Incredible Day Trip From Kanab to Antelope Canyon Itinerary

Did you know you can take an epic day trip from Kanab to Antelope Canyon? Kanab, Utah to Antelope Canyon is just a 1.5-hour drive, so even though it’ll be a full day of driving and exploring, you can visit this iconic wavy slot canyon on a day trip from Kanab.

hiking in antelope canyon in page arizona

Due to its prime location in the southwest United States, Kanab’s day trip possibilities are endless. You can visit epic National Parks like Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion.

But in this blog post, I’m sharing an incredible itinerary for a day trip to the world-famous Antelope Canyon. Get ready to wander through those photogenic wavy slot canyons, paddle through the canyon’s twisty channels, and catch a colorful sunset at the top of one of the most iconic bends in the Colorado River.

kayaking on lake powell to antelope canyon

So if you’re ready to embark on an amazing day trip from Kanab to Antelope Canyon, keep reading!

On this day trip from Kanab to Antelope Canyon itinerary, I’ll share what to expect along the drive, what to pack, how to spend one day in Antelope Canyon, tour options, and more!

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Incredible Day Trip From Kanab to Antelope Canyon Itinerary

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Driving From Kanab to Antelope Canyon

The drive time from Kanab to Antelope Canyon is around 1.5 hours.

Your journey begins by hopping on Highway 89A and heading east. This highway is famous for beautiful landmarks like the Kanab Sand Caves, Dinosaur Tracks, and Moqui Cave. Since you won’t be going past them on the route to Antelope Canyon, make sure to add them to your Kanab itinerary.

Most of the drive from Kanab, Utah to Page, Arizona involves traveling on Highway 89A. Don’t let the term “highway” give you the illusion that you’ll be cruising on a major expressway with high-speed traffic. 89A feels very much like a back road, with endless remote desert stretching to the north and south.

Around mile 64, you’ll cross the border into the state of Arizona. And just 8 miles later, you’ll arrive in the tiny town of Page, home to the spectacular Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend!

NOTE: You’ll pass a couple of small fuel stations around the Utah/Arizona border, but I’d fill your gas tank before leaving Kanab.

Want to plan your trip to Kanab, too? I’ve got some guides to help you with that!

What to Bring on Your Day Trip From Kanab to Antelope Canyon

For Kayaking

Sturdy water sandals. A pair of sturdy water sandals is useful for both paddling and hiking. Instead of bringing two pairs of shoes – one to kayak through the canyon and another one to explore it on foot – just bring one pair that does it all.
Quick-drying clothes. I’d recommend wearing a bathing suit and/or quick-drying workout/hiking clothes. Layer up if the weather is chilly in the morning or if you go in the colder months.
Sun protection. Wear a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. That hot desert sun is brutal!
Dry bag. A quality dry bag like this one ensures that all of your belongings don’t get wet. Better yet, get a dry bag that turns into a backpack so it’s easy to hike through Antelope Canyon with it!
Waterproof camera or phone case. Protect your phone with a waterproof phone case attached to a lanyard OR skip the hassle and just bring a waterproof camera like a GoPro or Insta360.
Water. It’s super important to stay hydrated! You will exert lots of energy between paddling and hiking.
Snacks. You need to fuel your body for all of the paddling and hiking you’re about to do! Take lots of breaks for snacks during your adventure.
America the Beautiful Pass. Show your National Parks pass to get into Glen Canyon National Recreation Area for free!

For Walking Tours & Hiking

Day pack. I’d recommend bringing this small 13-liter pack. Check your walking tour’s bag restrictions before bringing this.
Sturdy shoes. I wore hiking boots on our tour, but regular shoes will work as long as they’re sturdy and supportive.
Water. It’s super important to stay hydrated! You will exert lots of energy from hiking through the sun and walking through the canyons.
Snacks. You need to fuel your body for all of the walking you’re about to do!
Sun protection. Wear a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. That hot desert sun is brutal!

Antelope Canyon One Day Itinerary

Page, Arizona is an ideal day trip destination, so it makes sense that you want to make Kanab your home base and just spend one day at Antelope Canyon.

I’m going to help make that possible for you by sharing my ultimate one-day Kanab to Antelope Canyon itinerary!

Kayaking to Antelope Canyon

First up, I’d recommend kayaking to Antelope Canyon! You might have to leave Kanab by six or seven in the morning to make this happen, but in my opinion, it’s totally worth it. Kayaking through the canyon was honestly the highlight of my day trip to Page.

Kayaking to Antelope Canyon in the early to mid-morning is most ideal because the weather won’t be too hot and the crowds won’t have arrived just yet. Bonus: the slot canyon walking tours are best in the afternoon, so paddling is a great way to spend the morning and “kill some time.”

You have a couple of options when kayaking to Antelope Canyon.

One, you can take a guided tour. This is the simplest option; you won’t have to worry about logistics. You’ll conveniently meet your tour guide at the docks and start paddling! Easy peasy.

Two, you can kayak to Antelope Canyon without a tour guide. You can either bring your own kayak or rent one from the Antelope Point Marina or a nearby outfitter in Page. I’d highly recommend renting from Antelope Point Marina. We rented kayaks from an outfitter in Page, and we had to haul the kayaks to and from in our rental truck. Not only was this not fun, but it wasted a ton of time.

