The Antelope Canyons are located in Northern Arizona, a few miles Southeast of the town of Page, Arizona.
Driving distances from major cities and tourist destinations are as follows:
Los Angeles, California – 9 hours
Phoenix, Arizona – 4.5 hours
Las Vegas, Nevada – 4.5 hours
Flagstaff, Arizona – 2.5 hours
Sedona, Arizona – 3 hours
St. George, Utah – 2.5 hours
Zion National Park, Utah – 2 hours
Grand Canyon South Rim – 2.5 hours
Grand Canyon North Rim – 2.5 hours
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah – 3 hours
Moab, Utah – 5 hours
Monument Valley, Utah – 2 hours
Note that the times given reflect driving directly, with minimal stops. This rarely happens since most of these drives are very scenic, and you will be stopping to take pictures, guaranteed! For planning purposes, it’s a good idea to pad these figures by 20-30%.
Upon arrival in Page, AZ, you will be required to take a guided tour to Antelope Canyon. You cannot simply drive up to the canyon’s entrance and walk in at will. Well before making the trip to Page, AZ, you should do some research on which section of Antelope Canyon you wish to tour, and make a reservation. Depending on which tour company you book with, you will be required to check in anywhere from 30-60 minutes prior to your Antelope Canyon tour.
If you opt to visit Upper Antelope Canyon, there are 4 tour companies in all that tour this branch of Antelope Canyon: 2 that depart from the town of Page, AZ, and 2 that depart from near the Tribal Park Entrance on US98. If you choose to go to Lower Antelope Canyon, there are 2 companies that manage this section of the slot canyon, both located on the North side of US98 near the defunct Navajo Generating Station. Tour both Lower & Upper Antelope Canyons
If you would like to add an Antelope Canyon waterside boat tour onto your slot canyon tour(s), these depart from Antelope Point Marina, just a short distance down US98 from the Lower Antelope Canyon tour entrance.
If you are staying someplace like Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon South Rim, or Las Vegas, and aren’t keen on doing all that driving, guided tours from these areas to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are available by bus, van, or fixed-wing airplane.
258 Responses
We are planning to be in Zion from 11/1-3 this fall and would like to take a side trip to Antelope Canyon from there, preferably on Saturday the 2nd. I know we cannot enter the canyon without a guide, but during that time of year how feasible is it for us to drive out there and then join a tour group on the spot rather than booking in advance? It’s rather overwhelming trying to figure out which tour company to book, and there doesn’t seem to be a way to book a tour for both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon without having to book Horseshoe Bend as well (and even then it seems to be either one or the other) or having the tour originate from either Vegas or Flagstaff. Help!
Thank you,
Leslie
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 🙂
Hi
Love your info
Hoping you can help me
I fly from Miami into Phoenix on Sunday September 8th. I land at 11 pm. I leave from Phoenix on Thursday Late evening. I rented a car already and made reservations for both upper and lower antelope canyon for Tuesday morning beginning at 11. I plan to visit horseshoe bend that same day after my antelope canyon tours.
I’m not sure where to stay each night?? . I also want to see lake Powell in Utah and the Grand Canyon. Is there anything else you suggest? Yuma imperial sand dunes? Which part of Grand Canyon? Zion in Utah? I’m overwhelmed because there’s so much I want to see! Thanks for your help.
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 🙂
Hi
we are planning to visit Las vegas -> Grand Canyon west Rim (Day1) -> ANtelope Canyon (Day2) -> Las vegas (Day3). How far is antelope canyon from Grand Canyon west Rim?
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 🙂
Hi ,
We are starting from Barstow early morning around 7 , wanted to only do Mather point and yavakoi point in grand canyon by 7 p.m and the head to antelope canyon for night stay . Is it safe to drive from grand canyon to antelope lower canyon after 7-8.
Hi Josh,
You want to avoid doing any driving in the dark in this part of the U.S. due to the lack of artificial lighting on local roads (a deliberate move to preserve the natural darkness of the night sky), and the possibility of encountering large animals such as deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses. That can be quite a disconcerting experience in an area where cell service is spotty and a tow truck might be long in coming, not to mention very expensive!
