25 Responses

1. Hi Alley,

   Love your website. Thanks for all the your suggestions. We (My husband and I) are planning a trip to Las Vegas in January 2022 (26th – 31st). We are flying from Charlotte, North Carolina.We want to visit Antelope Canyon and Grand Canyon South Rim as well.I would love to get your opinion on our below itinerary.

   Day 1 – Reaching Las Vegas at 9:30pm.
   Day 2 and Day 3 – Las Vegas .We want to visit Skywalk and Hoover Dam if possible in one of these days.
   Day 4 – Start from Vegas in the morning and drive to Page (if time permits thru Zion). I would like to know how difficult is this drive – is it desert driving or involves mountain driving)? Planning to stay overnight in Page.
   Day 5 – Upper and lower antelope canyon tours, horshoe bend and drive to Grand Canyon South Rim. Planning to watch the sunset and stay inside the park/in Tusayan overnight
   Day 6 – Explore South Rim till noon and drive to Phoenix Airport for a midnight(12:30AM) return flight to Charlotte. (I felt this is lesser distance compared to drive back to Vegas)

   Thank you so much in advance.

   Reply

   1. Hey Sam!
      Your plan looks pretty fun, but I’d recommend a couple of modifications.
      For example, where you suggest “driving to Page through Zion.” Don’t get me wrong, it can be done, it’s a mix of desert and mountain type driving conditions. The thing is that Zion is such a beautiful and large park that you’ll find yourself wishing you’d allotted more time there. 2-3 days is what we typically recommend for a first-time visit to Zion. Instead of doing that, and finding yourself wanting, I’d recommend taking the short detour through the stunning Valley of Fire State Park, just north of Las Vegas.
      On Day 5, you might want to limit your Antelope Canyon tours to one, then hit Horseshoe Bend on the way out of town from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim. The reason I suggest this is because at the time of year you’re visiting, days are still quite short. Sunrise in Arizona occurs at 7:30 am and sunset takes place around 5:45 pm. The drive from Page, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim is listed on Google Maps as taking ~2.5 hours, but don’t be surprised if it takes you longer; a lot longer. It’s a very scenic drive and you will be stopping to take photos more often than you realize. The Cameron Trading Post is worth a stop for a leg stretch/bathroom break at least, but the Navajo taco in the restaurant is generally regarded as a must-eat item. Rightfully so, they’re really good. So there’s more time off the clock there. Once you enter Grand Canyon National Park at Desert View Point, you’ll find over half a dozen named viewpoints between the park entrance and Grand Canyon Village vying for a stop. Long story short, it can realistically take anywhere from 3.5-4 hours to make a 150-mile drive. Coming from that direction, I recommend trying to be around Grandview Point for sunset. I like that viewpoint because it’s off the beaten path enough so that it’s not terribly crowded but also has a really great view of the canyon, including parts of the Colorado River. Forward to the 1:05 mark on this video to get a sneak preview of what it looks like. BTW, the video promotes a tour, which you don’t need in your case because Grandview Point is open to private vehicles. Tusayan would then be ~30 minutes drive from Grandview. Map
      Now, normally we don’t recommend driving at all after sunset in this part of the US. This is due to the fact that local roads are very dimly lit and deer, elk, and other wildlife tend to mill around at night, which hikes up your risk of an auto accident. This will be in an unfamiliar area that is pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (IF you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
      As for the drive from Grand Canyon to Phoenix being of “lesser distance” than that to Las Vegas, it’s maybe a difference of 50 miles. The drive from GC to Phoenix can be very scenic, so if your budget can handle it, go for it. Still, you might find it more cost-effective to take your return flight (and drop your rental car) out of the same airport you flew into. It’s worth checking into.
      I hope that helps, I know it’s a lot to process. If you require further guidance, please contact me directly at [email protected]
      Good luck and safe travels,
      Alley 🙂
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      Reply

2. Hello, thanks for providing this blog as a resource! Do you know of any one-way shuttles between Las Vegas and Page? I’m attending a wedding at Horseshoe Bend in November and would prefer to fly into Las Vegas rather than Flagstaff (much cheaper flights from DC), but am having trouble finding transportation options. I’ll be there for several days, super excited to do some hiking and explore the area.