Depending on whether you start at the launch or marina, you’ll be paddling one to two miles to get to the mouth of Antelope Canyon and an additional two miles to get to the walking portion.

Once you’ve paddled as far into the canyon as possible, you’ll likely see other kayaks “parked” on the shore. Here, you can either turn around and head back to the launch site OR pull your kayak out of the water and walk into the canyon. No Navajo tour guide needed!

Pssst: You don’t need to paddle to the end of the water canyon – only go as far as your schedule allows. But if you have the time, go to the end! It’s really neat!

Antelope Canyon Walking Tours

heart in antelope canyon walls in page arizona

While the kayaking and unguided walking portion on Antelope Canyon was my favorite part of the trip, I’d still recommend taking at least one walking tour of Antelope Canyon. This way, you’ll get to see even more of the canyon, and listen to fascinating stories told by the local Navajo Tribe.

For these walking tours, you will need a Navajo guide.

Before I share tour options, let me mention that the best time of day to view the wavy slots of Antelope Canyon is midday (10:30 AM—2 PM), but earlier and later tours are also available to conveniently accommodate all types of schedules.

If you’re going to kayak into Antelope Canyon and explore it on foot for a while, I’d strongly recommend booking a later afternoon tour.

If you don’t plan on kayaking all the way into the water canyon, or you don’t plan on kayaking at all, you can get away with scheduling an earlier tour during those golden “prime time” hours.

Either way, your experience will be fantastic!

Here are your choices when it comes to Antelope Canyon walking tours:

Upper Antelope Canyon – photogenic and less claustrophobic
Lower Antelope Canyon – adventurous route with stairs and ladders
Canyon X – quieter and lesser-known
Cardiac Canyon – secluded with more difficult terrain

If you only have time for one tour, I’d recommend touring Upper Antelope Canyon! This is the most famous slot with all of the iconic light beams and blowing sand.

If you’ve got time for two tours, consider exploring both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons. They’re so unique from one another!

The other two slots – Canyon X and Cardiac Canyon – are great if you want to get away from the crowds. These are on my list for my next visit – they look stunning!

Sunset at Horseshoe Bend

While Horseshoe Bend isn’t technically part of Antelope Canyon, it’s a must-see stop while you’re in Page. Sunset is the best time to go because the temperatures are more tolerable, and the colors and lighting are unbeatable.

Since Horseshoe Bend is just a few minutes from Antelope Canyon, this is an easy add-on before you head back to Kanab.

You can read my Horseshoe Bend guide for everything you need to know and exactly what you can expect on the hike, but I’ll list a few of the main points below for good measure:

There is a $10 per vehicle entrance fee.
The trail to the overlook is 1.5 miles roundtrip.
There are exposed cliffs.
Sun protection is paramount since there is little to no shade cover on the trail.
You can’t enter the Horseshoe Bend parking area after sunset, so make sure to arrive before.

Where to Eat in Page

If you aren’t bringing your own food, you’ll need to go somewhere for lunch! You might even want dinner before heading back to Kanab.

Here are some recommendations for places to eat in Page:

El Tapatio – casual Mexican cuisine
Antelope Point Marina Restaurant – the world’s largest floating restaurant
Rimview – Native American cuisine and fine dining

Where to Stay in Kanab

From campgrounds and glamping resorts to lodges and pet-friendly boutique stays, here are some of my recommendations for where to stay in Kanab:

Best Friends Roadhouse – pet-friendly stay with amenities for humans (free lunch buffet) AND for pets (free dog park and splash zone), just 5 minutes from Kanab Sand Caves
Canyons Lodge – western-style lodging with a pool, just 5 minutes from Kanab Sand Caves
Cave Lakes – glamping just minutes from Kanab Sand Caves
Coral Pink Sand Dunes Campground – Sandy campsites just steps away from the pink dunes and sledding hills
Ponderosa Grove Campground – shaded campsites on BLM land, less than 15 minutes from Kanab Sand Caves and Coral Pink Dunes

Kanab to Antelope Canyon FAQs

How Far is Antelope Canyon From Kanab?

Antelope Canyon is roughly 1.5 hours from Kanab. Highway 89A connects Kanab to Page, making it convenient to see Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in a day trip.

Is It Realistic to See Antelope Canyon in One Day From Kanab?

Absolutely! At just 3 hours of driving roundtrip, you could spend anywhere from a few hours touring the slots to a full day kayaking, taking walking tours, and hiking Horseshoe Bend.

Kanab to Antelope Canyon Sample Itinerary

7:00 AM – Leave Kanab
9:00 AM – Kayak Antelope Canyon
1:00 PM – Lunch
2:00 PM – Upper Antelope Canyon Walking Tour
5:00 PM – Horseshoe Bend Hike
7:00 PM – Dinner
8:00 PM – Drive Back to Kanab

Tailor the itinerary to fit your schedule! You can leave Kanab earlier or later, you can paddle only part of Antelope Canyon or not do it at all, you can take more walking tours, you can bring your own meals to maximize time, etc.

Only have time for ONE activity in Page?! Use my Antelope Canyon Vs. Horseshoe Bend guide to decide which to visit!