It takes approximately 3.5-4 hours to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, factoring in the numerous stops you’ll inevitably make. Since you’re driving all the way from Barstow that morning, which is ~a 6-hour drive, better (and safer) to spend the night at the Grand Canyon, then hit the road to Page, AZ, the next morning when you’re fresh and rested.
Whatever you decide, be sure to make all lodging reservations and Antelope Canyon tour reservations in advance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley.
Do you know if the route from Phoenix to Yuma is safe to travel? Paved?
I am planning on going in April. Phoenix to Yuma, back to Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and Page (Antelope Canyon ….. MUST SEE in my book)
But a bit concerned about the Yuma travels. (VERY interested in seeing the Imperial Sand Dunes.)
Please advise if you can .
Thank you.
Luis
Hi Luis!
The two primary routes from Phoenix to Yuma are 100% paved, in fact, they are comprised mostly of interstate highway.
I cannot personally vouch for the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, but from what I can gather looking at Google maps, that road is also paved.
Whatever you decide to do, be sure to reserve all hotels and guided tours (especially Antelope Canyon) well in advance.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Than you so much Alley for your response. Truly appreciated!
I am a bit OCD and therefore will have everything ready. Can’t hardly wait for this trip. Dreaming of Sedona, Antelope Canyon and all the beautiful places in Arizona…..Will be making reservations shortly for the Grand Canyon lodge and Antelope Canyon as I already seen it gets packed pretty soon.
Again, thank you for the information and this awesome site.
You are AWESOME!
Luis
Hi again, Luis!
Hey, nothing wrong in the least with being a little OCD when it comes to travel – we believe the happiest travelers are those who are well-informed!
Good luck again and let us know how you get on,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley
I am planning to visit Antelope/Page area from Phoenix during one of the weekends. But not able to think how should I plan the trip for two days so that I can cover everything in two days. What should I start from Phoenix to cover upper and lower antelope.
Thanks
KM
Hi Khagesh!
The order in which you should plan your itinerary and your activities will depend largely on availability of Antelope Canyon tours. However, let me back up a bit: one stop I see is conspicuously absent from your plans is the Grand Canyon. Have you been there before? If not, I would strongly recommend setting aside at least one day to visit it, even if it means sacrificing one of the Antelope Canyon tours. Assuming that the omission of the Grand Canyon was accidental or inadvertent, you can still visit both Page and GC with two days to work with.
A sample itinerary would go something like this:
Day 1 – Drive from Phoenix to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hours), overnight at Grand Canyon
Day 2 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ, stopping at the half-dozen+ Grand Canyon viewpoints between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View Point, as well as points of interest in the Navajo Tribal Lands East of the park, such as the Little Colorado River Overlook, Chief Yellowhorse’s souvenir stands, the Cameron Trading Post, Chinle formation views, etc. Drive time: ~3.5-4 hours, factoring in stops. Tour Lower Antelope Canyon that afternoon, overnight in Page, AZ.
Day 3 – Visit Horseshoe Bend just after sunrise, drive back to Phoenix (~4.5 hours)
If you’ve already visited the Grand Canyon and are able to devote the entire weekend to visiting Page, AZ, then I would recommend simply driving to Page, AZ, that first day, using the second day to tour both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, then driving back to Phoenix on the 3rd day, with an early morning stop at Horseshoe Bend on the way.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
I’m just in the very beginning stages of planning a trip for just me and my husband. He will be in Scottsdale for business and I’m coming along because I’ve seen friends’ pictures of Antelope Canyon and want to see it myself. So we have the weekend plus Monday.
So far what I’m thinking is fly into Phoenix Friday night, hotel in Phoenix. Drive to Page, AZ on Saturday. Take our time – are there enough overlooks on the road to see the Grand Canyon that way? Overnight in Page. Antelope Sunday morning. Is there enough time to see Horseshoe Bend the same day? OH, there are tours that cover both, aren’t there! Probably overnight in Page. Drive back to Phoenix Monday.
