Customer Questions

Hi Daisy, and apologies for the delay in response to your inquiry.
There are actually two operators of Lake Powell boat tours from the Page, AZ, area: Lake Powell Resorts and Antelope Point Marina. The concessionaire that offers the boat tour component with the Lower Antelope Canyon “bundle” is Antelope Point Marina. Thus far, there is no similar agreement in place with Lake Powell Resorts, so if you prefer to tour Lake Powell and Antelope Canyon with them, which is totally your prerogative, you’d have to book the land and waterside tours separately. For what it’s worth, the primary difference between the Lake Powell Resorts tour and the boat tour component of the Lower Antelope Canyon bundle is that Lake Powell Resort is located a few miles West of Antelope Point, therefore, they are able to swing by the backside of Glen Canyon Dam en route to Antelope Canyon.
As for the best time to tour Antelope Canyon, most would agree that mid-day offers the best lighting conditions, especially if you want to see the light beams. However, people are aware of this, and those time slots tend to sell out up to a year in advance. There really is no such thing as a bad time to go, and at this stage, I’d recommend booking whatever open time slot you can find, whether it’s part of a bundle or not. FYI, there are two companies that offer tours to Lower Antelope, Ken’s and Dixie Ellis, so if you opt to book the boat tour and slot canyon tours separately, do check availability with both companies.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 14, 2019 at 4:01 PM

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From Daisy

Thank you, Alley! I just booked a bundle with a 10-am visit of the Lower Antelope. This website has been quite helpful. Thank you!

All Best,

Daisy

May 14, 2019 at 10:23 PM

Hi Tiffany,
October is a wonderful time to visit Page, AZ! If you have any mobility issues, Upper Antelope Canyon would be the best slot canyon tour for you. It is a 100-yard out-and-back walk, and the trail through the canyon is relatively flat. There is a 2-mile off-road ride required to get to the mouth of the canyon.
If you can manage more than 100 yards, you might also consider touring Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon, which also features no ladders, but is a bit longer (~300 yards). There is a 7- to 8-mile off-road trip required to approach that particular slot canyon.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 11, 2019 at 1:31 PM

Hi Chris,
Yes, you can take your own kayak into any of the side canyons on Lake Powell. You will need to pay a $30/vehicle entrance fee into the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which is good for 7 days time. The main launch areas near Page, AZ, are Antelope Point Marina, Lake Powell Resort, and the Stateline launch ramp. Kayaks may also put in at Lone Rock Beach near the AZ/UT border.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 11, 2019 at 1:27 PM

Hi Alex!
It’s good that you’ve allowed 2 days to enjoy Page, AZ, and your plan is already quite full. That said, I’d recommend dropping Secret Canyon (now known as Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon) in favor of a different kind of sightseeing experience, perhaps a fixed wing airplane or helicopter flight. Or you might consider visiting Horseshoe Bend on horseback with Horseshoe Bend Trail Rides.
There are all kinds of possibilities! For more suggestions, visit our companion sites, www.HorseshoeBend.com or www.TheWaveAZ.com
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 11, 2019 at 12:51 PM

Hi Susan!
Using Sedona as a “base camp” from which to explore the many attractions in Northern Arizona is OK, but not ideal. This is mainly due to the driving distances between places, which are often in excess of 2 hours each way, and the need to time your drives so that you’re back to base before nightfall. Driving after sunset is strongly discouraged in this part of the country, especially in Sedona, due to the lack of ambient lighting on local roads, and the possible presence of deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses. Believe me, you don’t want to have a nighttime encounter with a large animal in an area with no cell phone service and miles to the nearest service station! Although September is a wonderful time of year to visit weather-wise, another factor working against you is shortening daylength. Sunrise occurs about 6:00 AM, sunset at around 6:30 PM.
If you can cancel your extra room nights in Sedona with minimal or no penalty, I would strongly recommend overnighting in Grand Canyon, and Page, AZ, for touring Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
The order in which you visit these areas will largely depend on lodging availability – or lack thereof – at Grand Canyon South Rim, then Antelope Canyon tours. These two components should be the “lynchpin” around which the rest of your trip planning revolves, and evolves.
You might want to put Sedona as the last stop on your itinerary because then you’d only be facing a 2-hour drive back to Phoenix, vs. Page or Grand Canyon, which are 5 hours away.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 11, 2019 at 12:46 PM

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From Susan G

Thanks Alley –
Great advice. I am able to cancel our extra nights in Sedona and I already have reservations at both GC in park lodging and Page for both nights (all able to be cancelled) until we figure out the best order to do things in. If we are on the road from Phoenix by 11am do you have a suggestion as to the order we should do Page and Grand Canyon in order to make the best use of our time. Sorry if this question has been asked before! This site is truly awesome!

Thanks, Susan

May 13, 2019 at 12:35 PM

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From Susan G

One last thought for some input. I’ve read that the best time of day for the canyon tour is midday at the peak of the sunshine. So with that in mind should we stay in GC Friday night and book a noon or 12:30 tour or is that not giving us enough time to drive from the GC if we leave after sunrise? Conversely, are we better off leaving after the noon tour on Saturday and driving to GC and staying there Saturday night? TIA for all your advice!

May 13, 2019 at 2:13 PM

Hi Tracie and thank you for your excellent question. For families with infants and pre-K children, we usually suggest Upper. However, kids your son’s age are usually able to handle the physicality of Lower Antelope Canyon, and even get a kick out of climbing the stairs, ladders, and over the occasional small boulder or two. If he has any mobility issues, or is not particularly athletic, Upper Antelope may be the better option for him. Before deciding, take a look at this video of a full walk-through of Lower Antelope Canyon.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 11, 2019 at 12:01 PM

Hi Jazmin, thanks for visiting us. I apologize for the delay in response to your inquiry.
As you’ve correctly deduced, you have a very ambitious “wish list” which will inevitably require some paring down in order to assure that your vacation is truly a vacation and not a constant “pack up and drive” exercise. Given the constraints you indicate, i.e, staying overnight in Phoenix on your arrival day, then capping off the trip with a 3-night stay in San Diego, that essentially gives you 11-12 days to work with in the Southwestern U.S. Another top-of-mind consideration is that you’re visiting during the hottest time of the year, which will have a definite affect on what you do and when. Essentially: do all your hiking or high-intensity activities in the morning. Here’s how I recommend you proceed:
June 16th: Arrive in Phoenix, stay overnight
June 17th: Drive to Sedona (~2.5 hours), visit Chapel of the Holy Cross, Tlaquepaque, or explore the many art galleries and museums in the area.
June 18th: Second day in Sedona, in the morning, do one of several easy but scenic hikes in the area. Overnight in Sedona.perhaps take the Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, hit some sites you may have missed the day prior. 2nd night in Sedona.
June 19th: Drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3 hour drive), overnight at Grand Canyon
June 20th: first thing in the AM take a fixed wing airplane or helicopter flight over the North Rim, then drive to Santa Fe, NM (~8 hour drive). On the way, you might take the opportunity to stop at the Acoma Pueblo just West of Albuquerque. Guided tours are offered, and should be reserved in advance. Overnight in Santa Fe.
June 21st: Second night in Santa Fe, explore the historic plaza area, or visit one of the many art galleries and museums in the area. Santa Fe NM Activities
June 22nd: Drive from Santa Fe, NM to Mesa Verde, ~5.5 hour drive, overnight in Durango, Cortez, or Mancos, CO Mesa Verde Lodging
June 23rd: Drive to Page, AZ via Monument Valley (~5 hour drive); tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon, overnight in Page.
June 24th: Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, then take AM Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip (6:00 AM check-in, 7:00 AM departure), 2nd night in Page.
June 25th: Drive to Zion, ~2 hour drive, along the way stop at mile marker 19 on US89 for the relatively easy and fun Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Trails Hike, overnight in Springdale, UT
June 26th: 2nd day in Zion, maybe hike the Weeping Rock, Watchman, or Emerald Pools Trail. There are lots of easy but beautiful hikes in Zion! , overnight in Springdale.
June 27th: Drive from Springdale to Las Vegas (~3-3.5 hours), overnight in Vegas.
June 28th: Drive to San Diego, CA, ~5.5 hour drive, stop at Hoover Dam on your way out of town.
June 29th – July 1st: San Diego

So — as you can see, some long drives are going to be required in order to pull this all off. If the prospect of all that time behind the wheel doesn’t appeal, you might consider taking New Mexico and/or Colorado off the table this time around and perhaps pulling your trip radius in a bit tighter. By doing so, you could add Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, and perhaps Arches/Canyonlands to the mix, which wouldn’t cramp your style in the least!
I know it’s a hard choosing what to leave in and what to leave out. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have further questions.
Good luck and save travels,
Alley 🙂

May 11, 2019 at 11:52 AM

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From Rob Gunnemann

Hi Alley,

I love your website & I love that you give help with people’s itineraries. My wife & I are planning a short trip to Arizona/Utah the beginning of June 2019. We’ve been to the Grand Canyon & Sedona. I’ve never been to the other parks in AZ or UT. We have family in Prescott Valley, AZ that we wanted to visit at the end of this short park tour. We will be driving from Redlands, CA

This is what I think we should do. Please let me know if I should choose another path or go somewhere else instead.