   Reply

   1. Hi CLJ,
      Page, AZ, is a very remote town. Shuttle options between Las Vegas and Page, AZ, are very limited under the best of circumstances, but you might find such a thing impossible to find in November seeing as though that’s regarded as off-season.
      Companies such as National Park Express and MaxTours offer tours originating in Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. You might be able to arrange one way transportation as a ride-along with one of these tours by contacting the companies directly. National Park Express can be reached at (702) 948-4190. MaxTours’ phone # is (702) 907-1886.
      Another option you might consider is flying into Page, AZ, on Contour Airlines. Contour is a regional carrier offering flights into Page, AZ, out of both Las Vegas and Phoenix. Although their planes are smaller, they are not the rickety old turbo-props of days gone by, they fly late-model jet aircraft which I hear are very comfortable. They’ve even got restrooms on board! At the Page Municipal Airport, there’s an AVIS rental car outlet, right next to the Contour Airlines counter. You’ll need a car if you want to spend any time here.
      Good luck and safe travels,
      Alley 🙂

      Reply

3. Hi Alley,

   I found your blog really helpful. I am planning for a day trip from Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon, have lunch nearby followed by visiting the Horseshoe bend and back to Las Vegas by car. Please help me with the best route and timeframe we should have in hand for visiting these places (next week).

   Reply

   1. Hey Pallavi,
      The drive from Las Vegas, NV, to Horseshoe Bend (south of Page, AZ), will take approximately 4.5 hours.
      The quickest route out of Las Vegas is to take I-15 and proceed Northeast through Mesquite and St. George, UT to Washington, UT **optional detour through Valley of Fire State Park, just Northeast of Las Vegas**. Get off I-15 on Exit 16 to UT-9, which turns into UT-59 near Hurricane, UT, then becomes AZ-389 near Colorado City, AZ. In Fredonia, AZ, take AZ-89A due North Kanab, UT. From Kanab, UT, take US-89 East toward Page, AZ. Pass the town and look for the signs for Horseshoe Bend Overlook between Mile Marker 544 and 545.
      Upon arrival at Horseshoe Bend and paying the $10/vehicle parking fee, it is recommended that you allot 90 minutes to 2 hours to park your vehicle, walk to the overlook, take photos, then walk back to your vehicle.
      One thing to be aware of is sunrise and sunset times: next week, sunrise will occur at around 6:00 AM, sunset takes place just after 7:00 PM. You should plan on making the drive from Page, AZ, to St. George, UT, in daylight hours. Nighttime driving is strongly discouraged in the more rural areas of Northern Arizona and Southern Utah due to local roads being very dimly lit, and situated in areas populated by deer, elk, and other wildlife that could elevate your risk of an auto accident. A collision with a large animal is not something you want to risk in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, where nights are still cold, cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive. Between St. George, UT, and Las Vegas, NV, it’s not so bad because you’ll be back on I-15 where there are good-sized urban “light domes” between St. George, UT, Mesquite, NV, and Las Vegas, NV.
      Good luck and safe travels,
      Alley 🙂

      Reply

      1. Hi Alley,
         Thank you so much for this information. I appreciate your help.

         Reply

4. Hi Alley,
   I need your expertise. I sent you a request to advice me about my roadtrip but not sure of you received it. We plan on a family road trip. San Diego to Vegas, stay over night, then drive to Page AZ, stay overnight then to Sedona for the rest of our trip going back to San Diego via Phoenix. We definitely don’t want to miss out on the Grand Canyon but not sure which is the best route to use.

