Ultimate Vegas To Antelope Canyon Road Trip Itinerary
Are you planning to visit the famous Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas? If so, you’ve come to the right article.
Antelope Canyon is a spectacular red-orange slot canyon located right outside of Page Arizona, and a 4.5 hour drive from Vegas. I’ve toured Antelope Canyon twice now, and recently made the drive from Las Vegas all the way to Page.
This article will cover exactly how to get to Antelope Canyon from Vegas, with tour options, tips on where to stay, road trip stops, and more.
Here is everything you need to know to plan an epic day trip to Antelope Canyon.
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How To Get To Antelope Canyon From Las Vegas
The fastest route from Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon takes 4.5 hours, on I-15 passing through southern Utah.
Antelope Canyon is located right outside of the small town Page Arizona, which straddles the border between Utah and northern Arizona. This area is surrounded by beautiful desert scenery, and right next to Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, and the Glen Canyon Dam.
The best way to get there is to join a group tour from Las Vegas, which will cover transportation, and all fees for visiting Antelope Canyon. These tours make it incredibly convenient to visit both Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend on a day trip from Vegas.
If you plan on driving there, keep in mind you will still have to book a guided hiking tour to visit Antelope Canyon ($50-80), as it’s located on tribal lands.
Here are the best tours from Las Vegas that cover transportation + hiking tour fees.
- Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend: Full day bus tour with lunch included
- Private Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend: Small group luxury private tour of only your party
- Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend: Full day bus tour to Arizona’s top 3 natural wonders with lunch included
How To Visit Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is only a short 10 minute drive from the small town Page Arizona, which is home to Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell.
The town has a small airport, many hotel options for tourists, and a few grocery stores and restaurants.
Antelope Canyon is located right outside of the town, on land owned by the Navajo Nation. It’s separated into the upper and lower portion of the canyon, which are both located off of the same street.
To visit the slot canyon, you must go on a guided hiking tour, or kayak to the portion that’s not located on tribal lands.
The two main tour operators are Ken’s and Dixie’s Antelope Canyon Tours. They have ticketing offices with gift shops right next to each other, right by the slot canyon.
On a tour, you’ll do a short 10 minute walk over the open desert to the slot canyon, and spend 1-2 hours exploring the slot canyon. Your guide will teach you about the unique geology that forms the slot canyon, and give you tips on photographing the canyon to see everything from mountains to waves.
Upper Antelope Canyon is the darker, flatter portion of the slot canyon that doesn’t have stairs, and is a more accessible hike. It’s popular for the light beams that shine through the canyon, contrasting with the dark walls.
Lower Antelope Canyon is the brighter, lower portion of the canyon that has a series of steps you’ll climb to get throughout the canyon. This is the most visited portion of the canyon, and the tours are slightly cheaper than Upper Antelope Canyon tours.
For more details on how they compare, check out our Upper vs Lower Antelope Canyon guide.
Where To Stay Near Antelope Canyon
The best place to stay when visiting Antelope Canyon is Page Arizona. Here you’ll find a variety of budget hotel options, and it’s within a 10-15 minute drive from Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the Glen Canyon Dam.
Here are the best hotel options in Page:
- Country Inn & Suites: Top-rated hotel with free breakfast and parking
- Days Inn & Suites: Budget hotel with free breakfast and parking
- Hampton Inn & Suites: Luxury hotel with free breakfast and parking
Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon Road Trip Stops
Planning a road trip to Antelope Canyon? Here are a few interesting detours to make along the way if you have the time.
Hoover Dam
As you leave Las Vegas, make a quick stop at the Hoover Dam to see one of the world’s largest dams.
This dam is 726 ft tall, 660 feet thick, and has a visitor center on site where you can learn about its fascinating construction. It’s completely free to visit, and it has a security checkpoint you’ll drive past before you reach the bridge viewpoint.
Valley of Fire State Park
If you love hiking, stop at the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. This is a state park with swirling sandstone, unique red rock formations, bighorn sheep, and beautiful desert scenery.
It’s a 1.5 hour drive from Vegas, and located right off of I-15 on the route to Page Arizona. This is the perfect place to spend a few hours hiking, if you’re not in a rush to get to Page.