Day 1 = 06/01 Saturday
Drive from Redlands, CA to Springdale, UT = 6 hours
Maybe see the sunset over Zion

Day2 = 06/02 Sunday
Hike Zion national Park
Drive from Springdale, UT to Bryce, UT = 1 hour 50 minutes

Day 3 = 06/03 Monday
Hike Bryce Canyon
Drive from Bryce Canyon to Moab,UT = 4 hour 20 minutes

Day 4 = 06/04 Tuesday
Arches national Park & Monument valley
Drive from Moab, UT to Page, AZ = 4 hours 25 minutes

Day 5 = 06/05 Wednesday
Antelope canyon & Horseshoe Canyon Tour
Drive from Page, AZ to Prescott Valley, AZ = 3 hour 28 minutes

My wife also wants to see Monument Valley. Where can I add this?

What would you change or do different?

May 14, 2019 at 12:38 PM

Hi June,
You should be able to find adequate parking for your RV, but I would recommend booking your Antelope Canyon tour for an earlier time slot. Later in the day, you’d probably have a harder time finding a place to park.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 10, 2019 at 10:02 PM

Hi Ronald, and thank you for visiting our site.
First off, you’re visiting Phoenix during one of the hottest times of the year. The desert heat can take a lot out of you, so don’t be surprised if you find that you’re already zapped shortly after you arrive in Phoenix. By the time you arrive at the airport, collect your rental car, and make your way out of town, you may discover that you only have the energy to make your way to the Boulders, check in, and relax with a cocktail by the pool. If so, that’s OK. Just plan on visiting the attractions on your wish list the following day. If you do manage to tick off all the items on your wish list on day 1, you might plan on visiting Lake Pleasant the following day, or drive to Sedona.
Seeing Sedona as a “drive-by” on the way from Phoenix to Page, AZ, is never ideal. There’s so much to see and do there that 3-4 days minimum is recommended to do it justice. Since the Antelope Canyon hiking and boat tours can be completed in one day, you could drop a night in Page, AZ, in order to accommodate one night in Sedona.
If you wish to visit Bryce Canyon, one night is sufficient in that area since the park is relatively small, square mileage-wise. 2 nights minimum are recommended in Zion. If you’re flying out of Las Vegas, you should plan on staying in Springdale, UT, on the Western border of the park.
RE: the Antelope Canyon Upper + Boat Tour bundle, the actual tour operator are Chief Tsosie’s Antelope Slot Canyon Tours and Antelope Point Marina respectively.
Hope that helps! Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
P.S. I notice that the Grand Canyon is conspicuously absent from your itinerary. Have you already been there? If not, you need to make room for it!

May 10, 2019 at 10:00 PM

Hi Jack,
You are correct in that the availability of tours on the two different websites reflect openings at two different companies. FYI, there are four companies that offer tours of Upper Antelope Canyon, so be sure to check with all of them if you find Antelope Canyon tours sold out at your desired time slot.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 10, 2019 at 1:08 PM

Hi Ianah,
Late November is a good time to visit Arizona, as long as you’re aware that the Northern part of the state experiences “true” winters, meaning that temperatures will be colder and snow always looms as a possibility. Start monitoring the weather about 2 weeks before you get set to travel; that will give the best guidelines on how to pack for maximum comfort.
Visiting the Grand Canyon as a “drive by” between Page and Sedona is not the best way to go. It takes ~2.5 hours to drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, then another 3 hours minimum to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page. In November, you’re also up against a short daylength (sunrise at 7:15 AM, sunset at 5:00 PM), and you want to avoid driving at night if at all possible. Local highways are very dark, and deer, elk, free range cattle, and sometimes even wild horses pose a collision risk. It would be best to overnight at the Grand Canyon, then drive to Page, AZ, the next morning. At the time of year you’re visiting, one night should be sufficient in Page, AZ, to tour Antelope Canyon, visit Horseshoe Bend, and perhaps take a short boat tour on Lake Powell. If an Antelope Canyon walking and waterside tour interest you, consider booking these activities as a “bundle” for optimal convenience.
The drive from Page, AZ, to Phoenix takes approximately 5 hours. As for places you can stop along the way, there are lots of options, including, but not limited to, Wupatki/Sunset Crater National Monument, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Point, and Black Canyon City.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 10, 2019 at 1:06 PM

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From Jenny Stevens-Hofer

Hi Lanah, you are so helpful I thought I may as well ask for your help. We are a group from Australia our itinary is as follows:- 22/9/19 Las Vegas to Hatch via Zion National Park. Stay in Hatch for 22nd,23rd,and 24th. We would like to see Monument Valley and Bryce National Park. On the 25th drive to Antelope Canyon and would like to also see Lake Powell then on the 26th drive to Grand Canyon South Rim then we head off to Wiliams. What do you think?? We have 13 people in 2 mini buses. Also is it better to apply for a Federal lands access pass? Kind regards Jenny

May 11, 2019 at 4:31 PM

Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your compliments on our itinerary!
If you have an extra day to work with, I’d say either a. give the extra day to Zion — there are lots of family friendly activities in that area, and you can easily spend 4-5 days there yet still feel as though you only ‘scratched the surface’; or b. go to Sedona — stunning area, also with an ample selection of activities and hikes in varying degrees of intensity, but I can pretty much guarantee that once you see it, you’ll wish you had more time there.
Hope that helps! Please feel free to hit us up again if we can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 07, 2019 at 8:23 PM

HI Alley,

I love your post! Thank you for the suggestions. My family and I are planning to do a road trip in late June. Thus far we plan to arrive in LV on 6/21, spend the night there, and drive east to the parks on 6/22. We will have to drive back to LV on 6/30 so we can fly out on 7/1. We were planning to rent an RV and drive, but I am wondering if we should rent a car and stay in hotels? We want to see the big parks in Utah as well as the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon. I would really love to get to Moab so my husband and kids could see Arches, but I realize it is the furthest away. I’ve seen most of the places before except for Antelope Canyon and canyonlands… so that is a must on our list. My husband and girls have not seen any of the southern Utah parks or the Grand Canyon. Our girls are 10 and 12 and quite fit so we are able to hike and do most activities. What would you suggest? I LOVED Zion and would happily spend two days there. I hadn’t planned to see Lake Powell… is it worthwhile? I love hiking, and the girls and I ride horses so some trail rides would be fun. Should we start at GC and loop around ending at Zion? Or should we do the opposite?

May 10, 2019 at 12:23 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hi Jennifer, and thank you for visiting our site.
RE: the hotel vs RV debate, many visitors consider going that route because they think it will save them money, but in reality, it usually ends up being a “wash.” Between typical summertime gas prices, and the fact that you’ll need to stay in developed RV parks for air conditioning (you’re traveling at the hottest time of year), don’t be surprised if you find this vacation ends up costing just as much as it would have if you had gone the rental car and hotel route. The area where you can potentially realize some significant savings is with the ability to prepare your own meals instead of eating out all the time. Long story short, it’s your call, and RV’ing is fun, but like with any situation, it has its pros and cons.
So, given your flight dates, you have 8 full days to work with on this vacation. In light of that, and the fact the Moab, UT, is SUPER-hot at the time of year you’re visiting, I’d recommend taking it off the table. It’s just too far afield to be realistic, and you really need anywhere from 3-5 days to do it justice. Here’s what I’d recommend instead:
06/22 – Drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon South Rim, stop at Hoover Dam along the way, overnight at Grand Canyon
06/23 – Drive from Grand Canyon to Page, AZ, drive time 3.5-4 hours (there are a lot of cool places to stop on this drive!), visit Horseshoe Bend (parking permitting) overnight in Page, AZ.
06/24 – Visit Horseshoe Bend after sunrise if you weren’t able to visit the day before, tour Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell (yes, Lake Powell is worthwhile!), spend 2nd night in Page, AZ.
06/25 – Drive from Page, AZ, to Bryce Canyon (~3 hour drive), overnight in Bryce.
06/26 – 2nd day in Bryce, take ATV tour, or one of many beautiful hikes in the area.
06/27 – Drive from Bryce to Zion, ~2 hours, overnight in Springdale, UT.
06/28 – 2nd day in Zion, maybe hike The Narrows or Angel’s Landing, overnight in Springdale.
06/29 – Spend 3rd day in Zion, or drive to Mt. Charleston, NV (~3.5 hours), overnight at Mt. Charleston or Las Vegas
06/30 – Free day in Las Vegas
07/01 – Fly home
Another option would be to hit Sedona, AZ, before the Grand Canyon and spend a couple of days there. I know your priority was the Utah parks, but Sedona, AZ, is a beautiful area with all kinds of beautiful hikes and fun activities that are family-friendly. You might also need to be prepared to flip-flop this itinerary in case lodging availability at the Grand Canyon (or lack thereof) is more conducive to hitting last on your tour.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 11, 2019 at 1:25 PM

Hi Ann,
You’ve summarized the procedure for drawing Wave lottery winners precisely. It’s an unavoidable fact that the smaller the group = the better the chance of being picked. However — there are some rumors circulating of late that the daily quota may be raised. We’ll keep you posted on that via our companion site, www.TheWaveAZ.com, and its corresponding Facebook page.
Good luck to you!
Alley 🙂

