Planning a trip from Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon? Compare driving vs. tours, get timing tips, and see a sample day-trip schedule.
Welcome to the SLS Portfolio Las Vegas Travel Guide. When I learned that theAntelope Canyonis close to the Las Vegas Strip by four and a half hours I said that was the one manageable (non-sickening) short trip. That’s a long (car) lunch with a seatbelt.
I was wrong about the quick part; I am not wrong about the worth it part and I have been evangelizing ever since.
Let’s give you the real deal in this SLS Portfolio Las Vegas Travel Guide, How far drive, tour, How to miss the day
short version
Yes, you can.
- How far: About 440km.
- How long: About 4.5 hours each way.
- Where: Near Page Arizona on Navajo Nation land.
- You must see: you may only enter with an approved guide from Navajo.
A distance length.
Quote: How can you get to Page in one day! On a recent trip, we traveled by car, and the trip to Washington, by using the camera.
This route is the shortest, reaching about 100 miles, roughly, running through the heart of Zion, a straight shot to Zion National Park, then on to the Zion-Monti-cordon scenic drive. The full trip is about 4 1/2 hours without any rest stops or stops for gas. Depending on the timing, it takes a little longer.
Zion-Mamerkeley Plan Section 2-66 quote: When any part of the Zion-Mt. Canaan Scenic Byway, Zion Scenic Byway, Zion Tourist Drive or Zion Scenic Byway, is closed, the entrance fee, which may be paid for a week in advance, is double. Entrance fees are between $4 and $50 for a day, but there are discounts, using the America the Beautiful Park Pass. I love the Zion Scenic Byway Zion-Grand Cadillac Highway The shortest route will take you through the Zion-Mount Carmel Scenic Drive, with a few photos along the way. This is a scenic, scenic route through Zion National Park, a beautiful place to enjoy the sun and the spirit of adventure.
Fastest route takes you through the Zion-M2-OCMAMAAOIZHEREAMDZ1CMZBA2, the national park with an extended scenic drive through the National Park-Grand Cadillac Scenic Drive.
The fastest route takes about 5 hours, with a speed limit of 50 miles per hour. As you can see, the longer route takes about 5 hours, but is well worth the extra time. Zion-Mt.
The GPS is a little optimistic; it doesn’t include stops for gas, photo stops, and a slow (really slow) truck on the two-lane I-15. Plan for five hours each way.
Your Options
Driving Yourself
I did it this way the first time I went. If you are a good driver and confident that you will be able to make it (or preferably with another driver to be safe), decide when your start time is, where you are going to stop (a good place to stop is a good idea to make sure that you do make it or no-one hit on the way) and music to listen to. The only drawback is driving for nine hours-plus.
My eyes felt like they had been ground down to nubs when I got back to Vegas.
A few tips:
- Fill up as soon as you can. A cantilevered remote stretches more gaps between the stations. Sort out the car in Vegas or St. George.
- Download your map.
- Cell phone coverage is patchy. I downloaded an off-line map, which I carried while I traveled east of Kanab.
- Watch the time. Arizona doesn‘t change clocks but Utah and Navajo Nation do, so close to Page your cell could switch to mountain time. Tours operate on Arizona time, so set your cell manually to Phoenix time to avoid confusion on your tour time.
- Bring a lot of water and snacks.
Guided Day Tour
Many companies run day tours out of Las Vegas; most of these include an aspect of a visit to Horseshoe Bend.
They take care of getting you there, a guided trip in the canyon, and guaranteed entry into the canyon, so you can relax, browse the internet, or finally finish that novel you‘ve meant to read. You‘re paying for the convenience, which is more than just driving yourself, and trip itineraries tend to be less flexible. If opting for a tour, research what each offers, as lowest price does not always mean best value.
Overnight Trip
I’d do it again in a flash.
An excellent overnight trip to Page or Kanab turns the Daytrip into a real fun roadtrip, enjoy the Horseshoe Bend at sunset, have dinner at your own pace, and take your tour well rested.
If you pay for a room (which can be costly in Page), another day of driving more than makes up for a day in the air.
Get yourself to Page.
Small regional flights will get you into Page, but from Las Vegas are few and far between and not really worth it.
What fits you?
| Self-Drive | Guided Day Tour | Overnight Trip | |
| Cost | Lowest | Higher | Moderate to high |
| Flexibility | Highest | Lowest | High |
| Effort | High | Lowest | Moderate |
| Its situation. It’s just near the middle of the town and a buzzing district, so it’s a perfect place to stay. The other advantages are all the famous circuses of the town or theaters and shops, situated all around the bus station. | AKA: Road Trippers. | Non-drivers | Slow, photographers. |
Think about the experience. How would you feel about nine hours a day of driving?
- If you usually say “I’ll drive,” . Then do the drive.
- If your usual response is “no thank you. Then do the tour.
- If your usual response is “Yes I would love to do the drive but I want to see this. Then stay overnight.
