Ultimate Antelope Canyon Itinerary for 2024
PUTTING TOGETHER A SOUTHWEST AND ANTELOPE CANYON ITINERARY?
You’re in the right place! We have visited Antelope Canyon on two different occasions and have spent months traveling the Southwest. There’s so much to see in this area of the country, so we decided to combine all the regional highlights in our Antelope Canyon itinerary.
Road trips in the American Southwest are favored for good reason. This region boasts some of the top national parks and attractions. Whether it’s exploring Las Vegas, marveling at the Hoover Dam, trekking through the Grand Canyon, or wandering in Zion National Park, there’s an adventure for everyone in the Southwest.
Here, we will go over a 4-day and 7-day Antelope Canyon Itinerary that will take travelers on one of America’s best Southwest road trips.
If you have more time to spend in the area, do it! You could easily add more time in Sedona, Las Vegas, or Zion National Park. We seriously love this area of the country, and you could easily spend a month exploring Northern Arizona and Southern Utah.
How to Spend 4 or 7 Days in the American Southwest
There are two Antelope Canyon itineraries starting and ending in Las Vegas. The first is a four-day American Southwest road trip that takes visitors to Antelope Canyon with stops at Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, and Zion National Park.
For a slightly longer road trip, visitors can take seven days to visit each of these amazing places, plus Sedona and Bryce Canyon.
7-Day Itinerary to Antelope Canyon
Day 1: Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon with stops at Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire
Day 2: Explore the Grand Canyon and then drive to Sedona at the end of the day
Day 3: Explore Sedona
Day 4: Drive to Page and do an Antelope Canyon Tour and Horseshoe Bend hike, and then drive to Bryce
Day 5: Explore Bryce and then drive to Zion National Park
Day 6: Explore Zion National Park
Day 7: Start the day at Zion National Park and then drive back to Las Vegas
4-Day Itinerary to Antelope Canyon and Surrounding Areas
If you only have four days to explore the Southwest, we would recommend cutting out Sedona and Bryce Canyon National Park from our seven-day itinerary. Here is a sample of what your itinerary could look like:
Day 1: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon with stops at Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire
Day 2: Explore the Grand Canyon and drive to Page at the end of the day
Day 3: Antelope Slot Canyon Tour and Horseshoe Bend Hike and then drive to Zion National Park
Day 4: Explore Zion National Park and then drive to Las Vegas
The rest of the article will focus on the seven-day itinerary, but the information about the activities will still apply. Your routes and driving time will vary slightly. To get accurate driving times, you can plan your trip in Google Maps.
7-Day Antelope Canyon SW Itinerary
Day 1: Las Vegas > Hoover Dam > Valley of Fire State Park > Grand Canyon
Hoover Dam
Start day one of your Antelope Canyon itinerary by driving 45 minutes to Hoover Dam. It costs nothing to view Hoover Dam; however, there is an admission to visit the Visitor Center and take a tour of the facility. You will need about two hours to tour the Visitor Center.
If you have the time and interest in the dam, it is really cool to go on a tour down inside the dam. There is a cost for the tour, but it is well worth it. We went down inside and got to see the inner workings of the dam, like the generators and how the water flows.
Valley of Fire State Park
From Hoover Dam, it’s approximately a one hour and forty-five-minute drive to Valley of Fire State Park. Visitors can explore the park by car or on foot. Driving through the park can last between one to two hours, which typically includes a drive through the park on Mouse’s Tank Road and a hike on one or two of the shorter trails.
Upon entering the park via Valley of Fire Highway, visitors can turn onto Mouse’s Tank Road, also known as White Domes Road, to access some of the best sights and hikes in the park.
There are numerous spots along the road where you can pull over to take photos. Notable photo opportunities include Atlatl Rock, Arch Rock, Elephant Rock, and Fire Cave.
There are many smaller hikes, including Mouse’s Tank, which is a mile out and back and can take an easy thirty minutes to complete. Our kids have been going on this hike since they were three.
For a bit better views, Rainbow Vista is another great hike. This is a mile out and back and takes between thirty minutes to an hour to complete. This hike includes a climb up a hill that gives you amazing views of the Valley of Fire.
Another really amazing hike is the Fire Wave. It is a little bit longer of a hike, but well worth the time to see. This is one of our favorite things to see in the park, and the hike has incredible views along the trail. It is a great, family-friendly trail in the state park.
Drive to the Grand Canyon
After exploring the Valley of Fire, make your way to the Grand Canyon. It takes a little over 5 hours to get to the Grand Canyon from the Valley of Fire, making it one of the longer days of driving.