May 07, 2019 at 8:18 PM

Hi Rebecca!
Big time props to you for planning your Easter vacation well in advance. In answer to your query, spring break is a good time to visit. It’s better than summer, that’s for sure! Just bear in mind that in this part of Arizona, winter has a tendency to make one last “stand” in early spring. Keep an eye on the weather starting about 2 weeks before you get set to travel, and be read to pack a few warmer pieces of clothing just in case.
If you have a week to work with, using Las Vegas as your staging city, you could do something like this:
Day 1: Travel day to Las Vegas, overnight in Vegas.
Day 2: Drive to Grand Canyon South Rim, stop at Hoover Dam if you wish. Drive time ~5 hours, overnight at Grand Canyon.
Day 3: Drive to Page, AZ, stop at viewpoints as desired along the East Rim Drive, maybe hit the Cameron Trading Post for breakfast/brunch. Drive time, factoring in stops, ~3.5-4 hours. Take afternoon tour of Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page.
Day 4: Visit Horseshoe Bend for sunrise, take Glen Canyon Half Day Float Trip. Spend 2nd night in Page, AZ.
Day 5: Drive from Page, AZ, to Bryce Canyon, ~3 hour drive. En route, stop at mile marker 19 on US89 to take the very scenic and relatively easy Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos hike. Drive the loop around Bryce, or hike part of it. Overnight in Bryce or nearby
Day 6: Drive from Bryce to Zion, ~2 hour drive. Overnight in Springdale, UT. The Narrows is usually closed at that time of year, but you might do Angel’s Landing, Observation Point, Emerald Pools, or any other hike that appeals to you. There is no shortage of great hikes in Zion!
Day 7: 2nd day in Zion, more hiking, or visit one of the local museums, or visit the nearby ghost town of Grafton, or take a drive to the Kolob Canyon section of the park. 2nd night in Springdale.
Day 8: Drive back to Las Vegas ~3 hours from Springdale, fly home.
Grand Canyon lodging should be the first element to check, then probably Antelope Canyon tours should be your next priority. Be prepared to flip-flop this itinerary should lodging availability – or lack thereof – dictate doing so.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 07, 2019 at 8:11 PM

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From Rebecca

Thank you for your recommendation Alley! You’re so wonderful to help so many with this.

May 08, 2019 at 2:04 PM

Elizabeth,
OMG, you’re right, the Lower Antelope Canyon tour, by itself is missing a booking button! We’ll see about getting that fixed ASAP, in the meantime, here is the contact info for both Lower Antelope Canyon tour operators:
– Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours (928) 606-2168 http://lowerantelope.com/ and
– Dixie Ellis’ Antelope Lower Canyon Tours (928) 640-1761 http://antelopelowercanyon.com
Thanks for pointing that out,
Alley 🙂

May 07, 2019 at 1:15 PM

Hi Dolly,
How wonderful that you’ll be doing volunteer work at Best Friends during your visit to Kanab! Las Vegas would probably be the best place to fly into and out of, but you might also look at Phoenix. Sometimes you can get deals on airfares there during the summer months since that’s considered “off-season” in the Phoenix area.
If you’re planning on basing yourself in Kanab, UT, for your vacation, then I agree that Moab, UT, would be a too far out of the way to visit as a day trip. It’s a 5-hour drive each way, plus Moab is one of those areas that require a minimum stay of 3-4 days to do it justice. It’s definitely a fun place to visit, so you should definitely plan a trip there in the future.
As for other sites to visit while in the area, Grand Canyon North Rim would definitely be a good choice, it’s ~2 hours each way from Kanab, UT. Bryce Canyon is another great spot, it’s ~90 minutes from Kanab, and ATV tours are available in this area. Another possibility is Zion, which you can visit as a day trip, or perhaps as a detour on your way back to Las Vegas. Definitely save a day for Page, AZ, so you can visit Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. You might also take advantage of the opportunity to do the Glen Canyon Float Trip with an early start out of Kanab. On the way there or back, time permitting, you might stop at mile marker 19 to do the very scenic and relatively easy Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Hoodoos hike.
A couple of things to always keep in mind: 1. Utah IS on Daylight Savings Time, but Arizona IS NOT. You’ll “gain” an hour traveling from Utah to Arizona, but “lose” it on the trip back. 2. Driving at night is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to lack of artificial lighting on local roads, and the fact that deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses are always around, and tend to gravitate to the roads after sunset. You should try to be “back to base” well before nightfall.
Hope that helps! If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us again.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 07, 2019 at 2:44 PM

Hi Clivia,
Pretty much the only way to visit the iconic slot canyon scenery Antelope Canyon is on foot. If you wish to visit Lake Powell as well, a 90-minute boat tour of the water side of Antelope Canyon would be a good way to accomplish this goal, and now, you can book both a walking tour of Antelope Canyon plus a boat tour as a “bundle.” For more information, and appropriate booking links, visit How To Book A Tour For Antelope Canyon
As for Horseshoe Bend, you can visit on foot if you wish by self-driving to the parking area and paying a one-time $10/vehicle entry fee. We strongly recommend getting there just after sunrise if you prefer to walk to the overlook to avoid the crowds and the mid-day heat. If the prospect of this does not appeal, you might indeed consider an air tour. Fixed wing airplanes and helicopters depart out of the Page Municipal Airport daily, usually first thing in the morning for better light and less wind.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 07, 2019 at 2:33 PM

Hi Cystal,
For Horseshoe Bend, you simply drive up to the parking lot just South of Page, AZ, pay a $10/vehicle fee, and walk up to the overlook at your leisure.
With Antelope Canyon, it is unfortunately not possible to do a “self-hike” there. It is on Native American Tribal Land, so you absolutely must have an advance reservation for a guided tour. For information on how to do this, read “How To Book A Tour For Antelope Canyon.”
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 06, 2019 at 8:21 PM

Hi Xu,
You are correct in that the Antelope Canyon tours are operated by different companies, but if you book the Upper, Lower, + Antelope Canyon Boat Tour as a bundle, I can tell you right now who does what:
– Upper Antelope Canyon is operated by Chief Tsosie’s Antelope Slot Canyon Tours
– Lower Antelope Canyon is operated by Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours
– Antelope Canyon Boat Tour is operated by Antelope Point Marina
Your tour confirmation sheet should indicate where you need to go and at what time.
Hope that helps.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 06, 2019 at 9:40 PM

Hi Jan,
You’ve made a good call by re-scheduling your trip for autumn! You’ll be able to see some beautiful fall foliage in Zion National Park and many other stops on your tour. If you’re seriously interested in autumn colors, however, I would recommend adding Sedona to your itinerary. Fall foliage peaks in the Sedona area right about the time you’ll be here, and you certainly have the time to work with, which is awesome.
Unfortunately, the chances of your getting a permit for The Wave are not good at that time of year. Due to the nice weather, competition for permits will be fierce, so you should plan on some alternative activities in the likely event your party isn’t chosen. The online application period for October opens up in June. How To Get A Wave Permit
So, assuming that October 1st and 17th will be travel days, I’ll assume that your trip will start in earnest on October 2nd and end on the 16th. So I’d recommend structuring your trip as follows:
October 2nd – drive from LA to Springdale, UT. Drive time ~8 hours, overnight in Springdale.
October 3rd – Explore Zion, hike The Narrows or Angel’s Landing, or whatever local hikes interest you. 2nd night in Zion. Good Hikes in Zion
October 4th – 3rd day in Zion, overnight in Springdale, OR drive to Kanab, UT (~1 hour), overnight there in preparation for The Wave.
October 5th – Hike The Wave (if you get a permit), if you don’t, then tour White Pocket, Soap Creek, Pinnacle Valley, or Sidestep Canyon. Overnight in Kanab, UT.
October 6th – drive from Kanab to Bryce Canyon (~90 minutes), overnight in Bryce or nearby.
October 7th – drive from Bryce to Capitol Reef (~3 hour drive), overnight in Torrey, Fruita, or nearby community.
October 8th – drive from Capitol Reef to Moab, UT (~3 hour drive), overnight in Moab
October 9th – explore Arches NP, overnight in Moab **for suggestions on activities in this area, visit Moab Adventure Center
October 10th – explore Canyonlands NP, 3rd night in Moab
October 11th – drive from Moab, UT, to Page, AZ, via Monument Valley (~5 hours), overnight in Page, AZ.
October 12th – tour Horseshoe Bend first thing in AM, then Antelope Canyon, 2nd night in Page, AZ.
October 13th – drive from Page, AZ, to Sedona, AZ, ~3 hour drive, overnight in Sedona.
October 14th – explore Sedona, hike Bell Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour, overnight in Sedona.
October 15th – more hiking, shopping, sightseeing in Sedona, spend 3rd night in Sedona.
October 16th – drive from Sedona to Las Vegas, NV, ~5 hour drive, overnight in Las Vegas
October 17th – drive from Las Vegas to LAX (~5 hours), fly home.
Antelope Canyon tour availability could be a problem in October, so check on it ASAP. Be prepared to flip-flop this itinerary if lodging availability is more conducive to hitting Sedona first, then Zion last.