   Reply

   1. Hi Jennifer,
      I did reply to your query on another thread, but am happy to reply to this one, too!
      Your trip plan looks pretty fun, and well-paced.
      As for visiting the Grand Canyon, lots of people do it from Sedona as a day trip, but the feasibility of it is highly dependent on the time of yeear in which you’re traveling.
      The drive from Sedona, AZ, to Grand Canyon South Rim is 2.5-3 hours, each way. If your visit is taking place during the timeframe between late spring through early fall, that gives you more hours of daylight to work with, and that is when all driving must take place. Driving at night is strongly discouraged in this part of the U.S. due to the fact that local roads are very dimly lit, and you might encounter deer, elk, or other wildlife, which can hike up your risk of an accident. That’s not something you want to chance in an unfamiliar area that’s pitch black, freezing cold, where cell service is spotty (if you can get any bars at all), and help will be a long time coming, not to mention VERY expensive.
      If your trip is coming up here in the next few weeks time, sunrise occurs between 7:30 AM and 7:45 AM, sunset takes place around 5:30-5:45 PM. That’s 10 hours of daylight, at most, and you’d be eating up 5-6 hours of that time just driving back and forth from Sedona. That wouldn’t give you much time for sightseeing at the Grand Canyon.
      If you are indeed plannning to visit Northern Arizona between now and early Spring, and you’re not locked into any room reservations in Sedona, AZ, yet, plan your Grand Canyon trip as an overnight, maybe the day before you head to Phoenixe. It is best to stay inside the park if possible, or in Tusayan should the in-park hotels be full already.
      If your trip is planned for the warmer months of the years that feature longer days, you should be able to pull off a day trip as long as you’re aware of when sunset occurs and that you time your return trip to Sedona, AZ, accordingly. The section us US89A from Flagstaff to Sedona through Oak Creek is very windy, narrow, and twisty, not someplace you’d want to be driving at night. Trust me, I did it a couple times and will never do it again!
      For off-roading in Sedona, Pink Jeep’s Broken Arrow Tour is still considered the #1 must-do Sedona activity! Whatever you do, if you’re in a rental car, stick to paved roads. Going off-road in a rented vehicle will void your insurance, and leave you on the hook for any repairs or towing you might need.
      Whatever you decide, be sure to book all hotels and guided tours well in advance of your arrival.
      Good luck, safe travels, and Happy Holidays!
      Alley 🙂

      Reply

5. Hi i would like to ask i will be travelling to Las Vegas next year and planning to go Horseshoe bend only. We plan to rent a car so is it safe if we start drive at morning and back at afternoon like 3 or 4pm?

   Reply

   1. Hi Sim,
      Whether or not you can realistically pull that off safely depends largely on the time of year you’re visiting.
      It normally takes ~5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Page, AZ, however, you can expect that figure to be higher since there is a long-term construction project taking place on a stretch of I-15 through the Virgin River Gorge. That will add another 30-60 minutes to your drive time. It then takes about 60-90 minutes to walk out to the Horseshoe Bend Overlook, and you shouldn’t drive all that way without touring Antelope Canyon! That’s another 2-hour block of time you haven’t factored in. You’ll want to get a meal at some point, then you’re facing a 6-hour drive back to Las Vegas. Not ideal, but doable if you time your drive correctly.
      The main concern here is that you avoid doing the bulk of your driving at night. The roads around Page, AZ, are very dimly lit, and the possibility of running into a deer, elk, or other wildlife goes up markedly after dusk. Believe me, you don’t want to get into an accident with a large animal in an area where cell service is spotty (or non-existent) and a tow truck will be a long time coming, not to mention very expensive.
      Fortunately, the “urban light dome” between St. George, UT, and Las Vegas, NV, is fairly bright, but still, it’s best to get back underway so that you’re at least within sight of Las Vegas by nightfall. Familiarize yourself with the sunrise and sunset times in both Nevada and Arizona at the time of your visit. If your trip is occurring during non-Daylight Savings Time periods (between November and March), Nevada will be one hour “behind” Arizona. If you travel during Daylight Savings Time (between March and November), Nevada will be on the same time as Arizona since Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
      Good luck and safe travels,
      Alley 🙂