Does that allow enough time? Or too much time? Is there any other must see that I’m missing? I have family outside of Phoenix that I’d like to see too. OH! This will be end of September, early October.
Thanks, Cheryl
Hi Cheryl,
Glad to hear that you’re taking advantage of the opportunity to visit us during your husband’s conference! Plus you’ve chosen a great time to be here.
Since you express an interest in also seeing the Grand Canyon, that leads me to ask, have you been there before? If not, you might want to prioritize the Grand Canyon over Antelope Canyon. There are no Grand Canyon overlooks you can realistically see en route to Page, AZ, via the most direct route. Therefore, if you’ve never been, what you might want to do is this:
Friday: Fly to Phoenix, overnight in Phoenix
Saturday: Drive from Phoenix to Grand Canyon South Rim (~5 hour drive), overnight at Grand Canyon
Sunday: Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page (~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops), tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page
Monday: Visit Horseshoe Bend at sunrise, drive back to Phoenix
In answer to your query about tours that hit both Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, there are none. However, there is an “alternate” slot canyon, Horseshoe Bend Slot Canyon, that offers the option of adding a stop at Horseshoe Bend. The tour company is Navajo owned and they go to Horseshoe Bend via private property on the reservation. For more information visit HorseshoeBendTours.com
As to whether you’ve allowed too little or too much time, or whether there are any other “must-see” places around here, that’s kind of a loaded question LOL If you were to free up another day somewhere, you certainly would have no problem finding ways to fill it. If you’ve never been to Sedona, you might want to see if there’s a possibility of working that in, as it’s a stunning area with lots to see and do!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hello,
I’d like to attempt a day trip from Las Vegas on 3Aug, leaving at 1am, to visit the Grand Canyon for sunrise, drive through Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, and then a nice trail in Bryce and lastly Zion for sunset and a swim in one of the hidden pools. Crazy? We’re movers and shakers, so I’m fully expecting to have to move quickly. Can you recommend the best spots to drive to at each location to take in the best views as fast as possible?
Thanks for any advice you might be able to offer
Dear Janet,
Nope, nope, nope… this is SO not happening! Even if you are “movers and shakers” as you say, you’re talking about WAY too much driving to pull off in a single day:
4.5 hours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon
2.5 hours from the Grand Canyon to Page, AZ, plus at least 4-5 hours to visit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon
2.5 hours to drive from Page, AZ to Bryce Canyon
90 minutes from Bryce to Zion
4.5 hours from Zion to Las Vegas
That’s 15-16 hours driving, wheels turning no stops, and not even factoring in the places you want to visit, and the logistics of checking in, getting your bearings, meals, restroom breaks, etc! You just don’t have enough hours in the day.
Another consideration is that nighttime driving is a dangerous proposition in this part of the U.S. due to the lack of artificial lighting on local roads (a deliberate choice to preserve the natural quality of the night sky) and the possible presence of deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses near them.
Start your trip just after sunrise, which occurs at ~5:45 AM. If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, go there, enjoy it, and start your drive back to Las Vegas by 3:00 PM at the latest. If you’ve already been to the Grand Canyon, and/or are OK with sacrificing it this time around, then go to Page, AZ (also ~5 hour drive from Las Vegas), visit Horseshoe Bend, tour Antelope Canyon (advance reservations required), then head back to Las Vegas. Here, you could visit Zion as a “drive through” on the way back, but with it taking 4-6 hours minimum to hit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, you won’t have time for any hiking in Zion.
The trip you’re proposing to take requires at least a week to do properly. This time around, for your safety and comfort, you’ll need to pick one destination and make the best of it, or else try to free up another day or two to squeeze in more time elsewhere.