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

May 06, 2019 at 9:38 PM

Hi Mary,
The photographers’ tours of Antelope Canyon are just that: tailored to serious photographers. Unfortunately, other members of your party who may not be photographers won’t be allowed to join you. If you’re traveling solo, that’s fine, but if you’re touring with a “mixed” group of semi-serious photographers and people who take pictures with their phone, you might want to stick to the standard tour. You’ll still take good pictures with guidance from your Navajo tour escort.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 06, 2019 at 9:08 PM

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From Klay Klemic

Hey Alley, I wasn’t sure where to ask this, so I’m just putting it here. I opened a new horseback trail ride that actually focuses on teaching people how to ride horses and I just kinda wanted to be on your radar because I have had some people come here straight from Antelope Canyon and had a great time. We are in Cedar City, so a lot of people pass us going from Zion to Bryce Canyon. My website is:
https://www.risingkranchtrailrides.com/

May 24, 2019 at 3:52 PM

Hi Kellie,
You’ve already made a good call by using Las Vegas as your staging city on both ends of your trip. With 8 days to work with, you should be able to accommodate all the items on your “wish list,” with one notable exception: mule rides at the Grand Canyon. The only worthwhile one IMO is the overnight ride to Phantom Ranch, and what with only 10 riders per day being allowed, spaces on those book up quickly. The rimside Canyon Vista ride is OK, but was a poor substitute for the Plateau Point ride, which also took you below the rim. Not to sound like I’m crying sour grapes, but wintertime isn’t the greatest time of year for taking a mule ride anyway. It’s cold at that time of year, and possibly snowing — not the sorts of conditions I’d fancy being on the back of a mule for up to 8 hours!
So, here’s how I’d recommend structuring your trip:
Day 1: Drive from Las Vegas to Sedona, ~5 hours, overnight in Sedona
Day 2: Hiking, shopping, etc. in Sedona, spend 2nd night
Day 3: Drive from Sedona to Grand Canyon South Rim, ~3 hour drive, overnight at Grand Canyon
Day 4: Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, visit Horseshoe Bend, tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 5: Hike The Wave IF you manage to get a permit! For December, you must apply for an online permit in June; for January, July is the application period. How To Get A Wave Permit Overnight in Kanab, UT
Day 6: Drive from Kanab to Bryce Canyon, drive time ~90 minutes, overnight in Bryce
Day 7: Drive from Bryce to Zion, overnight in Springdale, UT
Day 8: 2nd night in Zion
Day 9: Drive from Springdale, UT, to Las Vegas, drive time ~4 hours.
RE: Grand Staircase, you’ll be seeing some of this area on the drive between Page, AZ, and Bryce Canyon, UT. In the very likely event you are not selected for a Wave permit, consider touring some alternate areas in the vicinity which are just as beautiful, but don’t require a permit, such as White Pocket, Sidestep Canyon, Pinnacle Valley, Soap Creek, etc. Distance and degree of difficulties of hikes involved vary, and the roads leading to many of these area can be quite rough, so it is advisable to travel with a licensed guide service.
The thing to check first would be Grand Canyon lodging availability. Next, check Antelope Canyon tour availability. Be prepared to flip-flop this itinerary if either of these crucial components dictate doing so.

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

May 06, 2019 at 9:06 PM

Hi Anthony,
With 8 nights to work with, you should be able to enjoy Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Bryce, Zion, Moab, and maybe a few surprises in between. However, one place that’s conspicuously absent from your itinerary is the Grand Canyon. Have you already been there before? I’m going to assume “yes” in this case. If not, hit me up again and we’ll see how we can work it in!
Here’s what I suggest you do:
Day 1: Drive from SLC to Bryce Canyon, ~5 hour drive, overnight in Bryce.
Day 2: Drive from Bryce Canyon to Zion, 90 minute drive, overnight in Springdale, UT, or Kanab, UT.
Day 3: 2nd day in Zion, overnight in Springdale or Kanab.
Day 4: Drive from Springdale or Kanab to Page, AZ, drive time ~2-2.5 hours, tour Antelope Canyon in the afternoon, overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 5: Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, drive to Moab, UT, via Monument Valley, ~5 hour drive. Overnight in Moab.
Day 6: Explore Arches NP, 2nd night in Moab **for suggestions on tours and activities for this area, visit Moab Adventure Center
Day 7: Explore Canyonlands NP, 3rd night in Moab
Day 8: Drive back to Salt Lake City, ~4 hour drive. Time/inclination permitting, you might make a short detour to Goblin Valley State Park.

Be sure you make advance reservations for all lodging and guided tours in advance of your trip. Be prepared to flip-flop this itinerary if lodging availability is more conducive to hitting Moab first, then Bryce last.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels.
Alley 🙂

May 06, 2019 at 8:46 PM

Hi Sharon!
Not surprised that Monument Valley lodging is already sold out. There’s not much to work with in that area in the first place, so with 3 nights in Page, AZ, you can make a day trip to Monument Valley with proper planning. It takes approximately 2 hours each way to drive from Page, AZ, to Monument Valley. One thing to keep in mind is that Monument Valley is on Daylight Savings Time, but Page, AZ, is not. Therefore, you’ll “lose” an hour traveling from Page, AZ, to Monument Valley, then “regain it” going back to Page. You’ll need to factor this in if you take part in any guided tours, plus keep an eye on the time towards the end of the day. You want to avoid any and all driving after nightfall in this part of the country due to local roadways being VERY dark, especially on the Navajo Reservation. Plus, you have the possibility of deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses darting out in front of your vehicle. Believe me, a nighttime collision with a large animal is a real buzzkill!
If the prospect of doing all that driving doesn’t appeal, you might consider flying over Monument Valley instead. Fixed wing airplane flights depart daily from the Page Municipal Airport and last ~90 minutes.
Yes, I definitely recommend visiting Horseshoe Bend early in the morning so you have cooler temperatures and fewer people to contend with. After 9:00 AM, it gets pretty slammed out there.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 06, 2019 at 8:34 PM

Hi Rita and thank you for your visit today!
So if I’m interpreting your plan correctly, you intend on staying a couple of nights at SLC in between the Yellowstone and Southern Utah/Northern Arizona segments of your trip, namely the 12th and 13th? If that’s the case, that only gives you 3 full days to work with until you have to fly out of Las Vegas on 6/18. Therefore, no, your plan won’t be feasible. You’ll need to drop a couple of items off your “wish list” unless you’re OK with driving long distances every single day.
June 14th: The distance from Salt Lake City to the Northernmost Utah park on your itinerary, Bryce Canyon, is ~4.5 hours. Zion would be a further 2 hours from there. If you get an early start out of Salt Lake, you could visit Bryce as a “drive by” on your way to Zion, pop in there for a few hours, then overnight in Kanab, UT.
June 15th: The next day, you could head down to Page, AZ, which is ~2 hours from Kanab, do an early Antelope Canyon tour, then the afternoon departure of the Glen Canyon float trip, which requires you check in at noon for a 1 PM departure. One thing working in your favor here is that Utah IS on Daylight Savings Time, whereas Arizona is not, so you “gain” an hour traveling from Utah to Arizona. The trip would conclude at around 5:30 PM, then you should overnight in Page, AZ.
June 16th: The next morning, get up early, hit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, then head to Grand Canyon South Rim. The drive is given “on paper” as 2.5 hours, but in reality, it ends up being more along the lines of 3.5-4 hours because it’s a very scenic drive, and you will be stopping to take pictures frequently. Overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim, then the next morning, head for Las Vegas.
June 17th: The drive from Grand Canyon to Las Vegas typically takes ~5 hours, and Hoover Dam is an easy stop you can make on your way into town. See show that night, fly out of Las Vegas the following morning.
If you’re OK with sacrificing your wish to see a show in Las Vegas on the 17th, that would free up a night you could stay over in Bryce Canyon, which is preferable to seeing it en route to Zion. Another consideration: one night in Zion really isn’t enough to do that park justice. Most visitors agree that 3-4 nights is the minimum time you should allot.
As you can see, Monument Valley has been stricken from this itinerary, but another option would be, again, sacrifice the night in Las Vegas, and hit Monument Valley between Page, AZ, and Grand Canyon South Rim. However, I don’t think you’ll be able to find lodging there at this point in time. So, a 3rd possibility would be to, again, scratch the Vegas plans, add a second night in Page, AZ, and visit Monument Valley as either a day trip — it’s a 2-hour drive EACH WAY — or, before making the drive to the Grand Canyon, take a scenic flight over the area in a fixed wing airplane. Flights over Monument Valley last approximately 90 minutes

Hope that helps, I know it’s a difficult choice of what to leave in and what to leave out.
Another thing: if you do take us up on the suggestion to visit Monument Valley as a day trip from Page, keep an eye on the time. Remember that Monument Valley DOES observe Daylight Savings Time and Page, AZ, does not. So you’ll “lose” an hour traveling from Page to MV, but regain it as you travel back. Be sure to time your return drive so that you are not doing any of it at night. It’s VERY dark on area roads, and deer, elk, free range cattle, and sometimes wild horses are notorious for causing accidents in areas where it’s sparsely populated and cell phone service is virtually non-existent.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 06, 2019 at 8:15 PM

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From Rita

Hi Alley,
Thank you so much for sending me these great ideas to make our trip plan work better. I am trying to make our final plan by using your suggestions. Thanks again for taking lot of your time to make the plan for us, we really appreciate it! 🙂