Check out our guide to visiting the Valley of Fire State Park for a list of the best things to do in the park!
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is a must-see natural wonder, located only 10 minutes outside of Page Arizona. It’s a horseshoe shaped meander of the Colorado River, and one of Arizona’s most photographed landmarks.
It costs $10/vehicle to visit, and only takes a half hour to visit, so you can easily check it out while you’re in town.
Glen Canyon Dam
Another must-see site in Page is the Glen Canyon Dam, which is nearly as impressive as the Hoover Dam.
This dam is 710 ft tall, 1,560 feet wide, and has a visitor center that’s free to visit. You can stop by the visitor center to see it up close, or hike the Glen Canyon Dam Overlook to get a nice viewpoint of it from town.
Cameron Trading Post
The Cameron Trading Post is a historic 1916 trading post and restaurant, around an hour south of Page Arizona.
Here you can shop for souvenirs, enjoy Navajo tacos at their restaurant, or stay overnight at their historic motel. On the way over to Cameron Trading Post, you’ll pass by many roadside stands (with flags) where you can try Navajo fry bread, and shop for souvenirs as well!
Grand Canyon South Rim
If you want to visit even more of Arizona’s natural wonders, the Grand Canyon’s South Rim is only a 2.5 hour drive from Page Arizona.
This is the main entrance to the park, where you can see all of the popular viewpoints, and hike the South Rim Trail. It has a visitor center, and a variety of hotels and restaurant options in the Grand Canyon Village and Tusayan (right outside of the park).
I spent a few hours at the Grand Canyon when I visited, and still managed to leave with amazing photos, so it’s well worth a visit if you have the time.
Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon Sample Itinerary
For the most comfortability, I recommend spending a night in Page, so you can visit all of the attractions without feeling rushed. However, I drove from Phoenix to Page twice (4.5 hour drive), and drove back in the same day so a day trip is definitely doable!
Just remember to book your Antelope Canyon tour at least 6 hours ahead of time. This will allow you to arrive on time, and if you get there early, you can visit Horseshoe Bend or the Glen Canyon Dam beforehand.
Here’s a sample Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon day trip itinerary.
- See the Hoover Dam
- Hike through Antelope Canyon
- Visit Horseshoe Bend
- See the Glen Canyon Dam
- Head back to Las Vegas
Itinerary Map
Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon FAQs
Do you need a tour to visit Antelope Canyon?
Yes, a guided hiking tour is required to visit Antelope Canyon since it’s located on land owned by the Navajo Nation.
The only way to visit Antelope Canyon without a tour is to kayak to the portion that’s not located on tribal lands. Check out this article for details on kayaking to Antelope Canyon.
How many days do you need to visit Antelope Canyon?
Antelope Canyon only takes 1-2 hours to tour, so it’s definitely doable to visit on a day trip from Las Vegas.
However, if you have the time, I highly recommend spending a night in Page Arizona. It’s around 9-10 hours of total driving time from Vegas, and an extra day will allow you to see all of the attractions in a more relaxed pace.
What else is there to do in Page?
Page is also home to the iconic Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, and Lake Powell. Horseshoe Bend is a famous horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River, located just a 10 minute drive from town.
The Glen Canyon Dam is a magnificent 710 ft tall dam with a visitor center, right in the heart of town. Lake Powell is a large lake formed by the dam, where you can rent out everything from kayaks to jet skis and boats.
How far is the Grand Canyon from Antelope Canyon?
Antelope Canyon is a 2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, the park’s main entrance. This is home to the visitor center and Grand Canyon Village, where you can see all of the popular viewpoints.
Check out our Antelope Canyon to Grand Canyon day trip itinerary for more details on how to visit both of these natural wonders in a day!
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 get extremely hot (above 100°F) in the summer, and is peak monsoon season so the slot canyon may be closed due to flash flooding.
If you plan on visiting in the summer, make sure to check the weather beforehand to ensure there are no upcoming storms.
What should you pack for Antelope Canyon?
Backpacks and camera gear (besides the camera) are typically not allowed inside of Antelope Canyon, so make sure to check the tour operator’s website for what you can bring. Here are some helpful things to pack for an Antelope Canyon tour.
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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