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂
Hi Alley,
I appreciate all your great advice. Antelope Canyon sounds fantastic, and I would love to incorporate it into a vacation I’m planning with my teenage children next April, over our spring break (April 4-12). We will be flying to Las Vegas, stopping at Hoover Dam, staying overnight in western Grand Canyon area. I wanted to book a whitewater rafting day trip around there, then continue on to the south rim of the G.C, staying in Tusayan, and then hike the Bright Angel trail for a day hike the next day. I figured we would then continue to Lake Powell, and see Antelope Canyon, before continuing on to Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, and finally Zion, before returning to Las Vegas and hopefully taking in the sights there for a day before flying back home. It’s an ambitious itinerary, I agree, but I want to be able to show the kids so much before they head off to college. Do you have any suggestions for timing and logistics for this trip? Much appreciated!
Hi Linda!
As you have rightfully deduced, your itinerary is ambitious, and as much as I hate to say, too ambitious.
If you count April 4th and April 12th as “travel days” into and out of Las Vegas, that gives you 7 full days to work with. Due to the remote location of the Hualapai Lodge and the length of the one-day Grand Canyon white water raft trip, that element of your trip will essentially eat up two nights right off the bat. You should plan on staying in Peach Springs, AZ, both the night prior to the trip and the night the trip returns for optimal safety and comfort.
With that in mind, you could do something like this:
April 4th: Travel to Las Vegas, overnight in Las Vegas
April 5th: Drive to Peach Springs, AZ (~3 hours) w/stop at Hoover Dam, overnight in Peach Springs (warning: there’s not much lodging to work with in that area, so advance reservations are a must!)
April 6th: One-Day Grand Canyon White Water Raft Trip, 2nd night in Peach Springs
April 7th: Drive from Peach Springs to Grand Canyon South Rim (~4 hours), overnight at Grand Canyon
April 8th: Take short hike on Bright Angel Trail, then drive to Page, AZ (~3.5-4 hours factoring in stops), visit Horseshoe Bend, overnight in Page, AZ
April 9th: AM tour Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell (see “How To Book A Tour For Antelope Canyon” for information on bundling these two experiences), drive to Bryce Canyon (~2.5 hours), overnight in Bryce
April 10th: Drive to Zion, overnight in Springdale, UT
April 11th: 2nd day to hike and explore in Zion, 2nd night in Springdale
April 12th: Drive back to Las Vegas (~4.5 hours due to construction project taking place in Virgin River Gorge), fly home
As you can (hopefully) see, Arches and Canyonlands has been dropped from the itinerary. Though they are beautiful parks, they are simply too far away to be feasible this time around. Unless — you were to take the one day white water trip off the table. But even then, Arches/Canyonlands deserves at least 3-4 days time to fully enjoy. So unless you can modify your trip plans to give that area the time it deserves, my suggestion would be to save it for another trip.
Good luck, I know it’s a really hard choice!
Alley 🙂
hello,
We are staying in williams AZ. looking to see if we can do Antelope Canyon and then go to the south rim of the grand canyon all in one day. advice?
Thank you
Hey Jennifer!
So, “can” you see Antelope Canyon then go to the South Rim in one day from Williams? Theoretically, yes, as long as you are traveling during the summer when days are long and you get an early start out of Williams.
“Should” you do it? In my opinion, no.
It will take you 3 hours, minimum, to drive from Williams, AZ, to Page, AZ. However, that’s wheels turning, no stops. That rarely happens as the drive is very scenic and you will find yourself stopping. Plus you definitely want to make time to stop at the Cameron Trading Post for some Navajo tacos! Another consideration is that Page, AZ, has a lot more to offer than Antelope Canyon. You should also take the time to visit Horseshoe Bend, maybe take a boat tour on Lake Powell (which you can “bundle” with your Antelope Canyon tour), maybe tour the Glen Canyon Dam, or visit the Navajo Village Heritage Center. You would then be facing a 2.5 hour drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim, then a 1-hour drive to Williams. All this while keeping an eye on the time to ensure that you don’t do any part of the drive in the dark; nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to lack of artificial lighting on local roads and the tendency for deer, elk, and other large wildlife to congregate near them after dusk.
Long story short, if possible, set aside separate days to visit the Grand Canyon and Page. You’ll have a much more comfortable experience by doing so.
Hope that helps!
Good luck and safe travels,
Alley 🙂