May 09, 2019 at 3:19 PM

Hi Lisa!
Both Lower Antelope Canyon tour outfitters have good sized parking lots, Ken’s is slightly bigger. But as you can see from this Google Earth rendering, they can get pretty full, especially at peak tour times (mid-day). You might give some thought to getting an early start out of Four Corners, getting your camper set up somewhere in Page, AZ, then unhooking your tow vehicle and heading down to the canyon instead of going all the way to Kanab that night.
Hope that helps. Please don’t hesitate to hit us up again if you need further guidance,
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 05, 2019 at 3:53 PM

Hi Laurence,
Your itinerary looks pretty fun, but I’d still recommend a couple of slight modifications.
For one, you’re traveling in June, which is a CRAZY hot time in the Southwest. In light of that, I recommend skipping Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire, unless you can get a super-early start in the morning. Even if you were able to do that, you should probably choose one over the other, and IMO, that should be Red Rock Canyon. Not that Valley of Fire isn’t beautiful, it’s just very exposed. Red Rock has more opportunities for shade. For more information, visit www.RedRockCanyonLV.org
On 06/20 where you indicate that you want to hike the Narrows then drive to Page, you might find that plan works better on paper than in reality. The Narrows, though not super-strenuous, will take a lot out of you, especially at that time of year. Even though the drive to Page, AZ, isn’t incredibly long (~2 hours), you might find yourself wanting to collapse as soon as you arrive at the hotel. It’s up to you, of course, but just fair warning 😉 As far as “driving to Lake Powell,” yes, it is possible to drive to either Antelope Point Marina or Lake Powell Resort. Both are within the Glen Canyon National Receation Area, which will require that you pay an entrance fee. In your case, I’d recommend purchasing an America The Beautiful Federal Lands Access Pass. For $80, this card grants you access to all National Parks and Monuments in the U.S. for one year. It doesn’t work in areas such as State Parks (Valley of Fire is one, Sedona also has a lot of them), Native American Tribal Parks (such as Antelope Canyon), and City Parks, such as Horseshoe Bend. But it would still save you a little money.
As for Sedona, there’s no shortage of cool stuff to see and do, and I can guarantee that you’ll wish you had more time there. 3-4 days is the minimum timeframe recommended for a Sedona vacation, and many people spend a week there and still report feeling as though they’ve only scratched the surface. One day is better than nothing, but be ready to wish you could have stayed longer!
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 05, 2019 at 3:45 PM

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From Laurence

Hi Alley, thanks so much! Very very helpful indeed 🙂

May 07, 2019 at 6:08 PM

Small answer: NOPE!

May 04, 2019 at 4:35 PM

Hi Alenka!
Thank you for visiting today.
The way you organize your time in Page, AZ, will be largely dependent on availability of Antelope Canyon tours, or lack thereof. If you dislike crowds, as you say, then you might consider touring Antelope Canyon X instead of Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon. Or, you might consider touring Lower Antelope Canyon as a “bundle” together with a boat tour of Antelope Canyon’s waterside on Lake Powell.
As for an “archade,” unfortunately, not sure what you mean by that, something may have gotten lost in translation. The closest thing I would be able recommend is Gunfighter Canyon, an indoor shooting range where you can try out a variety of firearms, but don’t require prior shooting experience, or carry permits from your home country.
Regarding your desire to see Monument Valley, it can be done as a day trip from Page, AZ, with careful planning and an eye on the clock. It takes 2 hours EACH WAY to drive from Page to Monument Valley and back. Nighttime driving must be avoided due to lack of ambient lighting on area roads, and the possible presence of deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses, which raises your accident risk. Another thing to keep in mind is that Monument Valley DOES observe Daylight Savings Time, but Page, AZ, does not. Therefore, Monument Valley is one hour “ahead” of Page. You will lose an hour traveling from Page, AZ, to MV, then “gain” it back traveling from MV to Page. If you wanted to do any scheduled activities in Monument Valley, you’ll need to be conscious of this. If the prospect of all that doesn’t appeal to you, you might consider flying over Monument Valley instead. Fixed wing airplanes depart out of the Page Municipal Airport daily and Monument Valley overflights run ~90 minutes in length.
Whatever you decide, be sure to book all hotels, guided tours, etc. well in advance.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 05, 2019 at 3:18 PM

When you ask about “archade”, might you mean arches? There is “Arches National Park” by Moab in Utah.

May 22, 2019 at 6:38 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hey Bren,
Alenka may have already traveled, but that’s a definite possibility that by “archade” he meant “Arches!”
Alley 🙂

May 22, 2019 at 7:48 PM

Wendy,
OMG, thank you SO much for posting a follow-up! I’m overjoyed to hear that you had fun, and that you were able to enjoy 3 days of “drive-free” time as well 🙂
As for giving me a gift, that is so thoughtful, but unnecessary, plus, the thing is I no longer live in Page, so you would have done a lot of running around in vain. But I appreciate the sentiment. Hope you get a chance to return to the area someday.
Take care and have a wonderful summer,
Alley 🙂

May 04, 2019 at 4:40 PM

Hi Bob and thank you for your inquiry!
Your wife should be fine with Upper Antelope Canyon. Folks with knee and other issues visit all the time. There are no stairs, ladders, or anything of that nature. The length of the canyon is 100 yards out and back, and the trail through it is pretty much flat the whole way. As for the condition of the trail, that depends on what the weather has been like in the days leading up to your hike. If it has rained recently, the soil will be more compacted than it would be during a prolonged dry spell. If Upper Antelope Canyon tours are sold out, or if you think your wife might be able to handle a slightly longer hike, you might also consider Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon. It’s ~300 yards long, but like Upper Antelope, has no stairs or ladders. Both tours involve a short off-road ride from the main highway to the entrance of the canyon.
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 05, 2019 at 3:08 PM

Hi Rea,
Yes, you absolutely can book a tour to Lower Antelope Canyon just by itself and not as a bundle! There are two companies operating tours to Lower Antelope Canyon. Their tours are virtually identical, right down to the footsteps, and the penny. They are:
Ken’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours (928) 606-2168 http://lowerantelope.com/ and
Dixie Ellis’ Antelope Lower Canyon Tours (928) 640-1761 http://antelopelowercanyon.com
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 2:31 PM

Hi Angela, and thank you for your excellent inquiry.
If your group is in relatively good shape, as you indicate, you might consider doing a photography tour of Upper Antelope Canyon, then segueing on to some of its more remote drainages, such as Owl Canyon, Mountain Sheep Canyon, and/or Rattlesnake Canyon. These types of package tours are offered exclusively by Adventurous Antelope Canyon Photo Tours. For more information on what they have to offer, visit Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours: Photo Tours
If you really want to go off the beaten track, and aren’t intimidated by a slot canyon that requires a few ropes and ladders to navigate, Mystical Antelope Canyon might be just the thing you’re looking for. Although this newly opened slot canyon is *technically* not a part of the Antelope Canyon drainage (it’s ~4 miles away), it still offers a more intimate experience than Upper or Lower would be able to provide, and visitors are already rating it quite highly.
Hope that helps, I know it’s a hard choice!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 4:33 PM

Hi Katy, and thank you for your excellent inquiry, which, yes, has been asked before, but we don’t mind in the least answering it again!
You are correct in that off-road driving is prohibited with the majority of rental car companies. However, the road from the town of Page, AZ, to the Tribal Park Entrance on US98 is paved. The spur road leading to the two Lower Antelope Canyon tour outfitters’ headquarters is also paved. There is a short section of unpaved but graded road leading to their respective offices, but it’s so slight, your risk of damage to your rental vehicle is negligible at best.

Hope that helps. Be sure to reserve your Antelope Canyon tour well in advance of your arrival, and consider bundling your Lower Antelope Canyon tour with a 90-minute boat tour to get the most of your time in the area!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 4:22 PM

Hi Kim,
NO, that is not correct. You absolutely MUST have an advance reservation to tour Antelope Canyon. You cannot simply drive up, pay for a tour, and expect to go in in a timely fashion. That may have been the case in years past, but not anymore.
Hope that helps.
Alley 🙂

