the hours of sunrise and sunset), 2nd night in Page, AZ.
Day 4 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Bryce Canyon; this is a 2.5 hour drive going direct, but like the drive between Grand Canyon and Page, can easily be stretched to a 3.5-4 hour drive if you take advantage of photo ops, such as the Big Water Visitors Center, Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Trails hike, Moqui Cave, just to name a few. Overnight in Bryce Canyon area.
Day 5 – Drive from Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park (~2 hour drive), overnight in Springdale, UT.
Day 6 – Explore Zion National Park area using the Zion Canyon shuttle system, lots of hiking available inside the park in varying degrees of difficulty 10 Great Hikes in Zion
Day 7 – 3rd night in Zion, or drive back to Las Vegas (~3.5-4 hour drive)
You might also consider flip-flopping the above-referenced itinerary if lodging availability (or lack thereof) is more conducive to doing so.
Traveling in November, bear in mind that you probably will come across weather conditions ranging from sunny and brisk in some areas, to the possibility of snow, particularly in Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon, which are 7,000′ and 8,000′ above sea level, respectively. Be sure to pack a jacket, gloves, etc. just in case.
Also, be sure that any and all driving you do is during daylight hours. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to roads being very dimly lit (a deliberate move in most cases to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky). Remember that daylength will be short at the time of year you’re visiting: sunrise occurs at approximately 7:15 AM, sunset is shortly after 5:00 PM.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

September 16, 2019 at 11:58 AM

Hi Judy,
To coin a phrase, there’s good news and bad news here: the good news is that you don’t have to be a hard-core hiker to have a fabulous time in Northern Arizona! The bad news is that in February, your plans might be kaboshed by winter weather, up to and including snow. But then again, the scenery is even more beautiful with a coat of “white frosting,” and the area tends to be less crowded, so there’s an upside there, too!~
That said, I wouldn’t recommend using Sedona as a “base camp” from which to explore the various attractions in the area. For one, it’s a 2.5-3 hour drive, each way, from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, and also to Page, AZ, home of Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Another thing working against you at the time of year you’re visiting is daylength: it’s short. Sunrise occurs at around 7:15 AM and sunset takes place shortly after 6:00 PM. You want to be sure that any driving is done during daylight hours in this part of the U.S. due to lack of lighting on local roadways (a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky), and the possible presence of deer, elk, free range cattle, and other nocturnal wildlife. The last part of the drive to Sedona through Oak Creek Canyon is very twisty, which can be crazy-scary at night — trust me, I’ve done that drive myself at night and won’t do it again!
A better plan would be to stay overnight near the attractions you wish to visit for optimal safety and comfort. With your timeframe, you could do something like this:
February 15 – fly into Phoenix, overnight in Phoenix
February 16 – drive to Page, AZ (~5-6 hour drive factoring in stops), lunch in Flagstaff, AZ, tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page, AZ
February 17 – drive to Grand Canyon South Rim, stop at Horseshoe Bend on way out of town, breakfast/brunch at Cameron Trading Post, enter the park at Desert View Point, visit Desert View Watchtower, stop at other Grand Canyon viewpoints as desired, overnight at Grand Canyon
February 18 – 2nd day at Grand Canyon: if hiking is not practical due to snow on trails, don’t worry, there’s plenty to see and do! Possible activities include driving the scenic Hermit’s Rest/West Rim Drive of the park, which is open to private vehicles during the winter months. Ranger programs are also occurring on a limited basis. Overnight at Grand Canyon
February 19 – drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Sedona (~3 hours), if desired, visit the National Geographic Visitors Center in Tusayan and see the IMAX movie “Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets” or take a scenic airplane or helicopter flight over the canyon, overnight in Sedona
February 20 – 2nd day in Sedona, take Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, visit Chapel of the Holy Cross, Tlaquepaque, Airport Mesa, other easy but scenic hikes, etc., overnight in Sedona
February 21 – 3rd day in Sedona – possible spa day? Overnight in Sedona
February 22 – drive back to Phoenix (~2.5 hours), fly home

Of course, you can flip-flop this itinerary if you prefer to get your R&R on at the beginning of your trip instead of the end.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 13, 2019 at 2:03 PM

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From Judy Brislin

Great info! Thank you for taking the time to help us out with our trip planning! This is very helpful and I will study this itinerary carefully!

September 17, 2019 at 1:37 PM

Hi Vita,
You are correct in that your itinerary does involve some unnecessary backtracking. Also, where you indicate that on your third day you would “drive to Bryce and maybe Zion,” first of all, you can’t really do justice to those areas in a single day. You need at least one day for each park, but another consideration is that in February, Bryce may not be practical. At 8,000′ above sea level, it receives copious amounts of snow in February, so you may want to skip it this time around.
If your lodging and tours have not been booked yet, a more logical way to arrange your itinerary would be like this:
February 15 – at night arrive at Phoenix airport
February 16 – drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hours), overnight at Grand Canyon
February 17 – drive to Page, AZ (~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops), visit Horseshoe Bend
February 18 – Antelope Canyon Triple Crown Tour (the boat tour portion of the AC Triple Crown may not be available at the time of year you’re visiting due to weather), 2nd night in Page, AZ
February 19 – drive to Bryce Canyon (~2.5 hours from Page, AZ), overnight in Bryce Canyon City, Panguitch, Tropic or Kanab, UT
February 20 – drive to Zion National Park (~2 hours), overnight in Springdale, UT
February 21 – drive to Las Vegas for flight home (~3.5 hours from Springdale)

If having 2 nights in Las Vegas is a non-negotiable element of your trip, then dropping Bryce from the itinerary would be the most logical way to accommodate that.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 13, 2019 at 1:17 PM

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From Vita

Wow! Thank you so much! I can’t believe I didn’t think of this, it makes much more sense and less driving.

September 14, 2019 at 9:57 PM

Hi Madhu,
Your itinerary looks pretty fun. Hopefully you won’t experience any significant delays with your flight or collecting your rental car when you land in Las Vegas, because you’re looking at a long drive right from the get. The trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon Skywalk is approximately 2.5 hours; the drive to Williams, AZ, is approximately 3 hours. The latter half of the trip will take place when you’re tired and maybe experiencing some effects of jetlag. Another consideration is daylength; in September, it’s getting shorter, and you want to be sure to do any and all driving during daylight hours to avoid a collision with a deer, elk, or other nocturnal wildlife that tends to congregate on local roadways after dark. At the time of year you’re visiting, sunrise occurs at ~6:15 AM and sunset takes place at approximately 6:20 PM (Arizona time).
On your second day of traveling, try to get to the Grand Canyon park entrance before 8:00 AM (it takes ~1 hour to drive up from Williams). The drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, will take ~3.5-4 hours. I know Google maps gives the timeframe as 2.5 hours, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens since the drive is very scenic and you’ll be stopping to take pictures often. Highlights of the trip include, but are not limited to, over half a dozen named Grand Canyon viewpoints, including the Desert View Watchtower, the Little Colorado River Overlook, Chief Yellowhorse’s souvenir stands, the Cameron Trading Post (a good stop for lunch), Chinle formation views, and the “Cut” overlook. Parking permitting, you could hit Horseshoe Bend on the way into town; if not, plan to visit just after sunrise the following morning.
When you head back to Las Vegas, be aware that there’s a construction project taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that could tack another 30-60 minutes onto your drive time (which is normally ~5 hours).

Be sure that you have advance reservations for all lodging on your trip, as well as for your Antelope Canyon tour.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 12, 2019 at 1:15 PM

Hi Sunny!
Sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news, but January weather in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah can be the dreaded combo of cold, wet, and windy.. or it can just be sunny, brisk, and borderline pleasant. Heck, in 25 years living in the area, I’ve even experienced little “teasers” of spring weather in January where you can actually trot out your short sleeves and fire up the barbecue! Of course, it’s too soon to call, but I’d recommend starting to monitor Grand Canyon area weather 2-3 weeks before you travel and pack accordingly. Best case scenario, you should still plan on bringing jackets, gloves, etc.
Your assertion that Horseshoe Bend is located near Page, AZ, is correct, as is your concern about whether the Antelope Canyon boat tour will be running. Water-based activities such as the Glen Canyon Float Trip and Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour are usually on hiatus during the winter months, but since the Antelope Canyon boat tour is relatively short (60-70 minutes), it tends to run at least once a day as long as at least 4 passengers are booked and the weather isn’t absolutely horrible.
Otherwise, your itinerary looks pretty fun. The only suggestion I’d make is if it’s possible to free up another couple of days, do so so you can visit Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, or both. You’re going to be in the neighborhood, and they’re beautiful parks with lots of easy but scenic hiking. The only drawback to Bryce is it’s 8,000′ above sea level, so you’re likely to encounter snow there. Bryce has only one lodge inside the park which tends to be sold out all the time, but there are several small towns nearby where you might look for lodging. For Zion, the town of Springdale, UT, would be the best place to stay on the Western border of the park.

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

September 10, 2019 at 3:26 PM

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From Sunny

Thank you very much, especially for the reality check!!!
We might defer the visit to March or June then…. if we were going we would need to book accommodations and air tickets months in advance, and to be there on weather isn’t a good investment of our previous time off from work and school.

Great to know that our planned itinerary “works” – one more question, if we are going to keep it to the locations initially planned (but not Zion Park etc.), would it make more sense to return from Page to Vegas via the road we came from (along the south rim), or is it worthwhile to “complete the circle” so to speak and drive back through the “north” ??rim? And how long with that drive page to Las Vegas realistically take?

Thank you, again!