Where to Stay At the Grand Canyon: Yavapai Lodge
Where to Eat in the Grand Canyon: Big E Steakhouse & Saloon
Day 2: Grand Canyon > Drive to Page, AZ
Touring the Grand Canyon
Start the morning early to make the most of your day at the Grand Canyon. Sunrise is one of the best times to see the Grand Canyon. Harsh overhead light from the sun can dampen the colors of the canyon, making sunrise and sunset great times to visit.
The visitor center opens at 10 am and is a great place to start your visit to the South Rim. Here, you will be able to find maps of the park or even book a guided tour. If you want to learn more about the Grand Canyon, the Visitor Center offers interactive exhibits and an IMAX movie.
Before getting back in the car, check out Mather Point, which is behind the Visitor Center. This popular lookout allows visitors to see inside the Grand Canyon to Yavapai Point. Some other notable viewpoints include Yavapai Point, Hopi Point, Yaki Point, Grandview Point, and Moran Point.
There is a really nice, paved walking path here that follows the edge of the canyon. We had a lot of fun walking along the path to visit the different viewpoints.
Another notable destination in the Grand Canyon is the Tusayan Museum and Tusayan Ruins. This site, which is 800 years old, was excavated in 1930. The museum is free to visit and remains open until 5 pm. My kids loved exploring the pueblo and viewing artifacts that are 2,000 to 4,000 years old.
Before heading off to the next city in your Antelope Canyon itinerary, make sure to check out Grand Canyon Village for souvenirs and American Indian crafts.
Grand Canyon Tours
While you can easily tour the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA on your own, joining up on a tour can be very informative and help you make the most out of your day at the Grand Canyon.
You won’t have to worry about spending precious time lost or stuck without a parking spot. We also love guided tours because of how knowledgeable the guides are about the area.
Here are some of the best Grand Canyon tours:
- Grand Canyon Tour from Tusayan: A highly-reviewed tour of the Grand Canyon focusing on ancient cultures and landscapes. Stops on the tour include various viewpoints. Lunch and water are included.
- Grand Canyon Full Day Hike: A popular hike for visitors looking for an active adventure in the Grand Canyon. An experienced guide shares information about the cultural history, biology, and geology in the canyon.
- Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour with Champagne Toast: The best way to see the Grand Canyon from the sky. With only a day to see the Grand Canyon, make the most of your time by seeing all of it from above. The views are spectacular.
➡ Browse All Grand Canyon Tours Here
Drive to Sedona, Arizona
End the day by driving to Sedona, which is a little over two hours away. The drive to Sedona from the Grand Canyon is quick and easy.
Where to Stay in Sedona: Bell Rock Inn
Where to Eat in Sedona: Hideaway House
Day 3: Sedona
Sedona, Arizona, is one of my favorite places to visit in the United States and a highlight of any Antelope Canyon itinerary. Sedona has many beautiful hikes, even for those who do not consider themselves outdoorsy. Many of the hikes in Sedona require a parking permit, which can be purchased for $5 a day or $15 for a week.
The America the Beautiful Pass can be used as a parking pass there, as well as the national parks in this itinerary, like the Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce. Just another reason why this pass is amazing!
A few easy hikes in Sedona that are great for kids are Bell Rock Hike, Cathedral Rock Hike, Devil’s Bridge Trail, or Soldier Pass Trail. Those more adventurous can continue the Solider Pass Trail and get to the Solider Pass Cave.
If a cave sounds cool, but you are not up for the longer hike, you can check out the Birthing Cave, which is a little over two miles roundtrip. This is also a great hike for younger kids. It is a really easy hike except for the short hike up to the Birthing Cave itself.
Sedona offers plenty of activities beyond hiking. One option is the four-hour train ride with Verde Canyon Railroad Adventure, which showcases numerous scenic and historical sites.
If you’re traveling with kids, the Out of Africa Wildlife Park is a fantastic destination for families or those who love animals. Visitors can easily spend four to five hours exploring the park and its diverse collection of exotic animals.
Sedona Tours
Sedona has so many fun things to do, ranging from backcountry 4×4 tours to tours exploring Sedona’s famous vortexes. Here are some of the most popular and best-reviewed tours:
- Sedona Self-Guided E Bike Tour: Explore the red rocks in Sedona as well as the Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village at your own pace on an e-bike. We love riding e-bikes, and this is a great way to get around Sedona.
- Sedona Stargazing Tour: Enjoy beautiful views of the Sedona night sky through specialized telescopes and binoculars in nearby Oak Creek and education from knowledgeable astronomers.
- Sedona Vortex Tour by Jeep: Explore the healing and uplifting vortex sites that Sedona is famous for. You will learn about the history of these sites and the power they hold.
