Are you planning a mini road trip from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon? You’ve come to the right place! Phoenix to Antelope Canyon is about a 4.5-hour drive, so you can easily visit this iconic slot canyon on a quick weekend road trip!
If you’re interested in extending your trip by adding pitstops OR taking a day trip from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon only, I’ll share a variety of options that will match your needs!
In this ultimate Phoenix to Antelope Canyon itinerary, I’ll share what to expect along the drive, optional pitstops, what to pack, how to spend one full day in Antelope Canyon, tour options, and more!
Ultimate Phoenix to Antelope Canyon Mini Road Trip Itinerary
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Driving From Phoenix to Antelope Canyon
The drive time from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon is roughly 4 hours and 30 minutes. (This will vary depending on where exactly your starting point is in Phoenix).
First, you’ll drive two hours north from Phoenix to Sedona. And this is where the drive gets really interesting!
The drive through Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona is particularly breathtaking. Oak Creek Canyon is a winding gorge carved into the Colorado Plateau with seemingly unlimited hiking trails and swimming holes along its route. So if you have extra time on your drive, consider making a pitstop here! More on that later.
Once you cross through Flagstaff (45 minutes past Sedona), you’ll drive on desolate tribal land for the remainder of the road trip.
Make sure to fill up your fuel tank in Sedona or Flagstaff because there are very few gas stations between Flagstaff and Page.
Optional Pitstops
Looking for more than a mini road trip? Want to stop at epic destinations along the way? Consider some of these optional pitstops on your Phoenix to Antelope Canyon road trip!
Sedona
Sedona is a stunning desert oasis in central Arizona featuring prominent, jagged cliffs and striking crimson rocks. You’ll be winding through this town on your way to Antelope Canyon, so if you have the time, I’d definitely recommend stopping!
The best way to explore Sedona is by hiking amongst the red rocks! My favorite trails in Sedona are Cathedral Rock (fun, steep rock scramble), Subway Cave via Boynton Canyon (leads to a natural cave), and Devil’s Bridge (leads to a natural bridge).
Off-roading is another one of the best things to do in Sedona, so if you can, take a 4×4 vehicle to explore the dusty red-dirt backroads, or book a Pink Jeep Tour and have someone else take you! The best off-roads are Schnebly Hill, Soldier Pass, and Broken Arrow.
If you stay the night in Sedona, catch one of the breathtaking cotton candy sunsets painting the desert skies. Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Doe Mountain are three of the best sunset spots in Sedona.
READ NEXT: 17 Best Things to Do in Sedona
Flagstaff
Flagstaff is one of the snowiest cities in the USA (90 inches annually!), but even if you’re not a skiing or snowboarding enthusiast, there’s still plenty to do year-round!
Flagstaff is home to three beautiful National Monuments: Walnut Canyon National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Wupatki National Monument. They each have unique opportunities for adventure!
At Walnut Canyon National Monument, you can hike one (or both) of the two trails – Rim Trail (0.7 miles roundtrip) and Island Trail (0.9 miles roundtrip). The Rim Trail has beautiful overlooks over the canyon while the Island Trail descends into the canyon and around the cliff dwellings.
At Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, you can explore the Bonito Lava Flow or climb to the top of Lenox Crater Volcano.
At Wupatki National Monument, you will see massive pueblos, including Wupatki Pueblo (the largest free-standing pueblo in Northern Arizona) and Wukoki (three-story tower).
What to Bring on Your Phoenix to Antelope Canyon Road Trip
For Kayaking
- Sturdy water sandals. A pair of sturdy water sandals has two uses: paddle sandals and hiking sandals. You’ll need both to kayak to Antelope Canyon and explore it on foot, so why not just have 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 just wear hiking boots, 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
Since Antelope Canyon is around 4.5 hours from Phoenix, I’d recommend spending one full day in Antelope Canyon and staying overnight in Page the night before and after. This itinerary would work perfectly as a weekend road trip (Friday night through Sunday) but can be used anytime during the week, too!
Or as I mentioned above, you have a couple of other options:
- If you have MORE time, you can extend this road trip to include other Arizona destinations like Sedona and Flagstaff.
- If you have LESS time, you can take a full-day guided day trip tour from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon.
Okay, let’s get into it! Here’s my ultimate one-day Antelope Canyon itinerary!
Kayaking to Antelope Canyon
First, you absolutely must kayak to Antelope Canyon! This was my very favorite thing we did in Page.
