Ultimate Phoenix to Antelope Canyon Road Trip Itinerary
Are you planning to visit Antelope Canyon from Phoenix? If so, this article is for you.
Antelope Canyon is a gorgeous red-orange slot canyon located in Page, which is right around a 4.5 hour drive from Phoenix. It’s one of Arizona’s most beautiful natural wonders, and I’ve made the road trip from Phoenix twice to see it!
This article will cover how to visit Antelope Canyon from Phoenix, including transportation options, tips for hiking the slot canyon, and interesting road stops along the way.
Here’s everything you need to know to visit Antelope Canyon from Phoenix.
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How To Get To Antelope Canyon From Phoenix
Antelope Canyon is located just 10 minutes outside of Page Arizona, a small town that straddles the border between Utah and northern Arizona. From Phoenix, it’s around a 4.5-5 hour drive to Antelope Canyon.
If you don’t want to drive there, you can join a group tour from Phoenix, or Flagstaff/Sedona. Or, you can spend a night in Flagstaff/Sedona to cut your driving time in half.
Here are all of the best tour options available from Phoenix and Sedona.
- Phoenix to Antelope Canyon: Tour of Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Page, and the Cameron Trading Post, with breakfast and lunch included
- Phoenix/Scottsdale to Antelope Canyon: Tour of Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Page with lunch included.
- Sedona to Antelope Canyon: Full day tour of Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Glen Canyon Dam, with lunch included.
How To Visit Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is just a short 10 minute drive from the small town of Page.
The slot canyon is located on tribal lands, so the only way to visit (without kayaking) is to go on a guided hiking tour.
You can choose to visit either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon.
Upper Antelope Canyon is the upper, darker portion of the canyon that doesn’t have stairs, and is considered an easier hike. It’s famous for the light beams that shine through the canyon, so it’s more popular amongst photographers.
Lower Antelope Canyon is brighter, has stairs and small ladders, and is a longer hike. Additionally, Lower Antelope Canyon tours are slightly cheaper.
I toured both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon, and found them equally impressive, so you won’t regret visiting either!
Antelope Canyon tours are typically available from 7am-5pm, and last 1-2 hours. The tours start at $55/person for Lower Antelope Canyon, and $65/person for Upper Antelope Canyon.
On a guided tour, you’ll get to explore the inside of the canyon, and learn about geology and history from your tour guide.
The tour guide will also give you photography tips, and show you how to see mountains, waves, and other unique rock formations.
In my experience, it was well worth visiting. It was one of the most spectacular places I’ve been in nature, and our tour guides added a lot to the experience, with information and photography tips.
Where To Stay Near Antelope Canyon
The best place to stay near Antelope Canyon is in the small town of Page. It has many budget hotel options, and a few restaurants and grocery stores.
The town is only a 10-15 minute drive from everything, including Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell.
Here are the top-rated hotels in Page.
- Red rock motel: Budget-friendly hotel with a kitchenette
- Days Inn & Suites: Hotel with free breakfast and parking, with a seasonal outdoor pool and hot tub
- Hampton Inn & Suites: Hotel with free breakfast and parking, a gym and indoor pool and hot tub
Phoenix to Antelope Canyon Road Trip Stops
To break up the long drive, there’s many interesting places to stop by on the road trip to Antelope Canyon. Here are some of the best detours between Phoenix and Page.
Village of Oak Creek Sedona
Take a short 15 minute detour off the highway to see Sedona’s beautiful red rocks in the Village of Oak Creek. The Village of Oak Creek has an amazing view of Bell Rock, and many good restaurants if you’re looking for a heart breakfast.
Downtown Flagstaff
Flagstaff is another great place to refuel, just off of the highway, at around midway between Phoenix and Antelope Canyon.
It has a historic downtown area with cafes, restaurants, and a visitor center inside of an old train station that runs along route 66. Check out our article on the best things to do in Flagstaff for a full list of ideas on what to do in town!
