Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip: A Complete Guide
PLANNING AN ANTELOPE CANYON AND HORSESHOE BEND DAY TRIP?
You’ve come to the right place! We’ve been traveling together since 2010 and the Southwest is one of our favorite places to visit! We love the great winter weather and amazing landscapes.
No matter where you are staying in southern Utah, Nevada, or Arizona an Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day trip is a great addition to your Southwest itinerary.
Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are well within driving distance of many popular tourist destinations in the Southwest like Las Vegas, Sedona, Flagstaff, Phoenix, and the Grand Canyon.
Antelope Canyon is a beautiful slot canyon and one of the most famous canyons in the world. The canyon walls have been shaped by water and wind and vary in color. The walkable corridor is full of amazing views no matter where you look.
Here is everything you need to know about how to visit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in one day from various cities throughout the Southwest.
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip from Page
Page Arizona is the closest city to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Driving time from downtown Page to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, a beautiful bend in the Colorado River, is about 30 minutes roundtrip.
Page is the most convenient place to stay when going on an Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip.
This is a great Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Page. The tour lasts about four hours and includes hotel pickups in the area as well as snacks and bottled water.
If you are going to be in Page and want the added convenience of not having to drive yourself this is a great tour. We also love going with a tour operator because they always have such great stories and facts about the area to share. These conversations add so much to the tour. This tour will take you through Lower Antelope Canyon.
▶ Book Your Tour Departing from Page, Arizona Here!
If you have your own vehicle and will be going on a self-guided tour, be sure to check out our Self-Guided Section below. You can drive yourself to the famous slot canyon, but you will need to book a tour to go inside Antelope Canyon. You can’t go to Antelope Canyon without a tour.
You do not need to book a tour to see Horseshoe Bend.
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip from Las Vegas
One of the best day trips from Las Vegas is to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. It is a long day at about 9 hours of driving time, but you will drive through a beautiful part of the United States. You will cross the border into southern Utah before going down into Arizona.
A guided tour is a great option if you want to see Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend from Las Vegas because you won’t have to drive the distance. You can sit back and relax during the drive. You can use this free time for napping, reading, or other activities.
This Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Las Vegas includes the admission fee for Antelope Canyon as well as hotel pickup, water, and lunch.
Along with stops at Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, you will make a stop at Lake Powell. It is a beautiful lake and is another very popular attraction in the area. There are about 100 canyons surrounding the lake.
Touring Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas is a great way to spend the day.
▶ Book Your Tour Departing from Las Vegas Here!
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip from Flagstaff
Flagstaff to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon is a great day trip. Roundtrip driving time is about 4.5 hours so your day won’t be as long as if you were coming from Phoenix or Las Vegas.
A guided Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour will save you the headache and energy of driving. This downtime can be used to enjoy the breathtaking views, take a nap, or enjoy some light reading. The guides are always so knowledgeable and have awesome information to share about highlights along the way.
This Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour from Flagstaff includes a picnic lunch at the Glen Canyon Dam along with stops at Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
▶ Book Your Tour Departing from Flagstaff Here!
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip from Sedona
The natural beauty in Sedona is amazing and it is one of our favorite places to visit in the United States. The beautiful views of Sedona will continue as you make your way to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Sedona and Flagstaff are pretty close to each other so you could consider tours departing from Sedona or Flagstaff if you have transportation to get up to Flagstaff. Roundtrip driving time from Sedona to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend is just under six hours.
If you don’t have transportation or don’t want to spend six hours driving, an Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Sedona is a great option. Tour operators will take care of arranging your Antelope Canyon tickets and transportation.
Your drive up from Sedona will take you through Oak Creek Canyon, the Painted Desert, and Navajo Nation. Hotel pickup is available in Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. Lunch is also provided along with water.
Along with stops at Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, you will make stops at the Cameron Trading Post and the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook, a place for beautiful panoramic views.
▶ Book Your Tour Departing from Sedona Here!
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip from Phoenix
A day trip to Page from Phoenix will be a long day but well worth seeing, especially if you are in the Phoenix area for a while. Round trip driving time from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend is 9 hours. The overall time for the trip after sightseeing would be about 14 hours.
If you are coming up from Phoenix and you are intimidated by the length of your day, you can book a hotel in Page and drive back the next morning. You can see our hotel recommendations below.
Another great option to consider if you do not want to drive and you are worried about the driving time is to book an Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Phoenix. This is so nice because you don’t have to about putting together the schedule and you get to relax during the drive.
On this tour, you will get to see Route 66, Flagstaff, Lake Powell, the Navajo Trading Post, and the San Francisco Peaks. A light breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included in the tour as well as hotel pick-up if needed. The departure time for this tour is very early so keep that in mind.
▶ Book Your Tour Departing from Phoenix Here!
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip from the Grand Canyon
Another popular day trip is from the Grand Canyon National Park to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon. The driving time from the Grand Canyon South Rim and the North Rim is about 2.5 hours one way. The drive from Horseshoe Bend to Grand Canyon has beautiful landscapes and is not a bad drive.
