Phoenix to Antelope Canyon: The Complete Guide

For visitors who’d rather not deal with the logistics and navigation involved in driving from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon in Page (or would rather nap and let someone else do the driving) there are several great tours to choose from!

These have excellent reviews, and include hotel pickup from Phoenix or Scottsdale:

➡️ Tour Option 1: Phoenix to Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend

➡️ Tour Option 2: Phoenix to Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend

It’s just south of Page, and easy to get to with a huge parking lot on site. The only fee you’ll pay is for parking ($10).

The hike from the lot to the “Horseshoe Bend” in the Colorado River is about one mile long, and mostly flat on a well-maintained path. It’s great for anyone in the family.

The drive from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon in Page is a bit of a commitment. Under normal conditions, you should expect it to be:

• 275 miles
• 4.5 hours

There are no toll roads, and you won’t hit any “city” traffic. By the way, the distance from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon is 275 miles, which is the same distance as it is from Page to Las Vegas.

From Phoenix, the directions to Page, AZ, are simple:

• I-17 North from Phoenix for 2 hours to Flagstaff.
• I-40 East (briefly) in Flagstaff to Highway 89 North.
• Continue on 89 all the way to Page, AZ.
• Ignore the Google Maps suggestion to get off 89 near Cameron, AZ.

Add a Detour to Sedona

If you have the time, Sedona is another “must-see” destination in Arizona. The beautiful, unique red rocks are just as impressive and memorable for tourists as the views at the Grand Canyon!

I’ve never had a friend, relative, or anyone else say they were disappointed by a trip to Sedona to hike Devil’s Bridge or one of the other trails. The only challenge would be the huge crowds of people who show up to hike.

Driving north from Phoenix, Sedona is an easy detour off the I-17, north of Lake Montezuma along Highway 179.

Add a Detour to the Grand Canyon

If you’re driving yourself, adding a detour from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon, on your way to Page, is easy.

For first-time visitors to Arizona, it’s worth the extra drive:

• I-17 North to Flagstaff
• Highway 180 northwest
• Highway 64 north to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim

It’ll add an easy two hours to your drive.

Even if you don’t want to hike one of the trails at the Grand Canyon (or if it’s just too hot!!), if you’re driving from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon in Page, you might as well check out one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.”

Page has a few hotel options right in the city. You can use this interactive map to plug in your dates and see the hotels and rentals available:

I go to Page a few times a year, and usually stay at the Hyatt Place Page-Lake Powell. The rooms are large, with nice views, and the restaurant is open both very early and pretty late at night!

Favorite Hikes & Tours in Phoenix

The Phoenix area is full of relaxing retreats and western adventures.

If you like hiking, Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain are favorites right in the City of Phoenix.

Tours and guides are offered, but you can just as easily hike on your own! Just bring twice as much water as you think you’ll need, and drink a lot *before* you go hiking!

These are both great full-day tours from the Valley of the Sun:

➡️ Click to Book: Phoenix to Sedona

➡️ Click to Book: Phoenix to the Grand Canyon

I’d also suggest a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden, or a drive east of Phoenix to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

Things to Do in Page, AZ

The natural wonders along the Arizona-Utah border, including Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are stunning sites to see!

If you have more time to spend in the area, I have a list of 30 things to do in Page. Here are some of my favorite options:

Glen Canyon Dam

The massive dam, which creates Lake Powell, is right in Page. You’ll drive right over the top of it! They also offer tours of the inner-workings, and have a visitor center to check out.

Lake Powell lends itself to all kinds of water sports.

The Wave

You’ve likely seen “The Wave” rock formation on social media. To get there, you’ll need a permit from either Kanab, UT, or Page, AZ, through recreation.gov.

I’ve been unsuccessful over the course of 10 years! If you’re spending a couple of days in Page, it’s worth a shot to try and win the permit lottery.

For me, I’ve only seen it from above on a sightseeing tour over the area!

White Pocket

White Pocket might be my favorite site in all of Arizona. Actually, Havasupai Falls (including Beaver Falls, Mooney Falls, and Havasu Falls) would rank higher, but it’s much harder to get to!

White Pocket is an other-worldly site, which is a challenge to get to.

You’ll need to rent a 4×4 or take a tour to check out this spot. I’d say it’s definitely worth it! 

Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch

Make sure to head to the Wire Pass parking lot, rather than the Buckskin Gulch lot. They’re somewhat close on Google Maps.

This is a fairly easy hike (good for the whole family) which leads to an impressive slot canyon.

Don’t go if there’s a chance of rain in the forecast. It floods each year!

The Best Time to Visit Phoenix and Antelope Canyon

As for the best time to visit Phoenix, Antelope Canyon, and the other amazing sites in Arizona, it depends on several factors:

• How well you handle crowds
• How well you handle heat
• How well you handle the snow

Antelope Canyon’s tourism numbers have seen explosive growth in tourism over the years (aside from the pandemic), and you’ll notice: it’s not just Americans. Antelope Canyon is world-famous, so you’ll definitely have an international crowd with you on your tour!

If you’re looking to visit with the smallest crowd possible, the guides at Antelope Canyon say the winter months (December through February) see the fewest reservations.

With that said, you should book your Antelope Canyon reservations well ahead of time, just in case the slots fill up.

Phoenix to Antelope Canyon in Winter

It never snows in Phoenix, but the area just north of the city gets blanketed in a light covering every year (or so).

When I first moved to Arizona, I was amazed that the northern part of the state gets heavy snowfall each year!  

A winter visit should include an alternative option to driving from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon, in case a snowstorm moves in. The I-17 and I-40, plus Highway 89 are known to close in heavy snowfall.