Upper vs. Lower Antelope Canyon
There are two canyons: Antelope Canyon and. They both are remarkable and feel very different from each other.
Upper Antelope Canyon (or Tse’ bighanilini the place where water runs through rocks, to the Navajo) is the best-known. Beams of sunlight come down through the sodden air like troops’ torches in a cathedral. The walk is level, so is suitable for families and older people, but can be crowded. The best time for light shafts is from spring to late autumn and, being a popular time to visit, advance booking is essential.
My experience at Lower Antelope Canyon (Hasdestwazi, ‘spiral rock arches’) was an adventure, you kind of dropped down metal steps into a more winding and narrow passageway. At Lower I arrived at a corner and couldn’t speak, looked at the ‘frozen waves’ but a friend had to push me back into the group.
The most famous are the beams of sunlight if you want an easy walk. Go to the upper station. If you want to keep moving and to get a little more exercise go to the lower station. If you can do both!
They both need one rule, the only guides ganeshis that are authorized. Although they do not require a guide, as these are on Navajo Nation land even under Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park an authorized guide would know the land itself, the safe conditions and the best vantage points.
Safety should be noted as well. Flash floods are prevalent in the slot canyons, and was something important in the tragic event of a fatal flood in Lower Antelope Canyon in 1997. Because of this, tour operators have been even more cautious with their planning of trips; almost all tours are canceled if storms are forecasted. Please understand.
Best Time to Visit
- Light beams (Upper): arrive in spring through early fall, sometime at or around mid, day
- Less crowded: mornings, late afternoons, or the shoulder seasons
- Comfort: avoid the rush of hot summer afternoons.
- Booking: midday Upper Canyon slots can be booked up days/weeks in advance so book this first and plan everything else accordingly
Sample One, Day Itinerary
Here is a semi real, live schedule based on an 11:00 a.m. tour. Ignore the time if your tour is not at that.
- 5:30 a.m.: Drive out of Vegas with coffee, snacks, and a full tank of gas
- 7:00 a.m.: Short pause in St. George
- 8:30 a.m.: travel east across ZIOn on Highway 9 to Kanab (entry fee required)
- 930am: pause at Kanab for a restroom break and to fill up the tank
- 10:15 a.m.: arrive at Page, check in at Summit.
- 11:00 a.m. visit Antelope Canyon (approximately 1 to 1.5 hours)
- 12:30 pm.: Lunch on Page (read about the flag that we saw on the good ship Panorama ever present).
- 1:30 p.m.: Horseshoe Bend. Notice the size of the rocks. The ‘belly’ of the canyon as I saw it.
- 2:30 p.m.: Begin the return trip.
- 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Reach Vegas exhausted, alive and happy
Don‘t Skip Horseshoe Bend
Most readers probably associate Antelope Canyon with the sweeping Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River forms what appears to be an exceedingly unlikely horseshoe. The loop trail from the parking lot is short and pleasant, even though there are no trees. Bring water and a hat. The overlook itself is managed by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, but the parking area is owned by the City of Page. Expect to pay if you don‘t have a national park pass.
If you have more time, include Lake Powell (boat tours & kayaking) or Glen Canyon Dam (a quick stop with big views).
Practical Tips
- The best rule of thumb is to book the tour first as everything else will likely fall into place around it.
- Keep in mind that all national parks passes won’t necessarily work since Antelope Canyon is a Navajo Tribal Park, which will have its own fees and permits.
- Check for restrictions on gear and bags as many operators have restrictions on large bags and gear.
- Protecting mobile devices is recommended to avoid the nuisance of sand in charging ports, etc.
- Sturdy shoes should be worn, especially in Upper Canyon since the sand gets in sandals so quickly and there are stairs in Lower Canyon.
- Carrying cash for tips is helpful since the guides are doing a lot of heavy lifting.
FAQ
- The short answer, for most people, is yes-if you get an early start and don’t mind a long day. If you hate long drives, you might prefer to stay overnight somewhere nearby or sign up for a guided tour in advance.
- Solo visits aren’t possible; to enter the monument, your tour will be led by an authorized Navajo guide.
- As for time zones: Page city is in Arizona time, which doesn’t change for daylight savings, so you can select it on mobile devices and need to double-check tour times when you make your reservation.
5 Official Resources to Save Before You Leave
- The Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park is the authoritative source for the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, verifying the guide requirement, and listing the Antelope Canyon permits and park regulations as well as the park office number, (928) 645-0268.
- The National Park Service resource for Horseshoe Bend explains the trail and land ownership differences by stating that the overlook is within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and parking is on City of Page land.
Final Thoughts
After the trip, one can expect to conclude that the journey was worth it. The beauty of the canyon, which can be captured in photographs, and being within a formation created over countless years by the forces of nature, may give one a feeling of taking small, insignificant steps through mundane pursuits. One can expect to be tired but possess many pictures of bright orange walls with a compelling story, so deciding on the preferred path, booking a tour, packing a snack supply, and starting the journey.