There are no guided tours that start and end at the Grand Canyon, so you will need to arrange your own transportation. You can reserve rental cars here.
Staying at the Grand Canyon is a great home base for exploring the fun things to see in the area like Sedona and Page.
Self-Guided Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip
If you do not need transportation to and from Page, you can easily take yourself on a self-guided Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour. Renting a car and driving yourself can also be cheaper depending on the number of people in your group.
▶ Rent a Car for Your Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip Here!
Before your drive to Page, you will need to purchase a ticket to tour Antelope Canyon. The canyon is on Navajo land and only a registered local Navajo guide can take guests through the canyon.
If you are touring on your own, there are three different parts of Antelope Canyon you can tour – Lower, Upper, and Canyon X.
Reservations do fill up so it is a good idea to make reservations early if you can, especially if you are visiting during the winter months or during March. If Lower Antelope Canyon and Upper Antelope Canyon are full, you can look at availability at Canyon X.
Upper Antelope Canyon is known for its famous light beams and is an easier walk. Lower Antelope Canyon has quite a few staircases to go up and down but my kids who were four at the time of visiting walked through the canyons without any problems. They just needed help on the steep staircases.
You can book your Antelope Canyon ticket at the links below –
Book a Lower Antelope Canyon Tour Here!
Book an Upper Antelope Canyon Tour Here!
Book a Canyon X Tour Here!
There are also some helpful tips and rules about visiting Antelope Canyon that you can read here.
Visiting the Horseshoe Bend Overlook
You can easily visit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in one day. You will not need to make any sort of reservation or purchase a ticket to visit Horseshoe Bend. I would recommend getting your Antelope Canyon ticket time and then fitting in Horseshoe Bend around that time.
The drive from Antelope Canyon to Horseshoe Bend is under 15 minutes. It is a very quick and easy drive.
You can read more about what to expect at Horseshoe Bend and the hike to get there here. Make sure to bring plenty of water on this hike as there is very little shade.
Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon in One Day
You can also easily visit the Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon in one day. I would recommend booking your Upper Antelope Canyon tour first because they sell out sooner. Then you can fit in your lower canyon tour around your first tour time.
You will want to make these reservations well in advance to make sure you can get the tour times that you would like.
Because the scenic drive from the slot canyon to Horseshoe Bend is so short, you could also fit in the Horseshoe Bend Overlook hike if you have six to eight hours to spend in the area.
Where to Stay Near Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
The closest hotels to Antelope Canyon are in Page, Arizona. It is a small city with a Walmart if you need to pick up supplies and some hotel options.
Read More: 15 Best Choices for Where to Stay in Page, AZ
Home2 Suites by Hilton Page Lake Powell
We always have a fantastic stay at the Home2 properties. The suites are great if you would like more rooms or beds than the typical hotel setup.
Home2Suites by Hilton Page Lake Powell is a wonderful property that is pet friendly, has a heated swimming pool, and has a free breakfast. It is minutes from the main attractions in Page and a great place to relax after a day of exploring. There is a nice outdoor area for grilling and relaxing.
▶ Check Prices Here for Home2 Suites
Best Western View of Lake Powell Hotel
The Best Western has a beautiful outdoor area for enjoying the great weather and atmosphere in Page. There are rooms with spectacular views of Lake Powell. There are not any suite options available at this hotel.
There is a nearby golf course, fitness center, hot tub, and seasonal outdoor swimming pool. This is a great place to enjoy a beautiful Arizona sunset after a day of exploring.
▶ Check Prices Here for the Best Western
FAQs – Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip
Can you do Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in one day?
You can easily visit Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in one day. A Lower Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Day Trip is the best way to see the amazing landscapes on your Southwest itinerary.
The drive from Horseshoe Bend to Antelope Canyon only takes about 10 minutes which leaves you plenty of time to go on a guided tour of Antelope Canyon and hike out to Horseshoe Bend.
How long does it take to do Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend?
Antelope Canyon tours last one to two hours depending on the part of the canyon you are touring. There is a short 15-minute drive between Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend parking lot. Then the hike out to Horseshoe Bend can take about 60 to 90 minutes depending on how quickly you hike.
Overall, I would plan on spending four to five hours to see Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
How far apart are Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon?
Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are very close to each other. They are about 9 miles apart via AZ-98W. The driving time is approximately 12 minutes.
Is one day enough for Antelope Canyon?
One day is enough to see Antelope Canyon. The Antelope Canyon tour takes one to two hours depending on the tour you have purchased. This leaves you with plenty of time to book a second tour if you’d like to see a second part of the canyon or visit Horseshoe Bend.
You can also visit nearby Lake Powell if you have additional time in the area.
Day Trip Conclusion
We hope you have found this guide helpful in understanding the logistics of an Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend day trip. This area is one of our favorite parts of the United States because of the diverse landscapes and breathtaking sights.
From the amazing red rocks of Sedona to the scenic views in Valley of Fire, to the saguaro cacti in Saguaro National Park, there are so many amazing things to see and do on an Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend day trip.
If you are planning a road trip through the American Southwest or to national parks like Bryce Canyon and Zion be sure to check out our other planning guides below!
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