Kayaking to Antelope Canyon is an ideal morning adventure because it won’t be too hot and the crowds won’t have arrived yet. Plus, the slot canyon walking tours are best in the afternoon so paddling is the perfect way to “kill some time” in the morning.
You have a couple of options when kayaking to Antelope Canyon.
One, you can take a guided tour. This is the simplest option because you won’t have to worry about logistics. You simply meet your tour guide at the docks and begin paddling!
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.
Depending on your starting location (the launch or marina), you’ll be paddling 1-2 miles to the mouth of Antelope Canyon and an additional 2 miles to the walking portion.
Once you’ve paddled as far into the canyon as possible, you can either turn around, or beach your kayak and walk into the canyon. No Navajo tour guide needed!
Note that you don’t need to paddle to the end of the water canyon – only go as far as your schedule allows.
READ NEXT: Kayaking to Antelope Canyon: Complete Guide
Antelope Canyon Walking Tours
After your kayaking adventure, I’d recommend taking at least one walking tour of Antelope Canyon! For these tours, you will need a Navajo guide.
The best time of day to wander through the wavy slots of Antelope Canyon is mid-day (10:30 AM – 2 PM), but there are earlier and later tours, as well, to accommodate just about any schedule.
If you’re kayaking into Antelope Canyon and exploring it by foot for a while, I’d suggest 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 schedule an earlier tour during those golden “prime time” hours.
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 suggest touring Upper Antelope Canyon! With its iconic light beams and blowing sand, this is the most famous slot.
If you have time for two tours, consider exploring both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons. They are very different from one another!
The other two slots – Canyon X and Cardiac Canyon – are great if you want to get away from the crowds. I need to explore these on my next visit to Page!
If you need more help deciding which specific Antelope Canyon tour to book, click the link below to read my full guide!
READ NEXT: Best Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tours
Sunset at Horseshoe Bend
Even though Horseshoe Bend isn’t part of Antelope Canyon, you absolutely must stop by this picturesque destination while you’re in Page! Sunset is one of the two best times of day to hike to Horseshoe Bend because the temperatures are more tolerable, and the colors and lighting are absolutely stunning.
Since Horseshoe Bend is just a few minutes from Antelope Canyon, this is an easy add-on to your itinerary. It’s a perfect cap to your day in Page!
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 them 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 crucial since there is little to no shade cover on the trail.
- You can’t enter the Horseshoe Bend parking area past sunset, so make sure to arrive before sunset.
READ NEXT: 10 Things to Know About the Horseshoe Bend Hike
Where to Eat in Page
If you don’t pack your own meals for the road trip, you’ll need some food!
Here are some recommendations for places to eat in Page, Arizona:
- 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 Page
The best town to stay in on your Phoenix to Antelope Canyon road trip is Page, Arizona. This town is the hub of all of the fun activities on this itinerary.
If you want to camp, I’d recommend camping at Page Lake Powell Campground or Antelope Point RV Campground. Those are both close to Antelope Canyon!
If you’d prefer to stay in a hotel, this is my recommendation: Lake Powell Resort
Below you’ll find a map with Page hotels and their real-time availability. There are stays for a range of budgets!
Phoenix to Antelope Canyon FAQs
How Far is Antelope Canyon From Phoenix?
Phoenix to Antelope Canyon is about 4 hours and 30 minutes.
How Many Days Do You Need at Antelope Canyon?
It depends on how much you want to do! If you want to kayak and take a walking tour through Antelope Canyon AND hike to Horseshoe Bend, you’ll need a full day.
However, if you have limited time, and don’t want to kayak, consider a guided day trip tour to hit the highlights. I’ll mention that next!
Is There a Tour I Can Take From Phoenix to Antelope Canyon?
Yes! If you just want to walk through Antelope Canyon and hike to Horseshoe Bend, and you don’t want to worry about driving or dealing with logistics, I’d recommend taking a tour!
For example, this full day tour picks you up from your Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, or Tempe hotel and takes you on guided tours to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend before dropping you back off at your hotel. How convenient is that?!
Phoenix to Antelope Canyon Sample Itinerary
- DAY 1: 4:00 PM – Leave Phoenix
- 9:00 PM – Arrive in Page / Stay the Night
- DAY 2: 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 – Stay Overnight in Page
- DAY 3: 8:00 AM – Drive Back to Phoenix
Tailor the itinerary to fit your schedule! You can leave Phoenix 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 stop in Sedona for a hike on the way there or back, you can bring your own meals to maximize time, etc.
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Death Valley National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Saguaro National Park
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Zion National Park
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