- Sedona Outback Trail Jeep Adventure: Enjoy a fun and adventurous tour through the backroads in Sedona. We love enjoying these trails. This is one of the most popular things to do in Sedona besides hiking.
➡ Browse All Sedona Tours Here
Day 4: Drive to Page > Antelope Canyon Tour and Horseshoe Bend Overlook Hike > Drive to Bryce
Start early by driving from Sedona to Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona, which is about a three-hour drive. Here in Page, you can take tours of Antelope Canyon and hike to the Horseshoe Bend Lookout.
Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon are two of the prettiest places we have found in the Southwest.
If you have additional time to spend in the area, Lake Powell is another popular place to visit, especially during the warm summer months.
Antelope Canyon
Visitors can only explore Antelope Canyon with a Navajo guide since the land is protected by the Navajo Parks and Recreation. You can’t visit Antelope Canyon without a tour. There are three different sections of Antelope Canyon open for tours.
It is possible to do two Antelope Canyon tours in one day, one to Lower Antelope Canyon and another to Upper Antelope Canyon, or you can choose one of the two. Each tour takes about an hour to two hours.
The tour of Lower Antelope Canyon is a bit more challenging than the upper tour. This is because of steep ladders, but it is still doable with kids. There are a few staircases that visitors must be able to go up and down on. Our twins did the lower tour when they were four and needed a little help on the steep ladders.
The Upper Antelope Canyon is going to be flatter and a bit easier to walk. If you are looking for light beams, then the Upper Canyon is the one to take. While you can still see a few light beams in the Lower Antelope Canyon, there will not be as many as in the Upper Canyon tour.
The third tour option is Canyon X. It is the least busy part of the canyon, and tickets are less expensive. It is also the last section to get booked, so if you are planning a last-minute visit and can’t get tickets into the upper or lower sections, Canyon X is a great option.
➡ Book Upper Antelope Canyon Tour
➡ Book Lower Antelope Canyon Tour
➡ Book Canyon X Tour
Horseshoe Bend Overlook
After you have finished your tour, make the 10-minute drive from Antelope Canyon to Horseshoe Bend, which is in Glen Canyon. There is no entry fee to Horseshoe Bend, but there is a $10 parking fee at the trailhead or a $5 shuttle fee from downtown Page.
Once parked or shuttled, visitors can hike the 0.6 trail to Horseshoe Bend Overlook, which offers some beautiful views of the Colorado River, especially during sunrise and sunset.
The entire hike should take between thirty minutes to an hour. We hiked this with our twins, who were four at the time. They did great on the hike. The first sandhill is the hardest part. Be sure to bring lots of water and sun protection if it is warm outside.
If you do not want to worry about driving between Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, you can book a tour from Page, which includes admission into Antelope Canyon, parking at Horseshoe Bend, and transportation.
Going with a tour guide always adds so much to an experience. They are so knowledgeable about the area and have great stories to share.
➡ BOOK Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tour from Page
Drive to Bryce Canyon/Southern Utah
After you have viewed the beautiful scenery near Page, Arizona, head to Bryce Canyon, which is about a three-hour drive.
Where to Stay in Bryce Canyon: Bryce Canyon Resort
Where to Eat in Bryce: Cowboy’s Buffet and Steak Room
Day 5: Bryce > Drive to Zion
Bryce Canyon National Park
Many beautiful hikes can be done in a day at Bryce Canyon. Some easy hikes are Sunset Point to Sunrise Point via the Rim Trail, Bristlecone Loop, or Mossy Cave in Bryce Canyon, all of which are about a mile roundtrip.
Another easy hike but longer at ten miles is the Bryce Canyon Rim Trail, but you can walk the trail for as long as you’d like before turning around.
Some more moderate hikes are Queen’s Garden, Bryce Canyon Navajo Loop, or the Queen’s/Navajo Combination Loop.
Our favorite hike is the Navajo Loop, but there is some decent elevation gain when hiking back out of the canyon. We did this hike with our newborn and twins, who were four at the time. By the end, they were pretty tired, and my husband ended up carrying them during the steep incline out of the canyon.
Drive to Zion National Park
Once you have seen Bryce Canyon, head to Zion National Park, which is about an hour and a half drive.
Where to Stay in Zion National Park: Zion National Park Lodge
Where to Eat in Zion National Park: Oscar’s Cafe
Day 6: Zion National Park
Many hikes can be done on your own, but if you only have a day, a guided tour of Zion National Park will take you to many of the park’s must-see spots.