May 02, 2019 at 6:21 PM

Hi Morgan,
Your plan is very ambitious, and IMO, overly so. Hitting all the destinations on your wish list won’t be feasible, or practical, but you can still have a great time!
Let’s get the first “can’t happen/won’t happen” item out of the way: Havasu Falls. If you don’t have either a camping permit there or a reservation at the lodge already, you simply won’t be going there. This area is in extremely high demand, and plans must be made at least 1 year in advance for a visit to this highly-coveted area. For more information, visit our companion site, www.Havasupai.AZ
With 9-10 days to work with, you’ll have to do some further trimming down of your itinerary if you don’t want to be packing up and driving every. single. day. After all, this is supposed to be a vacation, not a death march! So, Mesa Verde and 4 Corners are most likely going to have to come off the list. Save Colorado for another trip when you can fly in and out of Denver and give the whole state the time it deserves.
That said, I’d recommend using Las Vegas as your “staging city” for your trip. You’ll probably be able to find the most competitive airfares into that city. You might also look into flying into Las Vegas and out of Salt Lake, but verify rental car drop off fees before you commit to that. They’re often quite hefty for dropping a vehicle anywhere other than where you picked it up.
A recommended itinerary would go something like this:
Day 1: Fly into Las Vegas early, pick up rental car, head to Zion National Park, with a stop-off at the Red Cliffs Conservation Area (~4-5 hour drive). Overnight in Springdale, UT. Time/desire permitting, do some hiking in Zion that afternoon.
Day 2: More sightseeing in Zion, maybe hike The Narrows, or Angel’s Landing, 2nd night in Springdale.
Day 3: Get an early start, drive from Zion to Capitol Reef with a stop at Bryce Canyon. ~5-6 hour drive, overnight in Torrey, Fruita, or Hanksville, UT
Day 4: Drive from Capitol Reef to Moab, UT ~3 hour drive, overnight in Moab, UT.
Day 5: Explore Arches NP and surrounding area, 2nd night in Moab
Day 6: Explore Canyonlands NP and surrounding area, 3rd night in Moab — for suggestions on other activities you might enjoy in this area, visit MoabAdventureCenter.com
Day 7: Drive from Moab, UT, to Page, AZ, via Monument Valley, drive time ~5 hours total, overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 8: Tour Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell, 2nd night in Page, AZ.
Day 9: Get early start, hit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, drive to Grand Canyon South Rim, drive time ~4 hours factoring in photo ops, bathroom breaks and other stops, overnight at Grand Canyon .
Day 10: Take morning Grand Canyon helicopter or airplane flight over Grand Canyon North Rim, then drive back to Vegas (~5 hour drive), stop at Hoover Dam, fly home.
Now, you may think that Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has been conspicuously omitted from this itinerary, but it’s really not. Grand Staircase is a huge area, whose “front country” scenery can be enjoyed on different sections of the drive, for example, going from Bryce to Capitol Reef, simply follow UT12 through the towns of Escalante and Boulder. It’s a gorgeous drive, and doesn’t add much in the way of time to the trip.

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

May 03, 2019 at 4:14 PM

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From Morgan Truman

Hi Alley,

Thanks so much for your suggestions! It looks like our trip has been limited to 9 full days (flying in to vegas at about 11pm on friday august 30 , then 9 full days, then flying out of vegas at 1:30pm on Mon Sept 9. Because we only have 9 full days it looks like we would have to cut something out of your suggested itinerary, possibly two things because I’d really like to visit the north rim of the grand canyon as it’s been highly recommended to me by a family member who has been there. Are Capitol Reef, Arches and Canyonlands worth the extra driving? Might our time be better spent spending more time at Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Page and Monument Valley? Obviously I would love to visit all the places I had mentioned, especially because I am not sure I will ever make it to this area again, but I want to make sure we actually have time to enjoy the destinations we are driving to and not just spending all our time driving in the car. I’ve never been on a trip of this type before, never been out west and never been to a national park actually, so I’m very unsure of how much time we should have at each destination and such. If you wouldn’t mind maybe recommending what you would do in this situation and a modified 9 day itinerary? Thank you so much for all your help!!

Morgan

May 16, 2019 at 7:22 PM

Hi Liz,
Your itinerary looks pretty fun and well-planned, but the one thing that could throw a major wrench into these plans is weather. You’re visiting during the winter months, which means you could very well encounter snow in places like Sedona and the Grand Canyon. While that usually materializes as rain in areas such as Page, AZ, last year they had 6″ of snow over the Xmas/New Year’s holiday week!
In Sedona, you’ll find no shortage of things to see and do! Hiking the Courthouse/Bell Rock loop trail might be a good candidate for an afternoon hike, again, weather permitting. Or you might hit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, or explore some of the numerous art galleries and retail shops on one of Sedona’s Art Walks.
In the Grand Canyon, the easiest inner canyon hike will be down the Bright Angel Trail. The trailhead is located ~100 yards West of Bright Angel Lodge. Go down as far as you want, but be careful not to go down TOO far. A good rule of thumb is 1 hour down = 2 hours up. Bring water and snacks with you if you plan on spending longer than 1 hour’s time, or going further than 1 mile round trip. For the Grand Canyon helicopter flights, mornings are the best time to fly for optimal light and lack of wind, but again, these operate weather permitting, and snowstorms usually result in flights being cancelled.
At the time of year you’re going to be here, visiting Monument Valley as a day trip from Page, AZ, isn’t the greatest idea because 1. it takes 2 hours each way to drive there, so 4 hours in the car will be required right off the bat; 2. you’re up against short daylength at that time of year – sunrise takes place around 7:40 AM, and sunset occurs at about 5:15 PM. You’ll need to be sure that you time your drive so that you’re “back to base” well before nightfall due to the lack of artificial/supplemental lighting on local roads, and the tendency for deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses to gravitate around them at night, ratcheting up your risk of a collision. Believe me, that’s something you don’t want to deal with on a dark, lonely road on a cold winter night! In light of your limited time, I’d recommend either dropping Monument Valley from your itinerary, or freeing up more time so you can spend the night there.
For celebrating your birthday (congratulations!) there are a number of restaurants in Page, AZ, where you might do this. Bonkers Restaurant, State 48 Tavern, or the Dam Bar and Grille are some of my personal favorites. For more suggestions, visit TripAdvisor: 10 Best Restaurants in Page, AZ
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 3:41 PM

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From Liz Williams

Hi Alley
Thanks so much for all your great advice and I guess we will be at the mercy of the weather. Hopefully we’ll manage most of what we set out to do.
thanks also for your favorite places to eat – we’ll definitely check those out!

Best wishes
Liz

May 08, 2019 at 12:06 AM

Hi Kim, and thank you for your excellent inquiry.
You have done a fantastic job of allowing sufficient time in each destination to really enjoy it. However, you can still squeeze Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and possibly Lake Powell into your itinerary quite easily: drop 1 night at the Grand Canyon. Most families like yourselves find 2 days ample time to explore the park quite fully, plus you’d end up doing a good chunk of your Grand Canyon sightseeing on the drive in from Page, AZ.
The order in which I recommend accommodating Page, AZ, into your trip is to go there between Bryce Canyon and the South Rim.

From Bryce to Page, AZ, the drive takes approximately 2.5-3 hours. If you get an early start out of Bryce, you might take advantage of the opportunity to do the fun, scenic, and relatively easy hike to the Paria Rimrocks and Toadstool Hoodoos at mile marker 19 of US89 between Kanab, UT, and Page, AZ. Tour Antelope Canyon that afternoon (be sure to make a reservation in advance), then overnight in Page, AZ.
The next morning, get an early start again and hit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise. You’ll avoid the peak crowds and heat of mid-day, trust me! As you make your way South on US89, you’ll find several viewpoints worth stopping at, such as The Cut Overlook, Chinle formation views, and the Cameron Trading Post. The latter would be a good brunch/lunch stop if you’re hungry by that point; if not, it makes for the ideal opportunity for a restroom break/leg stretch. Heading toward Grand Canyon South Rim on AZ64 West, here again, a whole bunch of places to stop and take photos, then once you enter Grand Canyon National Park “proper” at Desert View Point, you have a choice of over half a dozen named viewpoints of the Grand Canyon to stop at before you hit Grand Canyon Village.
The drive back to Las Vegas would then be ~4.5 hours, with the option of stopping at Hoover Dam before you get into town.
If for some reason you find the notion of staying in Page, AZ, a bit longer to be appealing, you might consider dropping a night in Bryce, as well as the night in Grand Canyon, to make that happen. Not that Bryce isn’t incredible, it definitely is, but since it’s a relatively small park square mileage-wise, you can scoot by with just one night there and still have a fulfilling visit. Ultimate 2-Day Itinerary in Page, AZ
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 3:08 PM

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From Kim

Thanks, Alley! Great advice! It didn’t occur to me to maybe drop a night in G.C. and add one to Page, AZ….thank you!!! So, right now we are definitely staying in Bryce for 1 night/2 days, leaving early on day 2 (about 7 am) and heading to Page, AZ. We booked an 11 tour at Antelope Canyon X (trying to avoid the crowds) but since you mentioned “must sees” in between Bryce and Page, I’m thinking about changing the tour to 1 or 2 pm. Is there a better time for that and what are your thought on Antelope Canyon X? I have only read positive reviews :-). Anyway, your advice is appreciated…..thank you so, so much!!

May 03, 2019 at 7:00 PM

Hi Natalya,
All kayak tours operated by Hidden Canyon Kayak and other local operators take place on Lake Powell. However, you would by no means see “all” of Lake Powell as it is a huge body of water spanning two states. While the kayak tour is a really fun activity that I highly recommend, if you want to get a truer sense of Lake Powell’s size and scope, the best way to do that is by flying over it. Fixed wing airplane and helicopter flights depart daily from the Page Municipal Airport, and mornings are the best time to fly for optimal light and lack of wind.
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 2:54 PM