September 12, 2019 at 5:06 PM

Hi Ralex,
Only you can decide whether you’d be able to handle the physical challenges of Lower Antelope Canyon. If you watched the entire video, and it didn’t freak you out too badly, I’d say go for it! Truthfully, acrophobia (the fear of heights) hasn’t been a problem for many people. The issue that has come up for more people is claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces). There are some small chambers in both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons, and once you’re on the tour, there’s no going back without express permission from your tour guide, and no refunds once you commit. Since Lower Antelope Canyon is ~600 yards long, vs. only 100 yards for Upper Antelope, Lower would obviously necessitate you enduring an uncomfortable situation for longer than you might like, which might make Upper the better option for you.
Hope that helps!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 10, 2019 at 3:09 PM

Hi Priyanka and thank you for visiting!
Honestly, you are on the verge of overthinking this trip. I urge you to resist the urge to make it ‘perfect’ by planning every.single.second. of your days, and allow for some downtime and discovery. After all, that’s what vacations are all about, are they not?
So, in answer to your questions — not necessarily in the order asked — October weather is downright glorious — usually, anyway 😉 Occasional rainstorms may occur, but the typical pattern is for sunny days, pleasant temperatures and cool nights. Whether you visit early or mid-month won’t make much of a difference, so pick the time that works for you!
One significant piece of “misinformation” I need to clear up is re: the Narrows. This area is not in Antelope Canyon in Page, AZ, but in Zion National Park in Utah. Permits are required to hike a good majority of it, and yes, you should definitely have water shoes and hiking poles, which can be rented on-site. For more information about hiking the Narrows, visit Zion National Park: Plan Your Visit – The Narrows If you decide against this hike, not to worry: there are plenty of beautiful, scenic and easy hikes to be had in Zion!
Back to your actual itinerary: if you want to visit Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Bryce and Zion, you need 7 days. If you don’t have this much time, and you’ve already seen the Grand Canyon, I’d say drop this from your itinerary. If you can spare this much time, then go ahead and visit the Grand Canyon. If you’ve already been to the South Rim, then you might opt to visit the West Rim aka Grand Canyon West this time around. Located approximately 2.5 hours Southeast of Las Vegas, that’s the area you describe with the “walkway that is sticking out of the Grand Canyon and it offers an amazing view.” That is the Grand Canyon Skywalk, an innovative and controversial attraction that definitely wasn’t around 20 years ago. If you are interested in visiting Grand Canyon West, be sure you’re aware of the fees involved — they’re on the high side — and other experiences you might partake of whilst there. The other distinct disadvantage to Grand Canyon West is lodging, or lack thereof. There’s practically nothing, save for a small guest ranch, in the immediate vicinity. The nearest “proper” hotels you’ll find are in Kingman, AZ, about 90 minutes Southwest of Grand Canyon West.
RE: the differences between Upper and Lower Antelope, it’s not so much the views that are different, but the way in which you explore the canyons are different. Upper Antelope Canyon is an easy, 100-yard out-and-back walk with a 2-mile buckboard truck ride included from the highway to the canyon’s entrance. With Lower, you walk down into the canyon via a series of ladders, then walk through the canyon for ~500 meters (punctuated by the occasional ladder or small boulder), then ascend back out to the road via another set of ladders. Full Video Walk-Through of Lower Antelope Canyon Where you’ll see a palpable difference in the views are on the boat tour. This is where the creek that created Antelope Canyon drains into Lake Powell. By taking the boat tour, I believe you’ll get a better sense of the complexity of Antelope Canyon, and its important role in maintaining the watershed of this vital watershed.
As for whether you take a guided tour or self-drive, you will definitely have more freedom and flexibility by doing your own thing! While guided tours that hit some (not all) the attractions on your “wish list” are out there, you’ll be at the mercy of their schedules, which are typically quite rushed. You would probably have to take more than one tour to accomplish all your goals, as well. For example, Max Tour offers a 2-day tour to Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon. ViaTour offers a 3-day package to Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, and Lake Powell But again, this is something you can accomplish on your own at a much more relaxed pace.
A typical itinerary would include 1 day at the Grand Canyon, 2 days in Page (for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend), 1 day in Bryce and 2-3 days in Zion.

That order can be reversed if Grand Canyon West lodging and/or Antelope Canyon tour availability dictate doing so. For overnight lodging locations, as indicated in previous paragraph, Kingman, AZ, is the most logical choice for Grand Canyon West, then Page, AZ, for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. For Bryce, Bryce Canyon City, Hatch, Panguitch or Tropic, UT, are the closest cities for Bryce Canyon lodging. For Zion, Springdale, UT, is highly recommended as that’s the hub of the mandatory but free Zion Park Shuttle system, and puts you relatively close to Las Vegas should Zion be the last stop on your tour. In the event lodging in both Springdale and the Bryce Canyon area are sold out, you could use Kanab, UT, as a “base” from which to visit both parks (Zion is ~45 minutes away, Bryce ~90 mins), but you’d still have to go to Springdale to catch the shuttle for Zion.
For more suggestions, check out our “Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary in Northern Arizona & Southern Utah!”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
P.S. In the “what you need to know but forgot to ask” category: there is a road construction project taking place along a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge, which you’ll have to pass through between Zion and Las Vegas (or vice versa). This could tack another 30-60 minutes onto your travel time, depending on traffic, so be sure you plan your trip with this in mind.

September 10, 2019 at 3:02 PM

Hi Sara!
In October, I wouldn’t recommend a. doing Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend as a day trip or b. trying to squeeze Monument Valley into the mix, either. The main reasons for this is are, primarily, the drive time from/to Sedona, and a rapidly shortening daylength.
It takes approximately 3 hours bare minimum to drive from Sedona to Page, AZ. That’s wheels turning, no stops, which rarely happens because the drive is very scenic and you will be stopping to take pictures. It would also be a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity to visit Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monuments just North of Flagstaff. The two areas are connected by a convenient loop drive. The Cameron Trading Post makes for a perfect breakfast/brunch stop, and then there are more photo ops before you even get to Page.
Touring Antelope Canyon will take a minimum of 3 hours, factoring in advance check-in time, and other logistics. You then would need another 60-90 minutes to visit Horseshoe Bend under ideal conditions, namely, whether or not you can find a parking space on your first try. You would then be looking at a 2-hour drive to Monument Valley, and then a 3.5 hour drive back to Sedona. If all that weren’t enough to contend with, you’d then be racing against the clock to try and make it back to Sedona before sunset: nighttime driving is something best avoided 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 sky) and the possible presence of deer, elk, and other large wildlife that pose a collision hazard. Those last few miles of the Oak Creek Canyon drive between Flagstaff and Sedona are very twisty and windy. I have personally driven it at night myself and would never do it again! In early October, sunrise occurs at around 6:30 AM and sunset takes place at roughly 6:00 PM. That gives you less than 12 hours of daylight in a situation where you have to do over 8 hours of driving. Sorry, but the math just doesn’t add up.
A better plan — and hopefully you’re not locked into your hotel reservations in Sedona — would be to set aside one night to stay in Page so you can take the drive up at a nice leisurely pace, tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon, hit Horseshoe Bend at sunrise the following morning, and have enough daylight to visit Monument Valley and make it back to Sedona before it gets too dark.
If you are indeed committed to staying in Sedona the entire time you’re here, you might consider chartering an airplane and flying up to Page, AZ, to tour Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, and maybe swing by Monument Valley on your way there or back. For more information on available air touring options, visit Sedona Air Tours or Westwind Air Service
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

September 10, 2019 at 2:24 PM

Hi Bill,
First off, we do not recommend driving your own vehicle in Monument Valley, especially if it’s a rental car. The 17-mile scenic loop road is unpaved, and constitutes off-road driving. If you sustain any damage in a rental car, your insurance policy will be voided, and you will be on the hook for the repair bills. Splurging for a guided tour, while it may be more expensive, will definitely be safer, and will get you to areas of Monument Valley that would be off-limits to you otherwise! Click here for a complete list of Monument Valley Tour Guides licensed by the Navajo Tribal Park authority
Regarding commercial photography permits, per the Navajo Parks & Rec website, a $50 Processing Fee for applications that have all the required information for one person. $25 additional Processing Fee that involves photocopying for more than one person or requests for additional documentation or revisions. Additional fees apply depending on what kind of vehicle you’re driving may apply as well. For complete information on this, click on the Navajo Parks & Recreation Department’s Commercial Photography Permit Application.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 09, 2019 at 1:22 PM

Hi Dana,
In Upper Antelope Canyon, the trail is flat, but can be somewhat sandy. In Lower, you have to contend with stairs, ladders and a few small boulders. Whichever branch of Antelope Canyon, or alternate slot canyon you choose to tour, closed-toed shoes are a definite must. However, you needn’t go as far as purchasing hiking boots for the trip if you don’t wish to. Walking/running shoes or tennis shoes will be just fine.
Hope that helps,
Alley 🙂

September 09, 2019 at 1:06 PM

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From Dana

Thank you so much!

September 13, 2019 at 12:07 AM

Hi Elvin,
If it is your first visit to the area, I recommend skipping Grand Canyon West Rim and instead planning on going to Grand Canyon South Rim. The South Rim (the National Park) has the vast, colorful “iconic” Grand Canyon views that you’re probably expecting to see. The West Rim? Not so much. What it has to offer are one-of-a-kind experiences not readily available in the National Park, such as the Grand Canyon Skywalk, helicopter flights to the canyon floor, etc. Another reason for recommending the South Rim over the West Rim is lodging: at the West Rim, lodging is quite scarce. The nearest town with “proper” hotels is Kingman, which is 1.5 hours away. In contrast, Grand Canyon South Rim has 6 hotels inside the park and 5 just outside.
For Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, Page, AZ, would be the place to stay since both attractions are just a short drive from that particular town. Visiting Antelope Canyon requires a guided tour, which must be reserved in advance. How To Book A Tour For Antelope Canyon
As for the order in which you visit these attractions, that will largely depend on availability of lodging at the Grand Canyon, and availability of Antelope Canyon tours. However, with 4-5 days to work with, you could visit Grand Canyon West one day, visit Grand Canyon South Rim the next, spend 2 days in Page, AZ, then return to Las Vegas. You could also do that in reverse if lodging or tour availability dictates.