In Page, winter temperatures usually range from around 30°F (-1°C) to 50°F (10°C) during the day, and drop below freezing at night.

Page sees some snowfall in January and February, but accumulations are usually pretty light.

Phoenix to Antelope Canyon in Spring

Temperatures start to warm in spring, and spring break crowds descend on Phoenix and Scottsdale! We have huge crowds seeking sunshine, and also spring training games for Major League Baseball (in the Cactus League).

If you don’t mind the crowds, the weather is ideal for a visit in spring.

In Page, the daily temperatures range from around 60°F (15°C) to 80°F (27°C). Nights are still cool, ranging from around 40°F (4°C) to 50°F (10°C).

Rainfall in Page tends to be relatively low in the spring. March and April are usually drier, while May might see a slight increase in rainfall.

Crowds increase at Antelope Canyon in the spring, so make sure to book your reservations well in advance!

Phoenix to Antelope Canyon in Summer

Phoenix is known for extreme heat all summer, which really lasts from May through September. Expect daily highs of 100°F degrees or above. It’s a given.

The hotels all do a great job of keeping their resort pool areas accessible, even on the hottest of days, so the heat alone shouldn’t prevent a summertime visit!

In July, August, and September, a monsoonal weather pattern develops and sends strong storms into Arizona. They’re needed, for water reasons, but also can be quite damaging. The giant dust storms, which make national news each year, aren’t that big of a deal. They just look dramatic!

In Page, daytime highs in the summer can also surpass 100°F, so prepare for the heat! Summer is still a good time to visit Antelope Canyon, since the canyon itself stays cooler inside.

The monsoon weather pattern might impact visits to Antelope Canyon in the summer. Monsoon storms can pop up daily, and pose a small (but dangerous) risk of flash floods inside the canyon.

Antelope Canyon’s tour operators will cancel tours if there’s even a possibility that rain in the distance could cause a flash flood in the canyon.

The canceled tours will be rescheduled for the following day.

Phoenix to Antelope Canyon in the Fall

Temperatures in Phoenix finally cool in the fall … but later in the fall. By October, it’s enjoyable again outside!

The risk of monsoon storms decreases as the season goes on.

In Page, daytime temperatures range from around 70°F (21°C) to 80°F (27°C) in September, and drop to 50°F (10°C) to 60°F (15°C) by November. 

The nights cool off, down into the 40°F (4°C) to 50°F (10°C) range in Page.

Rainfall in Page during the fall months is pretty low, though again: monsoon storms usually stick around into September.

Fly from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon!

If you’re not into a 9-hour road trip (the time it takes to drive from Phoenix to Page and back) you can take a direct flight from Phoenix to Page, AZ!

Contour Airlines has daily flights between Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) and the small airport in Page.

It’s a quick, 45-minute flight on a small plane. It’s a great option I’ve used several times, despite two challenges you might encounter:

• The flights have often been delayed.
• Rental car options in Page are limited.

With that said, I continue to take the flight myself, in the interest of saving time!

Once you’ve taken a tour of Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the other sites in Page, you can fly back to Phoenix or rent a car and drive to an airport in one of these closest cities:

• Page to Phoenix, AZ: 4.5 hours / 275 miles
• Page to St. George, UT: 2.5 hours / 150 miles
• Page to Las Vegas, NV: 4.5 hours / 275 miles

FAQs About Trips from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon

Let’s tackle a few frequently-asked-questions about trips from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon. Most of these have been answered above.

Do you need to take a tour of Antelope Canyon?

You cannot go on your own to Antelope Canyon, so yes: you’ll need to book a tour with one of the official operators. This advice is the same, whether you visit Upper Antelope, Lower Antelope, or Antelope Canyon X.

Can you do Phoenix to Antelope Canyon as a day trip?

If you don’t mind 9 hours in a car, sure you can visit Antelope Canyon from Phoenix in a single day.

You can also book a day trip tour from Phoenix to Page, which will likely include stops at Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.

The flight times for Contour Airlines likely won’t allow for a day trip by air between Phoenix and Page.

What’s the difference between Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon?

I have a blog that goes in-depth on the differences between these two parts of Antelope Canyon.

Generally speaking, Upper Antelope is darker inside because the canyon is A-shaped. Less light comes in. Upper is also easier for seniors, since it doesn’t require climbing up or down any ladders.

Lower Antelope Canyon is V-shaped, so it allows much more light inside. A visit to Lower Antelope requires you to climb down a ladder to begin your tour. 

Both parts of the canyon are beautiful, and I recommend visiting Upper and Lower (though it can get pricey to do both).

What are Cardiac Canyon and Antelope X?

These parts of the desert wash system are operated by a family, and more recently open to the public.

Antelope Canyon X has tours similar to Upper and Lower, but also offers a special photography tour.

Cardiac Canyon is the most unique experience, offering a 6-hour tour to a maximum of 6 people per day.

Can you kayak into Antelope Canyon?

Yes, you take take a combo kayak-hiking tour on Lake Powell. It’s about 5 miles (total) of kayaking, plus a mile of hiking in Antelope Canyon.

Is Monument valley near Antelope Canyon?

Monument Valley Tribal Park is 2-hours east of Page, AZ. It’s a 125-mile drive.

Wrap: Is a Trip from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon Worth It?

Everyone has a different goal when visiting the Phoenix area. If you’re here for Cactus League baseball games or a conference and just have a day set aside to explore a different part of Arizona, I’d suggest going to either Sedona or Antelope Canyon.

Antelope is a drive, no doubt, but there’s really nothing like it!

Also, while Arizona may be known as “The Grand Canyon State,” visitors tend to be just as “wowed” by Antelope Canyon!