Wupatki National Monument
The Wupatki National Monument is one of the largest ancient pueblo ruins, located off of the highway just past Flagstaff. It has multiple ancient pueblos, and a visitor center and museum, attached to the largest pueblo site.
The ruins are really interesting to see in person, and it only took me half an hour to visit.
The entrance fee is $25/vehicle for 7 days, and the pass is also valid for Sunset Crater National Monument.
Sunset Crater National Monument
Sunset Crater is an interesting cinder cone volcano in Flagstaff, and around a 30 minute detour off the highway. It has a visitor center, and the short “Lava Flow Trail”, where you can see the oxidized lava splatter on Sunset Crater and old lava flows.
This is a fun place to stop with kids, and entrance is $25/vehicle, or covered with a pass to Wupatki National Monument.
Cameron Trading Post
The Cameron Trading Post is a historic trading post and restaurant, just over an hour away from Antelope Canyon.
This is a popular road trip stop on the way to Page, and they have a huge gift shop where you can shop for souvenirs and Native American artwork.
For more detours, check out our article on the 7 best Phoenix to Page road trip stops!
Phoenix to Antelope Canyon Sample Itinerary
I drove from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon twice, and it’s a long drive, but very scenic.
If you’re going on a day trip to Antelope Canyon, it’s possible to see Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the Glen Canyon Dam in a day.
Just make sure to book your Antelope Canyon tour at least 5.5-6 hours from when you leave Phoenix, so that you can arrive on time.
Here’s a sample Phoenix to Antelope Canyon day trip itinerary.
- Get breakfast in Flagstaff/Sedona
- Tour Antelope Canyon
- Visit Horseshoe Bend
- See the Glen Canyon Dam
- Stop by the Cameron Trading Post (on the way back)
Phoenix to Antelope Canyon FAQs
Do you need a tour to visit Antelope Canyon?
Yes, you need a tour to visit Antelope Canyon, as both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon are located on tribal lands.
This land is owned by the Navajo nation, who charges an entry fee of $8/person, which is included in your tour price. The only way to visit Antelope Canyon without a tour is to kayak to a portion of the slot canyon that is not on tribal lands.
Check out this guide to kayaking Antelope Canyon for more details.
How many days do you need to visit Antelope Canyon?
You only need a day to visit Antelope Canyon, as the slot canyon only takes around 1-2 hours to visit.
But if you’re driving from Phoenix, I recommend staying the night in Page. This will give you time to rest, and see other attractions without needing to rush.
What else is there to do in Page?
Besides Antelope Canyon, Page is home to the famous Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, and Lake Powell.
Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River, located just a 10 minute drive from Antelope Canyon.
The Glen Canyon Dam is a towering 710 ft tall dam that formed Lake Powell, with a visitor center that’s free to visit. All of these attractions are within a 15 minute drive, so it’s easy to visit all three in a day!
How far is the Grand Canyon from Antelope Canyon?
Antelope Canyon is around a 2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon South Rim’s main entrance, or 2 hours if you enter at the East Entrance.
The main entrance is where the visitor center is located, whereas the East Entrance is 23 miles down, at the start of Desert View Drive.
If you plan on visiting both of these natural wonders in a day, check out our Antelope Canyon to Grand Canyon itinerary for more important details.
When’s the best time to visit Antelope Canyon?
The best time to visit Antelope Canyon is in the spring and fall, when the weather’s most moderate.
Page can be extremely hot (above 100°F) in the summer, and chilly in the winter. Additionally, always make sure to check the weather before booking your tour, as the tours can be cancelled due to raining/flash floods.
What should you pack for Antelope Canyon?
If you’re going on a guided hiking tour, it’s important to note that backpacks, and any camera gear (besides the camera itself) isn’t allowed inside of the canyon.
Here are some helpful things to pack for Antelope Canyon.
- Camera (with strap so you can keep your hands-free)
- Water bottle (with sling so you can keep your hands-free)
- Sunscreen, sunglasses, and sunhat (during the summer)
- Drinks and snacks for the road trip
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