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

September 09, 2019 at 12:49 PM

Hi Andy,
At the moment, mono-pods and selfie sticks are allowed on general sightseeing tours of Antelope Canyon. Tripods are only allowed on tours designated as photography tours. If your photos are just going to be circulated amongst family and friends on social media and e-mail, and not sold to media outlets or art galleries for profit, then you do not need a commercial photography permit. Your tour reservation is your “permit.”
Hope that clears things up sufficiently.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 06, 2019 at 2:02 PM

Hi Shea,
Honestly, you’re on the verge of overthinking this. Page, AZ, is a very small town, therefore, you don’t need to overthink the sequence in which you visit the various attractions. They’re all close enough to one another, as you’ve already discovered, so that it won’t take you long to get from Antelope Canyon to Horseshoe Bend. However, it is advisable to visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise so you can enjoy cooler temperatures and fewer people at the overlook. Sunrise occurs at ~6:15 AM at the time of year you’re visiting. It is not necessary to go with a tour, you can simply go there in your own vehicle, park in the lot, pay the $10/vehicle entrance fee and spend as much (or as little) time as you wish. Average time for most visitors to hike out to the rim, take pictures, and hike back is anywhere from 60-90 minutes.
You will probably need to check in 30-45 minutes prior to your Antelope Canyon tour, so time your activities accordingly. By the way, Ken’s is not the only tour operator that manages Lower Antelope Canyon. Dixie Ellis also runs tours to this area, which are virtually identical right down to the footstep, and the the dollar. Book with whoever has availability at a time that fits your schedule, if you haven’t done so already. Lower Antelope Canyon tours may only be an hour long “on paper,” but with advance check in time and the inevitable “bottlenecking” that occurs during the day, you should allow about 3 hours to experience this attraction.
Another thing I feel the need to point out is where you say that your hotel check-out is at 3:00 PM — I highly doubt that. I was in the hotel industry for 20 years, and check-in time is typically anywhere from 3:00-4:00 PM, check-out time is usually at 11:00 AM or 12:00 Noon. Of course, this can vary from place to place, but I’d recommend double-checking your information so you’re not going off an assumption that’s potentially way off-base.
Regarding the Grand Canyon, you don’t need to purchase a tour package for that. That’s a very easy park to self-tour. You simply pay the $35/vehicle entrance fee, then drive toward Grand Canyon Village via the East Rim/Desert View Drive. On this leg of the trip, you have the option of stopping off at over half a dozen named viewpoints of the Grand Canyon, so don’t be surprised if you find the drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim taking as long as 4 hours, vs. the 2.5 hour figure given on Google Maps. In light of that, instead of visiting the Grand Canyon as a “drive by” on your way back to California, I recommend spending the night somewhere nearby, perhaps Williams, AZ (60 miles South of Grand Canyon Village) or Kingman, AZ (~2.5 hours Southwest of GC Village). You want to avoid nighttime driving in sparsely populated areas out here because many roads are very dimly lit (a deliberate move to preserve the natural quality of the night sky), plus deer, elk, free range cattle, and other wildlife can pose a safety hazard for drivers unfamiliar with the area.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 04, 2019 at 12:43 PM

Hi Leslie,
First off, I’m not sure where you got your information, but you can book both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon tours together. You do not have to book a tour to Horseshoe Bend, which you can visit at your convenience anytime between sunrise and sunset.
Now, let’s talk about the feasibility of your trip plan, or more specifically, lack thereof. Touring Antelope Canyon as a day trip from Zion is not realistic at the time of year you’re visiting. Depending on where you’re staying, the drive from Zion can take anywhere from an hour to 2.5 hours one way. Touring both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon is a 5-hour time commitment, bare minimum. Visiting Horseshoe Bend will take anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours depending on how easily you find a parking space, then factoring in walking out to the overlook and back.
The main thing working against you, however, is daylength: in November, it’s short, plus you have a time difference between Zion and Page that doesn’t help matters. Sunrise in Zion National Park occurs at ~8:00 AM, sunset in Page, AZ, takes place at ~5:30 PM. You need to make sure that you complete your driving for the day by sunset due to the lack of ambient lighting on local roads, plus the tendency of deer, elk, and other large wildlife to move around at night. Trust me, you don’t want to risk a nighttime collision with a large animal in an area that’s pitch black, where cell phone service is spotty at best, and where a tow truck will be a long time coming, not to mention very expensive.
A better plan would be to overnight in Page, AZ, for everyone’s safety and comfort. Page, AZ, Lodging
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 02, 2019 at 3:21 PM

Hi Alena,
Unfortunately, you should be worried, because you’re trying to cram too much sightseeing into a very limited time. You seriously need to look at a map and get a truer sense for the driving distances between the various places on your wish list. Your days are also overplanned. You simply don’t have enough time to do “every. single. thing.” on your wish list, and that’s OK. Often, the most memorable moments of a vacation are those that unfold in an unexpected and unplanned manner. Granted some elements, such as Antelope Canyon, absolutely require advance planning, but others, not so much. Another consideration: the order in which you’re planning to hit the parks will require too much backtracking. On September 18th where you propose to see Bryce and Zion is totally unrealistic. You’re in need of a major reality check, but it’s not too late to save your vacation.
On that first day, instead of spending the night in Fruita, I would strongly recommend starting the drive to Moab, UT. I have no idea how long a geneaology test would take, and if it is indeed optional, as you indicate, I’d skip it. The drive from SLC to Moab takes ~4 hours. It’s a very scenic drive, so you shouldn’t feel short-changed at all by skipping Mirror Lake, Cottonwood, Nebo and Provo Canyon. Plan on stopping in Helper, Utah, for lunch, then overnight in Moab, UT on the 14th and 15th. Explore Arches and Canyonlands on the 15th, then on the 16th, head to Bryce. Overnight there, then hit Zion on the 17th, overnight in Springdale, UT. On the 18th, hit Page, AZ, tour Antelope Canyon and visit Horseshoe Bend, then go to the Grand Canyon, overnight there, then end the trip in Las Vegas as planned. So a day-by-day breakdown would look like this:
September 14th: Drive from SLC to Moab, UT (~4 hours), overnight in Moab, UT
September 15th: Explore Arches/Canyonlands National Parks, spend 2nd night in Moab, UT
September 16th: Drive from Moab, UT, to Bryce (~5 hour drive), take Scenic Rim Drive in park, overnight in Bryce Canyon area
September 17th: Drive from Bryce to Zion National Park (~2 hours), take Zion Canyon Shuttle from Springdale, UT, overnight in Kanab, UT
September 18th: Drive to Page, AZ (~1 hour drive), tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page, AZ
September 19th: Visit Horseshoe Bend on the way to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops), overnight at Grand Canyon
September 20th: Drive to Las Vegas (~5 hours), optional stop at Hoover Dam, overnight in Las Vegas or fly home

Hope that helps. Please don’t hesitate to write in again if you need further guidance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 02, 2019 at 2:57 PM

Hi Delia,
Apologies for the delay in response to your itinerary. What with it being Labor Day weekend, I, like many Americans, was on vacation!
The good news is you don’t have to be an avid hiker or super-fit to enjoy this area. There is plenty to see and do that doesn’t require a lot of exertion on your part.
One thing that’s jumping out at me right away is the conspicuous absence of the Grand Canyon from your itinerary. If you’ve never been there, you really should set aside at least one day to visit Grand Canyon South Rim since you’ll be in the neighborhood anyway!
Secondly, if some spa time is a definite must for you, I’d assume that you’d want to put that at the end of your trip, correct? If so, where and when you get it will depend largely on how you schedule your vacation, which will revolve and evolve around availability of lodging. If Zion ends up being the last stop on your tour, then St. George, Utah would definitely be a good place to end your vacation on a chill note. If you have to reverse the itinerary, namely, visiting Zion first and Grand Canyon last, then Sedona, AZ, would be the place to go for some well deserved R&R.
In light of that, and assuming that September 21st and 29th will be travel days between your home and Las Vegas, here’s what I would suggest:
September 22nd: Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim with optional stop at Hoover Dam. Approximate drive time, ~5 hours, overnight at Grand Canyon
September 23rd: Drive from GC South Rim to Page, AZ. Approximate drive time: ~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops at Grand Canyon viewpoints along the way, meal at Cameron Trading Post, visiting Horseshoe Bend on the way into town (parking permitting), overnight in Page, AZ
September 24th: Tour Antelope Canyon with Lake Powell Boat Tour in AM, drive to Bryce that afternoon, overnight in Bryce
September 25th: visit Sunrise Point, maybe take partial hike on the Queen’s Garden trail, drive to Zion that afternoon (~2 hours), overnight Springdale, UT.
September 26th: using the Zion Canyon shuttle, explore the park. There are many easy, scenic hikes available to you. Take as many — or as few — as you wish!
September 27th: Drive to St. George, UT (~1 hour from Springdale), enjoy spa services at one of several resorts in the area (sorry, haven’t been to any myself, so can’t vouch for any one in particular!) St. George, UT, Spa Resorts
September 28th: Drive back to Las Vegas with detour to Valley of Fire State Park (~3.5-4 hour drive due to construction on section of I-15 through Virgin River Gorge), overnight in Las Vegas
September 29th: fly home