Hi Siva, and thank you for visiting.
I hate to say it, but I can’t endorse your plan as it stands. You’re trying to cram too much sightseeing into too short a time. In this part of the U.S., it’s a wise idea to pad your drive times by about 20-30% because most drives are very scenic and you’ll undoubtedly be stopping to take photos often. You had indicated it might be possible for you to free up another day? If that’s still the case, I strongly recommend that you do so.
On Day 1, for example, you indicate your understanding of the drive time from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon as 3.5 hours. It’s more along the lines of 4.5 hours to the South Rim (that’s the side of the Grand Canyon most recommended for first time visitors). Then, you’re facing more along the lines of a 3.5 hour drive to Monument Valley? Uh uh… too much driving. Instead, I recommend that you head straight from Phoenix to Monument Valley seeing as though you have a reservation there which will be very hard to change at this point. The drive will be anywhere from 5-6 hours.
On Day 2, you’re looking at a 2-2.5 hour drive from Monument Valley to Page, AZ. As for which branch of Antelope Canyon to tour, that largely depends on how physically fit your party is (or isn’t). If everyone in the group is relatively healthy and doesn’t mind a 600m hike, plus managing a few ladders, staircases, and simple bouldering, you should be fine with Lower. If you are traveling with infants, toddlers, seniors, or anyone with limited mobility, Upper would probably be the better choice. If you wish to see Lake Powell, you might consider adding a 90-minute boat tour of Antelope Canyon’s waterside to an Antelope Canyon walking tour as a “bundle.” It’s a lot more convenient to make reservations that way vs. having to search through multiple tour companies’ websites, where you’d undoubtedly encounter sold out tours. Upper Antelope Canyon + Lake Powell Boat Tour Bundle Lower Antelope Canyon + Lake Powell Boat Tour Bundle Overnight in Page, AZ, that night.
On Day 3, get an early start to Grand Canyon South Rim, hitting Horseshoe Bend en route, then overnight at the Grand Canyon. This drive will take anywhere from 3.5-4.5 hours factoring in restroom and meal breaks, and the numerous scenic viewpoints of the Grand Canyon you’ll be tempted to stop at. Grand Canyon hotels
On Day 4 (if you can free it up), drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Sedona. It’s ~3-3.5 hour drive. Overnight in Sedona, then drive on to Las Vegas the following morning (~5 hour drive, with stop at Hoover Dam if you wish).
If for some reason you can’t free up an extra day or two for Arizona, then I’d recommend skipping Sedona. Not that it isn’t beautiful — it is, amazingly so — but you really need 3-4 days to tour that area properly. Indeed, many people who spend a week there report feeling as though they could have spent more time. Plan a return visit to this area when you can give it the time it deserves.
Hope that helps.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 2:49 PM

Hey Julia, thank you so much for your compliments!
IMO your itinerary warrants a little “tweaking” for everyone’s comfort and enjoyment.
On Day 1, for example, where you’re planning to travel from Las Vegas to Bryce via Zion, I’d suggest overnighting in Zion instead. The drive from Las Vegas to Zion, under normal circumstances, takes ~3 hours, but right now there is some construction taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that is going to add another 30-60 minutes onto your drive. In light of that, plus the fact that Zion has so much to see and do, I’d recommend at least an overnight there. Springdale, UT, on the Western border of the park, or Kanab, UT, just East of the park have the most lodging choices.
On Day 2, do the drive to Bryce, which is about 1.5 hours from Kanab, or ~2 hours from Springdale, then overnight in Bryce, or nearby.
On Day 3, drive to Page, AZ, which is ~3 hours from Bryce, do a slot canyon tour. If you’ve already got Upper booked, I’d recommend sticking with that, and then if you wanted to do another activity, a Lake Powell boat tour would be good. With your limited time, you’ll need to stick with one of the shorter ones, such as the 90-minute Antelope Canyon waterside boat tour, or perhaps the Canyon Princess Dinner Cruise. Then overnight in Page, AZ.
On Day 4, hit Horseshoe Bend, and start heading toward Sedona. Since you’ve already been to the Grand Canyon, instead of going all the way into Grand Canyon Village, I’d recommend doing a quick “pop-in” to the Desert View Watchtower by turning West off US89 onto AZ64 from Cameron. After giving the Grand Canyon a quick wave, head down to Sedona, and instead of driving back to Flagstaff, AZ, that night, simply overnight in Sedona. Then, if you’re going back to Las Vegas on day 5, the drive will be ~4.5 hours. You could stop by Hoover Dam on the way if you wanted.

Something very important to keep in mind is that nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. This is due to lack of ambient lighting on local roads, and the tendency of deer, elk, free range cattle, and sometimes wild horses, to gravitate toward them at night, which ratchets up your accident risk. Any driving needs to be done during daylight hours. Also, Utah DOES observe Daylight Savings Time, whereas Arizona DOES not. Therefore, you’ll “lose” an hour driving from Las Vegas to Utah, then “regain” it as you travel from Utah to Arizona. Sunrise in Page, AZ, occurs at ~5:30 AM and sunset takes place around 7:30 PM at the time of year you’re traveling.
As for hikes, viewpoints, etc., in the various stops on your tour, choices are ample in a wide range of “degrees of difficulty,” timeframe, and highlights. Zion in particular has had a lot of rain and snowfall this year, which has resulted in some of the more popular hikes being off-limits until trails are repaired. I’d advise visiting the National Park Service pages for Zion and Bryce, and then the Sedona Visitors Bureau’s website.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 1:34 PM

Hi Peter, and thanks for your compliments!
Yes, you are looking at a long day of driving to get from Orange County, CA, to Page, AZ – at least 8 hours, if not longer. Another thing to keep in mind is that there is some construction going on on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that you must pass through, which could potentially add another 30-60 minutes onto your drive. If you can possibly free up another day on either side of your visit, you might consider breaking up the drive in Las Vegas, NV, or Mesquite, NV. If that’s not possible, get an early start on your travel days and tell the kids no “are we there yet?’s” will be allowed LOL
RE: doing the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon plus a boat tour, those three activities actually fit quite well into a single day. Booking the three activities as a bundle is definitely the way to go for optimal convenience. On your 2nd day in Page, you could hit Horseshoe Bend, preferably just after sunrise to avoid the heat and the crowds, then perhaps take a tour of the Glen Canyon Dam, or do one of more of several easy but scenic hikes in the area, such as the “New” Wave, the Page Rim View Trail, the Hanging Gardens, or maybe visit the Navajo Village Heritage Center. For more ideas, check out this piece on our companion site, HorseshoeBend.com: 48 Hours in Page, Arizona
Good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 1:07 PM

Hi Dee, and thank you for your excellent inquiry.
Antelope Canyon is a Navajo Indian Tribal Park, whereas Lake Powell is located within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. These are two distinct, and separately-managed areas, therefore, you have to deal with two different fee structures. It costs $30/vehicle to enter Glen Canyon NRA, which is good for one week’s time. So if you wanted to kayak in different areas over the course of 2-3 days, the $30 fee would have you covered.
If you happen to be visiting other National Parks on this vacation, such as Zion, Bryce, the Grand Canyon, etc., you might consider purchasing an America The Beautiful Federal Lands Access Pass. This is a card that costs $80, and grants you access to all National Parks, Monuments, and Federal Fee Areas in the U.S. for one year’s time. It doesn’t work in Tribal Parks, such as Antelope Canyon, or at Horseshoe Bend, since that was recently designated a Page, AZ, City Park, for which a one-time $10/vehicle fee is required. But, since all the other parks mentioned above require an entrance fee, the card pretty much pays for itself on the typical 7-day Grand Circle vacation. Plus you can use it to enter other parks or monuments near your home town if you want, as long as it’s within a calendar year of your initial purchase. Just pick it up at the first National Park you hit on your trip.
Hope that helps. Don’t hesitate to hit us up again if we can be of further assistance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

April 30, 2019 at 2:19 PM

Hi Dee,
We are planning to visit Antelope Canyon and horseshoe bend on may 24-27. We are from Los angeles and will be driving to arizona. Where is the best place to stay in arizona to minimize the drive time to antelope canyon and any suggestions on places we can visit to squeeze in our very short vacation. Thank you and have a great day

May 01, 2019 at 8:50 PM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hi Beth,
The best place to stay for touring Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell is Page, AZ. There are ~50 hotels in this area, plus a pretty impressive array of vacation rental homes and non-traditional lodging such as glamping resorts. Whichever you prefer, you’ll need to make a reservation in advance since you are visiting over Memorial Day weekend, which is a very busy time of year.
The drive from LA to Page, AZ, takes a minimum of 9 hours, each way. You might want to consider breaking up the drive in Las Vegas, NV, or someplace like that. If you are able to drive straight through, you might consider visiting the Grand Canyon. The South Rim has the most in the way of visitor facilities, as well as square mileage of the canyon that can be driven to. It takes 3.5-4 hours to drive from Page, AZ to the Grand Canyon, factoring in stops, meal breaks, etc. Grand Canyon hotels should also be booked in advance. If lodging availability dictates as such, you could reverse the order of your itinerary, in other words, go from LA to Grand Canyon South Rim, the GC to Page, AZ, then back to Los Amngeles.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 1:43 PM

Hi Christine, and thank you for your inquiry.
The Glen Canyon Float Trip is a 4.5 hour trip that is best taken in the morning for more comfortable temperatures in the canyon. The morning departure takes place at 7:00 AM and requires a 6:00 AM check-in at Wilderness River Adventures in Page, AZ. Allow ~20 minutes to drive from Lake Powell Resort into town. If you rise early that morning, hit Horseshoe Bend before heading over to Wilderness so you can also take advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer people at this location.
There absolutely is a Lake Powell boat tour that goes to the waterside of Antelope Canyon, and as of just recently, you are now able to book both the walking (land-side) tours of Antelope Canyon with the boat tour as a “bundle.” It’s a lot easier process than booking the two tours separately, trust me!
All that said, I would still recommend staying a second night at Lake Powell Resort regardless. Even though the Glen Canyon Float Trip would wrap up at around noon, prolonged exposure to the sun tends to zap the energy out of you pretty quick. I can pretty much guarantee that afterwards, you’ll be in no mood for a long drive to your next destination. Relaxing with a cocktail will probably be more to your liking.
Hope that helps. Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

April 30, 2019 at 2:08 PM

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From Christine

Hi Alley: It’s Christine again. We will be coming into Lake Powell from Bryce. Would you tell us the best route to use and what stops you would suggest making along the way. Thanks to you we will make it to Antelope canyon and will go on the float tour. Thanks again for your valuable input.