If you are looking for easier or shorter hikes, Riverside Walk, Canyon Overlook, and Lower Emerald Pools are all less than two miles each and our family’s personal favorites when we visit Zion with our younger kids. Canyon Overlook has a beautiful view without the difficult hike you will find with Angel’s Landing.
Angel’s Landing is a bit more difficult at five miles but offers some amazing views. The Narrows is another popular hike. It is moderate in difficulty but is 9 miles round trip.
These two hikes do require a permit based on a lottery to hike them, so keep that in mind. You can read more about the lotteries for the Narrows permit here and the Angel’s Landing permit here.
If hiking isn’t your preference, or you’re seeking a change of pace, biking the Pa’rus Trail is an enjoyable, easy, and quick alternative. You can explore the area by car by driving down Mount Carmel Highway and making stops at popular sites such as the Great Arch, Checkerboard Mesa, and Canyon Overlook Trail.
Zion National Park Tours
Some of the hikes in Zion National Park require special gear, or you may just be more comfortable having an experienced guide with you on the trail. Along with hiking tours, there are lots of other unique opportunities to take in the beautiful views in Southern Utah.
Here are some of the best tours in or around Zion National Park to include in your Antelope Canyon itinerary:
- Helicopter Tour Around Zion National Park: All of the red rock formations and canyons surrounding Zion National Park are incredible, and the best way to see them is from above. Skip the crowds and enjoy the beautiful views.
- Private Off-The-Beaten-Track Tour of Zion: You can customize your itinerary to hit the highlights of Zion, as well as a slot canyon, sand caves, sand dunes, and a ghost town.
- The Narrows: Zion National Park Private Guided Hike: The Narrows is one of the most famous hikes in Zion but can also be hard to navigate and requires special gear. Let a guide take care of tracking down what you need so you can enjoy this beautiful part of the park.
- Zion National Park: Private Guided Hike and Picnic: A private and intimate experience in Zion National Park, including scenic stops, a guided hike, and a charcuterie picnic lunch.
➡ Browse Zion National Park Tours Here
Day 7: Zion > Drive Back to Las Vegas
After checking out Zion National Park, you can head back to Las Vegas to complete your Antelope Canyon Itinerary. It is a little less than three hours away.
FAQs: Antelope Canyon Itinerary
The journey from the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon takes approximately an hour and a half, making it feasible to explore parts of both locations in a single day. However, to fully experience what each area has to offer, I suggest spending at least one night at either the Grand Canyon or in Page.
Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are about 130 miles from the Grand Canyon National Park. Driving time is about two and a half hours.
Late spring, summer, and early fall are the best times to visit Antelope Canyon. It is during these months that you can see the light beams in Upper Antelope Canyon and sometimes in Lower Antelope Canyon.
They are visible best in March through July. However, we visited in October, and we could see the light beam during our tour. During the winter months, like December, the light beams are typically not visible.
We have loved each one of our tours through Antelope Canyon. Walking through the canyon is a really fun experience, and the photo opportunities are amazing. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth a visit.
You can easily see everything in Antelope Canyon in half a day. The tours are not super long, and the walk-through is fairly simple.
There are three guided hikes in Antelope Canyon: the Upper Canyon hike, the Lower Canyon tour hike, and Canyon X. They are all short hikes, and each of the tours lasts about two hours, making this stop a short visit in your Antelope Canyon itinerary.
Yes, you can easily do Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon in one day. The drive from Horseshoe Bend to Antelope Canyon is about 10 minutes. You can schedule your Antelope Canyon tour in the morning and hike to the Horseshoe Bend overlook in the afternoon or vice versa.
Yes, you can do Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon in one day, but it will take some careful planning and scheduling. Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley are two hours apart from each other. You will want to check tour start times as well as tour lengths to ensure you do not miss your tours.
Conclusion: Antelope Canyon Itinerary
We hope that you have found our guide to the 4-day and 7-day Antelope Canyon itineraries both useful and informative. Each of our visits to Antelope Canyon has been wonderful, and we hope your experience is just as enjoyable. Antelope Canyon’s popularity is well-deserved for good reason.
If you are late getting your tickets for visiting Antelope Canyon, you can go to Canyon X. There are fewer crowds, but it is still a great experience. It is part of the same slot canyon system, so it would be a good idea to check it out if you have the time or if you can’t get into the other canyons.
The main difference is Canyon X is a little deeper than the other sections, making it a little darker but still beautiful.
Along with Antelope Canyon, we love visiting the Southwestern part of the United States. The scenery is so beautiful and offers great opportunities for hiking, visiting the national parks, and enjoying the sunshine!
You will love making such a fun trip. We typically travel through this area multiple times a year, and each time, we find something new that we love. You can’t go wrong with an Antelope Canyon road trip!