The key components to check first are availability at Grand Canyon hotels and availability of Antelope Canyon tours.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

September 02, 2019 at 2:15 PM

Hi Lori,
Camera, yes (around your neck), trekking pole, no. In Antelope Canyon, you shouldn’t need a trekking pole anyway.
Have fun,
Alley 🙂

August 31, 2019 at 10:11 PM

Hi Rachel,
Welcome to the hardest part of planning a vacation to the American Southwest: deciding what to leave in, what to leave out. With your limited time, I would advise against trying to include Bryce and Zion this time around, and instead concentrate your sightseeing within Northern AZ, which you’ll still enjoy tremendously! As for the Imperial Sand Dunes, those are way too far away to hit this time around.
Here’s what I’d recommend:
Monday, September 9th: Drive from Phoenix to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hours), overnight at Grand Canyon, either inside the park or Tusayan, 7 miles outside the park Grand Canyon Hotels
Tuesday, September 10th: Get an early start (sunrise occurs at 6:05 AM), drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, drive time ~3.5 hours factoring in stops. Instead of touring both Lower and Upper Antelope Canyon, you might consider touring one branch of Antelope Canyon, then taking a short boat tour on Lake Powell. A good portion of Lake Powell is visible and accessible from Page, AZ, so no need to worry about getting to Utah to see it. Overnight in Page, AZ Antelope Canyon/Lake Powell Boat Tour Bundles
Wednesday, September 11th – Hit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, then drive from Page, AZ, to Sedona, AZ (~3 hour drive). Take Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Airport Mesa, Tlaquepaque, etc. Overnight in Sedona
Thursday, September 12th – More sightseeing in Sedona if desired, sunrise hot air balloon rides are fun, drive back to Phoenix (~2.5 hour drive)
You need to get on making lodging reservations if you haven’t done so already.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 31, 2019 at 10:25 PM

Hi Janeth,
A couple of concerns:
First off, I would recommend cancelling your booking in Cameron on the 20th. Not that that town isn’t fascinating, but staying there would necessitate backtracking in order to visit the Grand Canyon, then drive to Page to visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
A better plan would be to stay either in Grand Canyon Village or Tusayan, 7 miles South of the park on the evening of the 20th (~a 5-hour drive from Phoenix). Then, the next morning, do your sightseeing utilizing the Blue and Red shuttle lines in Grand Canyon Village and on the Hermit’s Rest/West Rim Drive respectively. Drive to Page, AZ, that afternoon (09/21), which is ~a 3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops, including the Cameron Trading Post. stay overnight in Page, hit Horseshoe Bend at sunrise on 9/22, then tour Antelope Canyon sometime that afternoon.
Drive to Sedona (~3 hours) that afternoon, overnight in Sedona, then do the Birthing Cave hike the following morning before heading back to Phoenix for your return flight. The drive from Sedona to Phoenix takes ~2.5 hours.

Be sure that you reserve your Antelope Canyon tour in advance, as well as all lodging on your trip.
RE: the time zones, Arizona DOES NOT observe Daylight Saving Time, so we will be on Mountain Standard Time, the same time as California, Nevada, and the Pacific Daylight states at the time of your visit. The Navajo Reservation (which is also in Arizona) DOES observe DST, and Antelope Canyon is technically located on Navajo land. However, the tour operators run on Mountain Standard Time for the convenience of local visitors.
In all honesty, I think you should drop Sedona from your itinerary. Not that it isn’t beautiful; it is, amazingly so, but you really don’t have enough time to do the area justice. Many visitors report spending 4-5 days there and still feeling as though they’d only “scratched the surface.” I can guarantee that a quick overnight there will leave you wanting more!
Also, be sure to complete all your driving each day before sunset. Nighttime driving is not safe in this part of the U.S. due to roads being very dimly lit, and the possible presence of deer, elk, free range cattle, and other animals. Sunrise occurs at ~6:15 AM, sunset at around 6:15 PM.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 31, 2019 at 9:47 PM

Hello Paula & Ronnie,
I’m sorry, but you cannot apply for a Wave hiking permit through this site. You must go to the Bureau of Land Management’s site, which you can access via this link. For your information, there are only two more days left to apply for December permits, so you must act quickly. Otherwise, you’ll need to try your luck at the walk-in lottery in Kanab, UT, the day before you wish to hike.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 29, 2019 at 12:42 PM

Hi Robyn, and thank you for your compliments!
October is a great time to visit the Grand Circle. The order in which you visit the various sites on your list honestly will come down to a couple of key elements: availability of Antelope Canyon tours, and lodging at the Grand Canyon. I do notice the latter is conspicuously absent from your itinerary, and it should definitely be included if you’re coming as far as Las Vegas!
For an example of a “classic” Grand Circle tour itinerary, check out our Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary in Northern Arizona & Southern Utah. You’ll notice it has you traveling from Las Vegas-Grand Canyon-Monument Valley-Page-Bryce-Zion. Depending on availability of lodging and/or tours, you could also reverse that itinerary as follows: Zion-Bryce-Page-Monument Valley-Grand Canyon.

If you have to “trim” a destination or two due to time constraints, Monument Valley should be the first to get dropped. Not that it isn’t beautiful, but lodging is very hard to find in that area, and I wouldn’t be surprised if everything has been sold out for several months already.
At Grand Canyon, stay inside the park if possible; if not, then Tusayan, just outside the park by 7 miles, is your next best option. For Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell, the town of Page, AZ, is most convenient. Bryce and Zion each have only one lodge within the National Park boundary, which tend to sell out months in advance, so here again, you’ll need to look at “gateway” communities – cities and towns located just outside the park border. For Bryce Canyon, Bryce Canyon City, Hatch, or Kanab, UT, are good choices, and relatively convenient. For Zion, the town of Springdale, UT, is the best choice because that’s where you have to go to get on the park shuttle, which is mandatory to use. If Springdale, UT, is sold out, Kanab, UT, is centrally located to both Bryce and Zion.
As for visiting the Valley of Fire, I absolutely recommend it! It’s a stunning area, and depending on your itinerary, you could visit it easily on the way back to Las Vegas from Zion, or on the way to Zion from Las Vegas if you have to “flip-flop” the itinerary recommended above.

August 29, 2019 at 1:00 PM

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From Reya

Hi Alley,

Thank you so much for giving such detailed information about the GC Trips. Really appreciate it.

My friends and I are planning to come down to Las Vegas on 1st Nov , stay there for two nights and head to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe bend on 3rd Nov.Planning to do both upper and lower part of the Antelope Canyon and head to horseshoe bend around 3ish pm the same day and then come back to South rim and rest one night there. We have booked our stay in South Rim in a lodge inside the park for 3rd Nov.

On 4th We are planning to trek on the South rim and head back to Vegas. We have to reach Vegas by 04:30 pm on 4th Nov as we have a bus from there to Los Angeles at 05:45 pm.

What do u suggest? Is this doable and What do I need to keep in mid before I begin my trip.
Would appreciate any insights and suggestions

August 29, 2019 at 5:05 PM

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From Lang Tran

Hi Alley,
I’m so happy to find this website and enjoy reading your posts which are really helpful. Thank you for your time helping the community!
Could I ask for your opinion on our plan to visit Arizona early next year?
1. Does the weather still okay for visiting Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon South Rim in beginning of January ?

2. In case it’s a yes, do you think the below itinerary is doable?
Day 1: Drive from Las Vegas early in the morning to Page – visit Antelope Canyon (Lower then Upper) – visit Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell – drive to Grand Canyon Village – stay for the night.
Day 2: Spend most of the day in South Rim – start driving from South Rim back to Las Vegas around 4pm.
Or should we stay a night in Page before driving to South Rim and make it a 3-day trip rather than 2-day?

3. I understand that in order to visit Antelope Canyon and South Rim, we need to buy tour. Is that the same case when we visit Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell?
And should we book all tours in advance and then on the day, just drive to the place to meet the tour-guide? Is that how it works?

Thank you so much, Alley!

August 30, 2019 at 2:45 PM

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From Robyn

Thank you Alley for your thorough response. I’ve ironed out some details of my trip to narrow down some of your advise. I don ‘t think I have time to do the GC. I will arrive in Vegas Thursday 10/17 @ 12:30a and only have about 4-5 days to explore a small amount of the area. I thought I would plan it like this;
10/17 Thursday–head towards Lake Powell. Hotel at Lake Powell? or stay in Page? Go see sunset at horseshoe bend, enjoy lake Powell
10/18 Friday-Horseshow bend and Slot Canyon Tour (3.5) late morning (? head back to Zion) or do you suggest another must see
10/19 Saturday–get up early Head to Zion (Springdale) stop at Coral Pink Sand Dunes on the way. Mt caramel scenic highway. If we find parking hike Canyon Overlook Trail (Weeping Rock, Big Bend). Check into hotel in Springdale
10/20 Sunday–Zion–Hike the Narrows
10/21 Monday–Head back towards Vegas stop at Valley of Fire on the way
10/22 Tuesday relax in Vegas for a day
10/23 Wednesday Catch flight home to Boston

Does that at all seem reasonable for the limited time that I have? Do you ever suggest the GC in 5 days? I would appreciate any input on logistics or must see activities from you. Thank you

September 15, 2019 at 12:34 PM

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From Robyn

Hi Alley,
Thank your the response. I had left GC out because of our time constraints. I have a few more questions I’m hoping you don’t mind clarifying. I have worked more of the little details of time that we will have in the area. I arrive in Vegas 10/17 @ 12:30a. My husband is working. I will have 4-4.5 days to spend traveling the area
10/17 leave Vegas by 1p (earlier if he gets out of work) head towards Page Az. get there before sundown. Maybe see the sunset over Horseshoe bend
10/18 Visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend mid morning via horseshoebend slot canyon tour. ? head to Zion and stop at pink sand on the way or stay another night in Page
10/19 Explore Zion
10/20 Explore Zion
10/21 start heading back to Vegas and stop at Valley of Fire
10/22 Husband wants to spend 1 day in Vegas
10/23 Fly out
So my questions are–Do you think we should attempt the GC with the limited time we have? Should we stay in Springdale the whole time and just drive to Page for the day. I have a hotel in Springdale already for 4 days. Should we explore Lake Powell or is there some other site that you think would fit into this itinerary better. I want to get the Antelope Canyon tour booked ASAP. I appreciate your insight. I had written a few days back but I am thinking it did not get to you. So I apologize if this is a duplicate.