May 06, 2019 at 6:27 PM

Hi Alley: Thank you for the insight. I have another question. We will visit Zion, Bryce, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon in a week’s time. We have been entertaining the idea of a fixed plane ride. What option would give us the best overlook, from Page, Grand Canyon or other? Thank you, Christine

May 02, 2019 at 10:59 AM

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From Alley Keosheyan

Hi again, Christine!
Holy moly, that’s a hard one. Flying over both the Grand Canyon and Lake Powell is incredible, and the good news is, you won’t go wrong, whichever place you choose for your scenic flight!
In my opinion, flying over the Grand Canyon is actually better by helicopter instead of fixed-wing airplane. While the helicopters are technically forbidden from flying below the rim, they still get you at an altitude even with the North Rim. There are instances where you almost feel like you could open a window and reach out and touch the canyon walls. Fixed wing airplanes are required to fly 1,000′ higher than helicopters over the Grand Canyon airspace, so that perspective is more of a “bird’s eye” view that will better illustrate how the Grand Canyon relates to the surrounding landscape if that makes sense.
Fixed wing airplanes are actually allowed to fly fairly low over Lake Powell, which is why many people report the experience as feeling more intimate than airplane flights over the South Rim. If you opt to fly over Lake Powell, I recommend the flight that goes over Rainbow Bridge.
Whatever you do, try to schedule your flight for the morning hours for optimal light and less wind.
Hope that helps. I know it’s a tough choice!
Alley 🙂

May 03, 2019 at 3:19 PM

Hi friends,
Thank you so much for sharing your photos and observations! If it’s OK, we have shared your blog post on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/antelopecanyon.az
Take care and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

April 30, 2019 at 1:59 PM

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From Jacek

No problem 🙂 Thanks 🙂

May 10, 2019 at 3:39 PM

Hi Leah, and thank you for visiting.
On that first day, I’d recommend just driving all the way to Zion. It’s only ~3-4 hours from Las Vegas, give or take a few, which is a hop-skip-and-a-jump in these parts LOL. There is some construction taking place along a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge that you’ll have to pass through, which could add another 30-60 minutes to your drive. Plan on staying in Springdale, UT, on the Western border of the park, or at a hotel in Kanab, UT, about half an hour West of the park.
The trip from Kanab, UT, to Page, AZ, for Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon is about 1.5 hours, but you might get an early start so you can take advantage of the opportunity to do the relatively easy Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Trail hike on the way. Be sure to make advance reservations for Antelope Canyon Tours. If you’re wanting to do a water-based activity, consider booking your Antelope Canyon walking tour plus a 90-minute boat tour as a “bundle.” It’s a lot easier than trying to book both tours separately, trust me! Then plan on hitting Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise on your way out of town to the Grand Canyon.
Regarding 4th of July, they don’t do any kind of fireworks at the Grand Canyon, at least not of the man made variety. For that, you might want to go to Flagstaff, AZ, Williams, AZ, or even Las Vegas, NV. One caveat to that, though, is that if the summer is abnormally dry, fireworks displays may be cancelled for safety reasons. After all, it is the desert!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

April 30, 2019 at 1:58 PM

Hi Amelia,
If at all possible, you should drive yourself to Page, AZ, where Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are located. Phoenix is a good airport to use for trips to this area, Las Vegas is as well. Both airports are ~a 5-hour drive from Page, AZ. The one caveat re: Las Vegas right now is that some construction is taking place on a stretch of I-15 you’d have to travel between Las Vegas and Page, AZ, which would add another 30-60 minutes onto an already long drive. If you wanted, you could book a stopover in Zion National Park, with lodging at Springdale, UT, to break up the drive. If you preferred to use Phoenix as your “staging” city, Sedona would make a good place to break up the drive, but if your time is limited, you might want to go to Flagstaff, AZ, instead. Not that Sedona isn’t beautiful; it is, but one night there will hardly be satisfying at all. Neither will one night in Zion for that matter. Both areas deserve at least 2-3 days bare minimum to do them justice. If that’s not possible, you might want to schedule a return visit when you can spend the time each place warrants. There are plenty of hotels in Sedona and/or Flagstaff, just do a Google search and you’ll find a number of results in a variety of amenity classes and price points.
It is true that you cannot go to Antelope Canyon on your own. A guided tour is required. I agree that doing it as a day tour from Vegas would be exhausting, so, here again, best to drive to Page, AZ, with a stopover in between, then spend 1-2 nights in Page. That way, you’d have time to visit other attractions in the area such as Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell. If you’re not keen on doing a lot of hiking, you’d probably prefer to tour Upper Antelope Canyon, since it’s an easy 100 yard out-and-back walk on a mostly flat trail. Right now, it is possible to book Antelope Canyon tours as “bundles” with 90-minute Lake Powell Boat Tours, so, do take advantage of that time permitting!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

April 29, 2019 at 7:50 PM

Hi Kumar,
Sorry, friend, but I cannot endorse this plan.
Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in Northern Arizona/Southern Utah due to lack of ambient lighting on what are mostly rural roads, plus the possibility of deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses to gravitate near them at night. Any and all driving around here must be done during daylight hours, or at least have you heading out of Las Vegas just before sunrise and/or arriving shortly after sunset.
During the first week of May, sunrise occurs at around 5:45 AM, sunset at about 7:30 PM. The drive from Las Vegas to Page, AZ, takes ~5 hours under usual circumstances, but right now, there is some construction taking place on a small section of I-15 that could add another 30-60 minutes onto your drive. Honestly, 10-12 hours on the road is a lot to endure for just 90 minutes – 2.5 hours of touring.
If possible, try to rearrange your schedule so that you can travel to Page, AZ, and stay for at least one night. That will enable you to see more sights in the area, and visit Horseshoe Bend at the best time of day, which is just after sunrise.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

April 29, 2019 at 5:25 PM

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From Mimi

Hello Alley, is December a good time to visit the Antelope? Does it get rain or windy usually around December? Thanks

May 31, 2019 at 5:07 AM

Hi Brandon,
One thing I notice right off the bat is that the Grand Canyon is conspicuously absent from your itinerary. If you’ve never been there before, you should be sure you work that into your itinerary! That said, availability of lodging at Grand Canyon South Rim, or lack thereof, will be a significant factor in determining how your itinerary shapes up.
Using Phoenix as your staging city, and assuming you’d want to get the longer drive(s) out of the way first, a good itinerary including all the places on your wish list would look something like this:
Day 1: Drive from Phoenix to Bryce, ~7 hour drive, overnight in Bryce or nearby
Day 2: Drive from Bryce to Zion, ~2-2.5 hours’ drive, overnight in Kanab, UT
Day 3: Drive from Zion (Kanab) to Page, AZ, ~2 hours drive, en route do Paria Rimrocks/Toadstool Trail hike, overnight in Page, AZ
Day 4: Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, tour Antelope Canyon, drive to Grand Canyon South Rim (~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops), overnight at Grand Canyon
Day 5: Drive back to Phoenix (~5 hours)

If you find that Grand Canyon lodging is not available on the last stop of your tour, move it up to the first stop, then hit Zion, Bryce, and Page, in that order, then drive back to Phoenix. The drive from Page, AZ, to Phoenix is also ~5 hours, going direct.
Whatever you decide, be sure to book all lodging and guided tours well in advance of your trip.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂

April 29, 2019 at 5:14 PM

Hi Shital,
In light of the fact that you are visiting Page, AZ, as a day trip from Sedona, AZ, I would recommend against overscheduling your day. You’re looking at ~3 hours, each way, to drive from Sedona to Page. Another factor that could possibly work against you is daylength. You must avoid driving in the dark in this part of the U.S. due to the lack of artificial/supplemental lighting on area roads, and the possible presence of deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses that could pose a collision hazard. Sunrise on May 10th occurs at around 5:20 AM, sunset takes place around 7:30 PM. You must time your activities so that you are back on the road to Sedona by at least 4:30 PM.
Horseshoe Bend can be visited anytime, parking permitting. The most logical way to visit it would be on your way to Page, AZ. If you find the parking lot full at that time, you’ll be asked to return at a later time, in which case, on your way out of town would be when you’d want to try that.
RE: whether you do Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, that depends on your party members and how much physical exertion they can handle. People in the age bracket you reference enjoy Lower Antelope Canyon every day, but there’s no escaping the fact that it requires navigating some stairs, ladders, and small boulders. If that might be a problem for anyone in the group, then Upper Antelope Canyon is the tour you’d want to take. You can book either Upper Antelope Canyon + a 90-minute Lake Powell Boat Tour as a “bundle,” or Lower Antelope Canyon + the 90-minute Boat Tour in the same fashion.
To judge whether you’d be able to manage Lower Antelope Canyon, you might watch this full walk-through video.
Hope that helps — good luck and safe travels!
Alley 🙂

April 29, 2019 at 4:25 PM