      Reply

6. Hello Alley,

   I’m planning with my parents a 6 days 5 nights in Las Vegas with my parents. We would like to rent a car the first day and start a road trip from Las Vegas to Page but having stops in Hoover Dam, Gran Canyon skywalk, horseshoe bend and antelope lower canyon. In addition finish in Las Vegas, two days to visit the hotels and the city. Can you please explain to me the best way to take the road trip and if spending two nights is enough ?, can you please add the best way to take go back to las Vegas? And if you think we can have more stops that we can do. Thanks, from Colombia. Lorena R

   Reply

   1. Hi Lorena,
      First of all, I advise looking at a map. Your comprehension of where some of these attractions actually are seems to be a little “off.”
      RE: the Skywalk, for example, it’s located at Grand Canyon West, a Native American Tribal Park that is separate from Grand Canyon National Park, and a long driving distance away. While it is beautiful in its own right, it does not offer the vast, colorful “picture postcard” views of the Grand Canyon that you’re most likely expecting to see. Those can be found at Grand Canyon South Rim. If it’s your first time to the US, you should really plan for a stop there as well. With 6 days/5 nights to work with, ending your vacation with 2 nights in Las Vegas, here’s what I would suggest:
      Day 1 – Drive from Las Vegas, NV, to Grand Canyon West (~2.5 hour drive from Las Vegas), with stopover at Hoover Dam. Visit Grand Canyon Skywalk and other attractions in the area, then drive to Kingman, AZ, to overnight, ~90 minutes from Grand Canyon West
      Day 2 – Drive from Kingman, AZ, to Grand Canyon National Park South Rim (drive time: ~3.5 hours), overnight at Grand Canyon South Rim
      Day 3 – Drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ (~3.5-4 hours, factoring in stops along the way), visit Horseshoe Bend, tour Antelope Canyon, overnight in Page, AZ
      Day 4 – Drive back to Las Vegas, ~5 hours direct, or you might swing through Zion National Park, which will add another 90 minutes minimum to your drive time
      
      Good luck and safe travels!
      Alley 🙂

      Reply

7. hello we are planning a short trip to vegas…we would like to visit horseshoe bend ,antelope canyon and the grand canyon all in one day AND be back in vegas that night…what would be the best way to tackle this? thanks for your help.

   Reply

   1. Hi Danny,
      Unfortunately there’s no “good” way to tackle this. It’s too much driving for one day.
      It takes approximately 4.5 hours to travel from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim. It then takes ~3.5 hours to drive from Grand Canyon South Rim to Page, AZ. I know Google Maps lists the figure as 2.5 hours, but that’s not accounting for stops, and you’ll be making a lot of them since the route takes you along the Desert View/East Rim Drive of the canyon.
      Touring Antelope Canyon takes 90 minutes to 2 hours; you then need to allow for about the same amount of time to visit Horseshoe Bend, especially if your visit is in the near future, because the main parking area is closed between the hours of 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Horseshoe Bend parking lot closure Advance reservations are required for Antelope Canyon tours. You’re then facing another drive of 4.5-5 hours back to Las Vegas from Page. You want to avoid nighttime driving in this part of the U.S. due to lack of ambient lighting on local roads, and the possibility of encountering wildlife like deer, elk, free range cattle, and even wild horses.
      If you cannot free up 3 days/2 nights to visit these attractions on your own, I recommend just concentrating on one destination. If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, go there. Stay overnight at the South Rim if possible; if not, it can be done as a day trip, albeit a long one.
      Another option would be to take part in a combination air/ground tour offered by Scenic/Grand Canyon Airlines whereby you would fly from Las Vegas over the Grand Canyon, land in Page, AZ, tour Lower Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, then fly back to Las Vegas. It would be about a 14-hour day hotel to hotel. Las Vegas Antelope Canyon Expedition
      Good luck and safe travels,
      Alley 🙂