September 18, 2019 at 8:48 PM

Hi Rahim,
This is a great question! There are indeed several alternate areas to The Wave that are just as beautiful, yet require no permit.
The Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas, NV, has a feature called the “Fire Wave.” It is located an easy 1-hour drive Northeast of Las Vegas and has a nice loop drive through it.
Yant Flat, aka the Candy Cliffs, near St. George, UT, also boasts several “Wave-like” rock formations. It is a bit of a hike to get there, ~3.5 miles, and is considered moderately strenuous. AllTrails.com: Yant Flat
The “New” Wave near Page, AZ, aka the Beehives, is a short hike from US89 just across from the turnoff to the Lake Powell Resort complex
White Pocket — doesn’t look like The Wave per se, but is still a stunning area to visit, no permit required. However, the road into the area is very sandy, which is why we recommend going with a licensed guide for optimal safety and enjoyment. For a full list of licensed guide services, visit TheWaveAZ.com: Hire A Guide
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 27, 2019 at 1:49 PM

Hi Giana,
For an engagement photo shoot, a photography tour is recommended so your photo shoot is not bombarded with other visitors.
As to whether Canyon X, Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon (formerly Secret Canyon) and Rattlesnake do photography tours, technically no, since group sizes are deliberately kept smaller.
If you wish to take photos at Horseshoe Bend, a special use permit from the National Park Service is usually required — which doesn’t cover Antelope Canyon — but you could also work with Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon Tours on this area, too: they access the overlook via a private entrance on Navajo land.
If all this sounds like a bit of a pain, frankly, it is, which is why we recommend working with an experienced wedding and event planner in the local area who can take care of all those logistics for you. For more information, visit Monumental Arizona Weddings or call 480-980-8121.
Good luck and congratulations to your clients on their engagement and nuptials!
Alley 🙂

August 27, 2019 at 1:38 PM

Hi Kayla,
Thank you for visiting. We really appreciate your comments, which is why it pains me so to tell you that I can’t endorse your trip plans.
First off, the time of year you’re visiting is too cold for tent camping. Snow is a very real possibility in areas like the Grand Canyon and Bryce, which are 7,000′ and 8,000′ above sea level respectively. Even if it’s not snowing, best case scenario, it’s going to be cold. So unless you have sleeping bags that are rated to withstand VERY cold temperatures, you need to either stay in an RV in developed campgrounds with electrical hook-ups, or spring for a hotel room.
Another thing: your visit is timed for after visitor facilities at the North Rim close for the season. Although the campground may remain open, depending on weather, you would still be pretty much “on your own” for ensuring that you have enough food and water for your stay, and being prepared for adverse weather conditions that could necessitate a sudden road closure. That would put you in a real pickle. A better plan would be to go the South Rim, where visitor services are open year-round.
Visiting Sedona is wonderful, but I guarantee you that you will be left wanting. One day isn’t nearly enough time to do that area justice. People report spending 4-5 days there and still feeling as though they only “scratched the surface.” I can pretty much assure you that you’ll be planning a return trip once you get a look at the place! As for the best ways to spend a full day there, the Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour is regarded as a definite must, as is a visit to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Tlaquepaque, Bell Rock, and Airport Mesa, just to name a few. There’s no shortage of beauty and fun to be had in Sedona!
In light of those concerns, here’s what I would suggest:
Day 1 – Leave Phoenix for Sedona (~2 hour drive), maybe stop by Montezuma Castle on the way, overnight in Sedona
Day 2 – Full day in Sedona, see above link for suggested activities, overnight in Sedona
Day 3 – Depart Sedona for Grand Canyon South Rim (~3 hour drive), park vehicle inside the park or Tusayan, use free shuttles to explore Grand Canyon Village, overlooks on Hermit’s Rest Road, overnight in Grand Canyon
Day 4 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, ~3.5-4 hour drive factoring in stops, breakfast/brunch at Cameron Trading Post, overnight in Page
Day 5 – Sunrise visit to Horseshoe Bend, tour Antelope Canyon, possible boat tour on Lake Powell (water-based activities are usually on seasonal hiatus at that time of year, but may operate with a sufficient number of passengers booked), start drive to Bryce (~3 hours) no later than 2:00 PM so you make sure to get there by sunset (nighttime driving is strongly discouraged, especially during the fall and winter months when deer and elk are migrating), overnight in Bryce Canyon area
Day 6 – Explore Bryce Canyon, drive to Springdale, UT (~2 hours) for overnight
Day 7 – Explore Zion National Park using free shuttle system from Springdale, overnight in Springdale
Day 8 – Drive back to Las Vegas, with possible detour to Valley of Fire State Park (~5-6 hour drive depending on progress of construction on I-15 through Virgin River Gorge and stops)

In answer to your other queries I may not have addressed thus far, if you were not chosen for The Wave lottery online, you might try for the walk-in lottery in Kanab, UT, the day prior to when you wish to hike. For more information on that process, visit our companion site, TheWaveAZ.com, and read the section on “Applying In Person” on Self-Guided Permits Since it is statistically unlikely that you’d be chosen via the walk-in lottery, that’s why I suggested the detour through the Valley of Fire on your way back to Las Vegas. It’s a stunning area, with a few features that bear a resemblance to The Wave, but it does not require a permit to access.
Regarding Monument Valley, IMO, you don’t have enough time to include it without sacrificing one of your other destinations. One way you might still be able to work it in, however, is to fly over it out of Page, AZ. Fixed wing airplanes take 90 minutes to fly over not only Monument Valley, but a big chunk of Lake Powell, including Rainbow Bridge. Here again, the time of year may reduce the number of departures, so a passenger minimum may apply, but it would certainly be worth checking out if you really want to see Monument Valley but can’t manage to drive there. For more information, visit Westwind Air Service Page AZ
Hope this helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

August 27, 2019 at 1:31 PM

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From Kayla Carr

Thank you so much for your response. I do have a couple questions still:

1) would you eliminate one of the other stops to spend more time in Sedona?
2) I am having a hard time deciding which slot canyon to visit. Is it worth going to more than one canyon? We were thinking of doing the lower canyon but have read up on secret canyon and canyon x

Thank you so much for your time and comments!!

August 29, 2019 at 7:36 PM

Hi Kevin,
First off, it’s not possible to “drive around” Lake Powell in its entirety, but there are places where you can access it and get a good view. The best views can be had from the scenic Lakeshore Drive, a short detour off US89 that ends at the Lake Powell Resort complex. There are several places to eat there, but my personal favorite is the Rainbow Room. It has a beautiful view of the lake, and the food’s quite good, too. If you prefer something a little more casual, you might drive as far as Lone Rock Beach and take a picnic lunch or grab a sandwich off a food truck that’s usually parked there, called Rig2Flip. Another place where there’s vehicular access to Lake Powell is Antelope Point Marina, which is actually on your way from Page, AZ, to Monument Valley. They have a sit-down and fast food restaurant, as well as a convenience store. Whichever you decide to visit, remember that both establishments are located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so a $30/vehicle entrance fee is required to access. It’s good for one week’s time, so hang onto the receipt.
As for whether you tour Canyon de Chelly or Mesa Verde, both parks are beautiful, and different; it’s the classic “apples to oranges” comparison, so if possible, visit both! But if saving time is a priority, Canyon de Chelly would be the shortest “detour” off the route between Page, AZ, and Louisiana.

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

August 26, 2019 at 3:40 PM

Hi Alexis,
Using Flagstaff as a “base camp” from which to explore the various attractions is usually something we advise as a “last resort” measure when you can’t find lodging in the immediate vicinity, but then again, if your hotel points allow you to lodge for free, then Flagstaff it is!
On your Grand Canyon sightseeing day, take the drive to the Grand Canyon at a leisurely pace to make the most of your visit. Get as early a start as possible (sunrise occurs at ~6:45 AM) and drive from Flagstaff, AZ, to Cameron, AZ on US89. On the way, if you want, take the scenic loop drive through Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monument just North of Flag (that’s what we call it around here). That’s a fascinating area featuring a dormant volcano and a rather expansive and very well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan complex. That can potentially add another 90 minutes to 2 hours onto your trip, but you’d likely find it time well spent! Continuing North, maybe stop for breakfast or brunch at the Cameron Trading Post; if not a meal, then at least a bathroom break/leg stretch, etc. Turn West on AZ64 and enter the park via the East gate at Desert View Point, stopping at as many of the scenic overlooks along this section of the park as you wish (there are over half-a-dozen of them, not counting the Tusayan Ruins & Museum). Upon arriving at Grand Canyon Village, park your vehicle, then use the free shuttles to explore the Village Historic District, and the overlooks on the West Rim/Hermit’s Rest Drive. Begin the drive back to Flag at 4:00 PM at the latest so you are back in town by sunset, which is at 5:30 PM. If you leave a bit earlier, you might catch the IMAX movie, “Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets” in Tusayan just outside the South gate of the park, where you’d exit.

On Day 3, when you go to Page, AZ, to tour Antelope Canyon, the drive will realistically take about 2.5 hours, wheels turning, no stops. Take the route specified on the map below so you don’t get held up in traffic at Horseshoe Bend.

If you also wish to visit Lake Powell, you could take a boat tour of the waterside of Antelope Canyon, which is ~1 hour long. Plan on hitting Horseshoe Bend on your way out of town; allot ~90 minutes to make the hike out and back and spend some time at the overlook, then plan to start the trip back to Flagstaff at 3:00 PM at the latest so you’re not driving in the dark. As you’ve probably deduced, driving after nightfall in this part of the U.S. is strongly discouraged! Artificial lighting is kept to a bare minimum on these roads, which is a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky. Another consideration is wildlife; deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses tend to be nocturnal, which ratchets up your risk of a collision in areas where cell service may be spotty, and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
In Flagstaff, attractions you might enjoy include but aren’t limited to the Arboretum, the Lowell Observatory, Museum of Northern Arizona, the Riordan Mansion, Walnut Canyon National Monument, and the chairlift ride at Snow Bowl. Things To Do in Flagstaff, Arizona
Here’s where the word of warning comes in: you’re going to find that one day is nowhere near enough to enjoy what Sedona has to offer. I can pretty much guarantee that one look at the beauty of the area, and you’re to be planning a return trip! When you do, plan to spend at least 3 days to do it justice.
At the time of year you’re visiting, the weather is usually wonderful, but on the cool side, so plan on bringing a jacket and gloves. Flagstaff, especially, can get cold at night.
Depending on how early your flight is on day 6, you might consider driving to Phoenix after your sightseeing in Sedona just so you don’t get unexpectedly held up in rush hour traffic and risk missing your flight. The drive from Sedona to Phoenix is ~2.5 hours.
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

August 26, 2019 at 2:56 PM

Hey Andy,
You’ve chosen a wonderful time to visit the American Southwest! October is typically marked by cooler temperatures and thinner crowds. It will still be busy, though, so all lodging and guided tours (especially Antelope Canyon) should be reserved ASAP.
For Zion, the best place to stay is Springdale, UT. This small town located on the Western border of the park is the hub for the Zion Park Shuttle System, and has a large variety of hotels and restaurants to choose from. If for some reason you can’t find accommodations in Springdale, UT, then Kanab, UT, is your next best option for lodging, but you’d end up having to go to Springdale, UT, anyway to get on the shuttle (it’s mandatory for those who do not have reservations at the Zion Park Lodge). Note that wherever you decide to stay, the drive will take longer than expected due to a long-term construction project taking place on I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge. Navigating that typically tacks another 30-60 minutes onto your trip. As for what to do in Zion, there’s no shortage of hikes in various lengths and degrees of difficulty. The Narrows and Angel’s Landing tend to be regarded as the “holy grails” of hikes in this area, but they take the better part of a day, are strenuous (in the case of Angel’s Landing), and/or require a permit in some instances (The Narrows). Other beautiful walks include, but are certainly not limited to, the Riverside Walk, Weeping Rock, Emerald Pools, and the Canyon Overlook Trail. 10 Great Hikes in Zion
In Bryce, here again, lots of great hiking to do! The Rim Trail is a natural since you can do as little or as much of it as you want. Mossy Cave is cool, and less than a mile round-trip. There’s all kinds of possibilities for family-friendly hiking in Bryce. Other Bryce Canyon activities worth considering are horseback riding, ATV tours, mountain biking, and air tours. The staff at Ruby’s Inn can give you guidance on and make arrangements for the full array of guided tours, or you can book in advance if you prefer. Since Bryce Canyon is ~8,000′ above sea level, jackets will probably be required, so be sure to pack some.
For Antelope Canyon, if you can handle the physicality of Lower, I’d recommend that branch of the canyon. Your boys would probably find the stairs, ladders, and simple bouldering a lot of fun. Before you commit, you might watch this Full Video Walk-Through of Lower Antelope Canyon Note that the people in this video are wearing backpacks, which is no longer allowed. If you do decide on Lower Antelope, you can “bundle” that with a boat tour for optimal convenience.
As for when to hit Horseshoe Bend, honestly, it depends on the parking situation. If you can find an open and legal parking spot that afternoon, go for it; otherwise, plan on hitting it just after sunrise the following morning.
When you indicate that you’d like to make a side trip to Grand Canyon North Rim en route from Page to Las Vegas, here’s where your plan requires a reality check. It takes ~5 hours to drive from Page to Las Vegas under ideal circumstances. Remember that construction zone you had to deal with on the drive to Zion? You’ll have to go through it again on the trip back to Las Vegas, so there’s another 30-60 minutes added on to the drive right there. While the detour to the North Rim is given as 2.5-3 hours on paper, that rarely happens as the drive is very scenic, and you’ll no doubt be stopping to take pictures. Another consideration is that visitor facilities on the North Rim are only open between May 15th and October 15th. This means that even if the road into the park is open, there will be no place to grab a snack, restrooms that are normally open to the public will be closed, and depending on the whims of Mother Nature, an unexpected snowstorm could crop up. The biggest obstacle you’ll be running up against at the time of year you’re visiting, however, is daylength: it’s rapidly shortening. Sunrise occurs at ~ 7:00 AM and sunset takes place at around 5:30 PM. Driving in the dark should be avoided if at all possible due to lack of ambient lighting on local roads, and the large number of wildlife in the area, such as deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses. Believe me, you don’t want to have a vehicular encounter with one in an area where cell service is spotty to non-existent, and a tow truck will be a long time coming, not to mention very expensive. Long story short: save the visit to the Grand Canyon for another trip, and plan on going to the South Rim. The South Rim is open year-round and offers more to see and do for families like yourselves. Instead, make a detour through the Valley of Fire State Park on your way back to Las Vegas. This is a stunning area with cool rock formations, similar to the Wave in Arizona, but doesn’t require a permit to visit.
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

August 23, 2019 at 11:56 AM

Hey Julie,
Using Flagstaff as a “base camp” from which to explore the various attractions is usually something we advise as a “last resort” measure when you can’t find lodging in the immediate vicinity, but then again, if your hotel points allow you to lodge for free, then Flagstaff it is!
The drive from Flagstaff to Page, AZ, is actually more along the lines of 2.5 hours, and that’s wheels turning, no stops. To be on the safe side, I’d recommend grabbing a quick breakfast at your hotel (if they have it), or maybe some bagels and fruit you can munch on in the car, and hitting the road no later than 7:00 AM. Sunrise occurs at ~6:00 AM at that time of year, so you should have plenty of light by then. Be sure to take the route specified on this map so you don’t get held up by traffic at Horseshoe Bend, but do plan on visiting the overlook after your Antelope Canyon tour.

Since you’ll be going direct to Page, AZ, by necessity on the day of your Antelope Canyon tour, I recommend taking your drive to the Grand Canyon at a more leisurely pace the day before to make the most of your visit. Again, get a fairly early start on the day and drive from Flagstaff, AZ, to Cameron, AZ on US89. On the way, if you want, take the scenic loop drive through Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monument just North of Flag (that’s what we call it around here). That’s a fascinating area featuring a dormant volcano and a rather expansive and very well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan complex. Continuing North, maybe stop for breakfast or brunch at the Cameron Trading Post; if not a meal, then at least a bathroom break/leg stretch, etc. Turn West on AZ64 and enter the park via the East gate at Desert View Point, stopping at as many of the scenic overlooks along this section of the park as you wish (there are over half-a-dozen of them, not counting the Tusayan Ruins & Museum). Upon arriving at Grand Canyon Village, park your vehicle, then use the free shuttles to explore the Village Historic District, and the overlooks on the West Rim/Hermit’s Rest Drive. Begin the drive back to Flag at 5:00 PM at the latest so you are back in town by sunset, which is at 6:30 PM. If you leave a bit earlier, you might catch the IMAX movie, “Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets” in Tusayan just outside the South gate of the park, where you’d exit.

Which brings me to the answer to your next question: YES, driving after dark in this part of the U.S. is strongly discouraged! Artificial lighting is kept to a bare minimum on these roads, which is a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky. Another consideration is wildlife; deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses tend to be nocturnal, which ratchets up your risk of a collision in areas where cell service may be spotty, and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

August 23, 2019 at 11:20 AM

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From Julie

Wonderful feedback! Thank you SO much! Can I just bring you along for every vacation I plan from now on?!? lol

August 23, 2019 at 1:11 PM

Hey Alyssa,
If you do suffer from extreme claustrophobia, touring Antelope Canyon may indeed be more trouble than it’s worth for you. You might consider touring Antelope Canyon X instead. That canyon actually consists of two main slots, which open up a bit in between, plus tour groups are deliberately kept smaller for a more personal tour experience.
Before deciding, I’d recommend using YouTube to get a preview of what the canyons are like. We have a Lower Antelope Canyon Full Walk-Through Video on this site, for the others, simply go to the tour companies’ websites, or do a Google search for videos using the specific name of the alternate slot canyon.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 22, 2019 at 3:31 PM

Hey Todd!
If you can lengthen your trip to 10-12 days, you could easily work Sedona into your itinerary. The best place to do that would be between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon South Rim. Allow 3 days for that area as it’s absolutely stunning and there’s lots to see and do in Sedona!
So a revised trip plan, still using Las Vegas as your staging city, would go roughly like this:
Day 1: Drive from Las Vegas to Sedona (~5 hour drive), stop at Hoover Dam if desired, overnight in Sedona
Day 2: Full day in Sedona, suggested activities: sunrise hot air balloon ride, Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, Chapel of the Holy Cross, sunset on Airport Mesa, 2nd night in Sedona
Day 3: 3rd day in Sedona, possible activities: mountain biking, shopping at Tlaquepaque, wine tasting tour, day trip to Montezuma’s Castle/Well and/or Jerome, Verde Valley scenic railroad, 3rd night in Sedona
Day 4: Sedona to Grand Canyon (~3 hour drive), overnight in Grand Canyon **you might also do some bike riding here with Bright Angel Bike Rental
Day 5: Grand Canyon to Monument Valley (~4.5 hour drive factoring in stops), overnight in Monument Valley
Day 6: Drive from Monument Valley to Page, AZ (~2 hour drive), tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page
Day 7: 2nd day/night in Page, AZ – possible activities: Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip, Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, you might also do some electric mountain biking on the Page Rim View Trail
Day 8: Page, AZ, to Bryce Canyon (~3 hours), overnight in Bryce Canyon area
Day 9: Bryce Canyon to Zion/Springdale, UT (~2 hour drive), use Zion Park Shuttle to explore the park and take hikes as desired, overnight in Springdale, UT.
Day 10: 2nd day/night in Zion
Day 11: Drive back to Las Vegas (~4 hour drive due to possible construction on I-15 through Virgin River Gorge), fly home

Even though you’re planning your trip well in advance — which we definitely commend you for! — it’s not too early to start making hotel reservations. Monument Valley will be the hardest place to find a room since there’s not much to work with in that area to begin with. If for some reason you can’t find lodging in the immediate vicinity of Monument Valley, you might consider adding a 3rd night to Page, AZ, and visiting as a day trip. It is a 2-hour drive each way, but with days being long at the time of year you’re visiting, you should be able to pull it off.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

August 22, 2019 at 3:28 PM

Hi Sonal,
It takes approximately 6 hours to drive from Grand Canyon West to Page, AZ, where Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are located. In light of the fact that there is very little lodging in the immediate vicinity of Grand Canyon West, you’ll most likely be staying in Kingman, AZ, or Laughlin, NV, which will shorten that drive estimate, but just slightly.

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

August 22, 2019 at 3:12 PM

Hey Ana, and thank you for your praises!
Instead of visiting the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon as day trips from Las Vegas, I’d recommend doing a loop itinerary and overnighting at the parks on your list. Two reasons why: the Grand Canyon and Page, AZ (Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon) are both a 5-hour drive — one way — from Las Vegas. Under ideal circumstances (i.e., when the weather is warmer and the days are longer), you’d still be racing against the clock to get back to Las Vegas by nightfall, but in late November, you’re dealing with rapidly shortening days (sunrise in Las Vegas is at 6:30 AM, sunset at 4:30 PM). Driving at night is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to roads that are very dimly lit, and the possibility of colliding with a deer, elk, or other large animal. Compound this with very cold weather (possibly snowing), spotty (or non-existent) cell phone service, and help that will be a long time coming (not to mention very expensive), and it’s a risk you really shouldn’t take.
A better plan would be:
November 27: Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim, with stop at Hoover Dam, via Old Route 66 (~6 hour drive), overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
November 28: Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops), visit Horseshoe Bend, tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon. Overnight in Page, AZ.
November 29: Drive from Page, AZ, to Death Valley (~7 hour drive), overnight in Pahrump, NV
November 30: Drive to LA
Unless you can free up another day or two, I’d say drop Sequoia from the plan this time around, for one, the distance makes it unrealistic to hit as a day visit, and snow may block access to the park at the time of year you’re visiting.

As for whether the end of November is a good time to visit, any time of year is a good time for a trip to Las Vegas, but you will have to deal with cold weather and the possibility of snow. Start monitoring the weather about 2 weeks before you get set to travel to get a better sense of how to pack.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 22, 2019 at 3:06 PM

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From Ana

Hi Alley,
Thank you so much for your help and advices! 😊

August 24, 2019 at 9:43 AM

Hey I’m doing a day trip from Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe bend next Thursday. Connect with me on ig @awholenewworldwithjazzy

August 22, 2019 at 4:56 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Have a great trip!

August 23, 2019 at 12:02 PM

Hi Cassie,
You are correct in that availability — or lack thereof — of hotels in the area will be the primary determining factor as to whether your itinerary will work, and what order you will visit the various attractions on your wish list. Another consideration is whether you prefer to get the longer drives of the trip out of the way first, or if you’d rather save them for last.
With a week to work with, you should be able to hit most of the places you wish to see, but will probably need to trim back your expectations a bit. Also, when it comes to Sedona, you’re going to find that a quick overnight isn’t nearly long enough to do the place justice. You should try to free up at least another night, if not two. Believe me, lots of people stay out there for 4-5 days and still report feeling as though they’d only “scratched the surface!” So with all that in mind, here is what you could feasibly do:
Day 1 – Fly to Phoenix, drive to Sedona (~2.5 hours), overnight in Sedona
Day 2 – 2nd day in Sedona, possible activities: sunrise hot air balloon ride, Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, some easy but scenic hiking Things To Do In Sedona
Day 3 – Drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon (~3 hours), take shuttles around GC Village and to overlooks on the Hermit’s Rest/West Rim Drive, overnight at Grand Canyon
Day 4 – Drive from Grand Canyon to Page, AZ, stopping at Grand Canyon overlooks along East Rim/Desert View Drive, lunch at Cameron Trading Post, visit Horseshoe Bend (parking permitting); drive time ~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops, tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon, overnight in Page, AZ
Day 5 – Visit Horseshoe Bend that morning if you were unable to do so that afternoon. Options for this day: day trip to Monument Valley (2-hour drive each way), Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip, Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, drive to Kanab (~90 minutes) to spend the night.
Day 6 – Drive to Springdale, UT (~1 hour from Kanab), catch Zion Park Shuttle to explore the park (lots of good easy hikes in that area), spend 2nd night in Kanab, UT.
Day 7 – Drive back to Phoenix (~6 hours from Kanab), fly home

The reason I suggest doing a day trip to Monument Valley on Day 5 is because at this point, you’re highly unlikely to find rooms available there (there’s not much to work with there). If the prospect of doing all that driving doesn’t appeal, you might consider taking a scenic flight over it from the Page, AZ, Municipal Airport. Fixed wing airplanes depart daily (weather permitting) and mornings are typically the best time to fly for light and lack of wind. Monument Valley Air Tours
Zion is another area where you’ll probably come away feeling as though you didn’t have enough time. Frankly, Zion is more convenient to visit using Las Vegas as a staging city, so, push comes to shove, you might save this park for another time when you can give it the time it deserves, and visit Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands, aka “Utah’s Mighty 5!”
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 22, 2019 at 2:49 PM

Hey Jennie,
We feel your pain on how frustrating the Wave Permit process can be!
Having a flexible schedule definitely works in your favor. The times of year that are least competitive for permit applications are when the weather is worst: July-August and January-February. That means being prepared for weather that’s really, really hot, or really, really, cold. Still, you won’t be alone in trying to work this strategy to your favor. If you are not chosen for the first month you apply, you are welcome to continue applying for subsequent months for as long as you want. You are required to submit 3 dates that you can hike at the time you apply, but you are not required to submit all the names of your hiking companions at that point in time.
Best of luck to you, and in the very likely event you are never selected to hike The Wave, you might consider flying over it. That will be pricey, no doubt about that, plus touring aircraft cannot land at The Wave, but in addition to The Wave, you’ll see a lot of amazing scenery you might not get a chance to otherwise! For more information, check out this article on our companion site, TheWaveAZ.com: “So You Didn’t Get A Wave Permit – Now What?”
Take care and happy hiking!
Alley 🙂

August 21, 2019 at 5:16 PM

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From John Colowich

Hi,

I appreciated= your great job to advise us the great tips.
I have one question about lower and upper Antelope Canyon tour.
I think I have read your comments, but could not locate one.
If we have to choose one between upper and lower, which one do you recommend?
I heard different tour company charges different amount for the same upper or lower Canyon tour, is it true?
Then, do you suggest which touring company is better for the money spent?

Thank you again, John

August 23, 2019 at 4:55 PM

Hi Dhruva!
First of all, you won’t hit “all” the attractions in Page, AZ. In order to do that, you’d need 3-5 days, but the timeframe you have is perfectly fine and you can still accomplish a lot and have a wonderful time.
Since Page, AZ, is a small town, the order in which you visit the attractions here depends largely on availability of tours, or in this case, lack thereof. The weekend you’re planning on visiting is Labor Day weekend, so don’t be surprised to find slots on many area tours to be sold out!
The drive from Phoenix, AZ, to Page, AZ, “in theory” takes about 4.5 hours, but that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens since the drive is very scenic and you’ll no doubt be stopping to take pictures. 6-6.5 hours tends to be a more realistic figure when you factor in bathroom breaks, meal stops (the Cameron Trading Post is a great place for lunch), and the inevitable “oh wow, look at that!” moment. Still, if you get an early start on the trip, you could do your Antelope Canyon tour that afternoon. This element of your trip (Antelope Canyon tours) should be the first priority for booking, so check availability for that first anyway. If you find that tours of the main branches of Antelope Canyon are sold out, look to alternate slot canyons in the Page, AZ, area that are just as beautiful, but far less crowded. If you wish to pair your Antelope Slot Canyon tour with a short boat tour of Lake Powell, consider “bundling” these activities for ease of convenience in the reservation process.
If you wished to do a longer water-based activity, such as the Glen Canyon Half-Day Float Trip or the Lake Powell Rainbow Bridge Boat Tour, you’d want to set aside your full day in town for that. If you take us up on that suggestion, take the early morning departure of these trips to avoid the peak heat of the afternoon. Then, if you have energy to spare afterwards, you might visit the Glen Canyon Conservancy museum, take a short hike to the “New” Wave or the Hanging Gardens (carry plenty of water if you do this), do a tour of the Glen Canyon Dam, or visit the Glen Canyon Conservancy Museum.
Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise on your way back to Phoenix; here again, this will enable you to enjoy cooler temperatures and thinner crowds.
For more suggestions on how to get the most out of your time in Page, AZ, check out our “Ultimate 2-Day Itinerary in Page, AZ!”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 19, 2019 at 1:11 PM

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From Valeria

Hi,
I would like to book the triple crown tour, which includes upper,lower canyon and boat tour. But i can not find a customer service number. Can you please send me the number i can contact those guys? I have enormous amount of questions to ask about this tour and there is no information.

August 21, 2019 at 9:42 PM

Hi Kaleigh,
Antelope Canyon tour companies will open up seat inventory for 2020 later this year, probably around October or November. Check back then, and if 2020 reservations aren’t possible to make by December, that would be the time to reach out by phone and see what’s going on.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 19, 2019 at 12:55 PM

Hi Shirley,
Yes, you have interpreted the rules correctly 🙂 When you apply for a hiking permit, you have the option to submit several desired dates within the month you’re applying for, if that helps, but again, only one application per group allowed.
Since it is statistically unlikely that you will be granted a Wave permit, you might start thinking now about what alternative activities you might do. White Pocket is a popular choice, and as of yet doesn’t require a permit. We do recommend, however, going with a licensed guide service since the road there is awfully sandy and typically impassable in a standard rental car. Another option for those with unlimited determination to see The Wave, and a vacation budget to match, is to fly over it. Fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters depart out of the Page, AZ, Municipal Airport and can be chartered to fly over not only Coyote Buttes, but Rainbow Bridge, Cottonwood Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and many other scenic highlights in the area. Flights don’t land at The Wave, but would show you a ton of amazing scenery you may not have the time or inclination to visit on foot. For more information on chartering a flight over The Wave, visit our companion site, www.TheWaveAZ.com
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 15, 2019 at 12:52 PM

Hi Liya,
Thank you for your compliments! Ryan is out of the office, but I’m happy to help you.
This is an excellent question – it’s natural to wonder if you’d get “canyon’ed out” by the time you reached Page, AZ! I believe the answer is “no.” All the canyon landscapes you will experience on your tour (which definitely looks fun!) are different and beautiful in their own way, so, seeing Antelope Canyon IMO would make for a nice capper to your week’s exploration.
There are a couple of areas where I’d recommend some small reality checks and possibly making some changes:
On 09/20, where you say you’ll spend the night in Page, AZ, after exploring the Moab, UT, area, keep in mind that’s a long drive, ~5 hours. Plus, you’ll want to take advantage of the opportunity to go through Monument Valley, which will add more time to the trip. An important consideration at the time of year you’re visiting is daylength. It’s getting short, with sunrise in Moab, UT, occurring at ~7:00 AM and sunset in Page, AZ, at ~6:30 AM. Utah is also on a different time zone than Arizona, so UT is one hour “ahead.” No matter what you do, you need to time your trip so that you arrive in Page, AZ, well before sunset. Nighttime driving is best avoided in this part of the U.S. due to poor lighting on local roads and the tendency for deer, elk, free range cattle, and sometimes wild horses to pose a collision risk.
On 09/21 where you say you’ll visit the attractions in Page, AZ, then to go on to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, that is not realistic. It takes approximately 3.5-4 hours to make the drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. I know Google Maps gives the drive time as 2.5 hours, but that rarely happens, because the drive is very scenic, and you will be stopping to take pictures. There’s also the inevitable bathroom and meal stops to be made (the Cameron Trading Post is perfect for this!). It can take 2-3 hours alone stopping at all the Grand Canyon viewpoints between the park entrance at Desert View and Grand Canyon Village! It would then take ~4.5 hours minimum to make the drive back to Las Vegas. It would be better to overnight in the Grand Canyon area, then make the drive to Vegas the following morning when you’re rested.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 14, 2019 at 5:06 PM

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From Liya Cheraux

Thank you very much, Ally for your advice. I will book Antelope Canyon tour. Also, I will make sure we leave Moab early and Page early enough to avoid driving in dark. You’re right, safety is the most important! Truly appreciate your time and your help!

August 15, 2019 at 6:30 PM

Hey Tracy, thank you for your compliments. Glad you like the itinerary!
Traveling with kids your daughters’ age, you should be able to do most activities suggested, but adjustments for weather are definitely warranted.
In Northern Arizona/Southern Utah, March falls into that transitional period between winter and spring, so, depending on the whims of Mother Nature, it could be snowing, especially at higher elevation parks such as the Grand Canyon (7,000′ ASL) or Bryce (8,000′ ASL). Best case scenario, it will be cold in the higher elevation areas, but pleasantly cool down lower, such as Page, AZ (4,500′ ASL) and Zion, which is at about the same elevation. Nevertheless, you’ll need to keep a close eye on the weather, and start monitoring it in the various locations you want to visit about 2 weeks before you get set to travel.
If you wish to add Petrified Forest/Painted Desert to your itinerary — and March is a great time to do it! — I would suggest flying into Phoenix instead of Las Vegas. That would situate you perfectly to add Sedona to your itinerary, which is amazing! A nice one-week itinerary using Phoenix as a staging city could go something like this:
Day 1 – Fly into Phoenix, drive to Sedona (~2 hour drive), overnight in Sedona
Day 2 – Do Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour (weather permitting), 2nd night in Sedona
Day 3 – Drive to Petrified Forest/Painted Desert National Park (~3 hour drive), also visit Meteor Crater if desired, overnight in Holbrook, AZ, or Winslow, AZ
Day 4 – Drive to Page, AZ (~4 hour drive), have lunch at Cameron Trading Post, visit Horseshoe Bend on way into town (parking permitting), overnight in Page, AZ
Day 5 – Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise if you couldn’t get there the day before; tour Antelope Canyon, perhaps take a short boat tour on Lake Powell, spend 2nd night in Page.
Day 6 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5 hour drive factoring in stops), overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
Day 7 – Drive to Phoenix (~5 hour drive), fly home

Naturally, that itinerary can be flip-flopped depending on availability of Grand Canyon lodging and/or Antelope Canyon tours, of if you prefer to get the longer drives of the trip out of the way first. If you prefer to experience Bryce and Zion, you’d be better off flying into/out of Las Vegas. Dropping Monument Valley would be the best way to accommodate the Painted Desert if you went that route.

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

August 14, 2019 at 4:52 PM

Hi Orli!
If, by “20/12,” you’re referring to December 12th, then yes, visiting Antelope Canyon is possible! The canyons are open year-round, with the exception of Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November), Christmas Day (12/25), and New Year’s Day (01/01). Even though you’re visiting during a slower time of year, advance reservations for Antelope Canyon tours are still strongly recommended.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

August 14, 2019 at 4:24 PM

Hi Evy,
There’s no such thing as a “bad” time to visit Antelope Canyon. You are correct in that “prime” time, when you are likely to see the famous light beams, is generally between March and September. For this, you’d need to time your tour for mid-day. However, if you don’t have your heart set on seeing the light shafts, October through February is a perfectly good time to visit, and it has a few compelling advantages such as cooler temperatures and fewer crowds. Long story short, if you are able to visit in November, by all means do it! However, the way you’re proposing to do it is a bit flawed at present, especially in the first version of your itinerary.
It takes approximately 3 hours to drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon South Rim. That’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens as the drive is very scenic, and you’ll find yourself stopping to take photos, especially in Oak Creek Canyon, and the San Francisco peaks near Flagstaff. You should plan on at least 4 hours for sightseeing at Grand Canyon South Rim, particularly in the Grand Canyon Village area, then you’re facing another 3.5-4 hour drive to Page, AZ? Not my idea of a vacation! In November, one thing to keep in mind is the possibility of snow. It’s not common at that time of year, but in the event it does happen, you’ll definitely have to take things slower. Another important consideration is daylength: in November, it’s short. Sunrise occurs at ~7:00 AM, sunset at around 5:00 PM. You want to avoid driving at night if at all possible in this part of the U.S. due to lack of ambient lighting on local roads (a deliberate move to preserve the natural quality of the night sky), and the tendency for deer, elk, free range cattle, and other large animals to graze near them at night, ratcheting up the chance of you having an auto accident. It’s not something you want to have happen in an area where cell phone service is spotty (if you can get any bars) and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. It would be better to do a day trip from Sedona as you suggested, then stay in Williams that night. Better yet? Stay overnight at the Grand Canyon, or Tusayan just outside the park, so you can be on the canyon rim for sunset and/or sunrise.
As for which Page, AZ, slot canyon offers the best light during the month of November, they’re all beautiful! Just reserve a time slot that works for you. If you’re wanting to do the Antelope Canyon waterside boat tour as well, book it as a “bundle” with one of the slot canyon tours for optimal convenience.
If for some reason your November visit doesn’t materialize, April is a perfectly good time to visit. However, it falls in that “transitional” period between winter and spring, so a late season snowstorm is a very real possibility.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

August 14, 2019 at 4:22 PM