      Reply

8. Interested to go to Grand Canyon Horseshoe bend tomorrow. 2 Adults and 2 Children aged 14 and10. Can I know the availability

   Reply

   1. Dear Kamlesh,
      Please call the tour company directly to inquire about availability for today!
      Alley

      Reply

9. Hello Alley, this blog is extremely useful. Thank you very much for this.
   I am planning to have a trip with my wife that should start from Las Vegas, then Horseshoe bend, Antelope canyon then grand canyon then back to Vegas – on a rental car from Vegas. We plan 2 day 1 night for this. Is this doable?
   Are there enough parking (free) in these locations to see and take photos? We plan to overnight at Page, AZ. Do we need some kind of permissions etc?
   Coming from Europe, we’re not that familiar, hence appreciate a bit tips from you.
   Thanks again!

   Reply

   1. Dear Moim,
      2 days/1 night really is not sufficient to do this itinerary justice. First off, it takes 4.5-5 hours to drive from Las Vegas to Page. You’ll need to allow approximately 4 hours to tour Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
      After overnighting in Page, you’re looking at a 3-4 hour drive from Page to Grand Canyon South Rim. I know on Google maps, it gives the time as 2.5 hours, but that rarely happens due to all the viewpoints you’ll invariably end up stopping at, especially as you enter the National Park at Desert View Point. Then, you’re looking at another 4.5-5 hour drive back to Las Vegas. Frankly, I wouldn’t advise going about it this way. Free up another night to spend at Grand Canyon South Rim so you can drive back to Las Vegas when you’re fresher. Grand Canyon hotels
      Regarding “permissions” to visit these parks, they are Federal Fee Areas, so you will be required to pay a $30/vehicle fee to enter Grand Canyon. There’s also a $25/vehicle entrance fee for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, but you don’t have to pay this unless you plan on driving down to Lake Powell. Antelope Canyon is a Navajo Indian Tribal Park, so a separate entrance fee will be charged for this area, plus a guided tour is required to see it. Be sure you book this in advance of your arrival.
      Have a good trip,
      Alley 🙂

      Reply

10. Hi we live in las vegas and planning to go to horse shoe bend and lower antelope. I just want to know what is the address for horse shoe bend? And is it better to go to lower antelope first becore horse shoe? And what time do they open?

    Reply

    1. Dear Jowayne,
       Hello and thank you for your excellent inquiry.
       Horseshoe Bend doesn’t have an “address” per se, it is located near Mile Marker 545 on US89 a short ways South of the traffic circle/roundabout. If it helps, the approximate GPS coordinates are 36°52’35.3″N+111°30’10.3″W Horseshoe Bend is open 24 hours a day, so you can visit it at your convenience.
       Lower Antelope Canyon’s opening time depends on the time of year you are visiting. During the summer months, for example, the first tours of the day depart at approximately 8 AM. During the time period of late fall through early spring, tours begin running at 9 AM. How To Book A Tour Of Antelope Canyon
       So you can visit them in either order depending on your schedule and preference.
       Hope that helps!
       Best wishes and safe travels,
       Alley 🙂

       Reply

11. Myt cousin and myself will make a 2 weks trip to California,. We will hire a car and be in Las Vegas on November 16, We want to see Horseshoe Bend, Anteope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon. What is the best rout and how much time will we need to see it all?Would 4-5 days be reasonable.?

    Reply

    1. Hello Ilse and thank you for visiting. We hope you’re looking forward to your trip!
       4-5 days is an OK timeframe for the itinerary you’re proposing, but it’s a little rushed. If you could extend it to 5-6 days, I guarantee you’d enjoy that more. The typical trip from Las Vegas looks like this:
       Day 1: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon (5 hours), overnight in Grand Canyon
       Day 2: Grand Canyon to Monument Valley (3.5 hours), overnight in Monument Valley
       Day 3: Monument Valley to Page, AZ (2 hours), tour Antelope Canyon en route, overnight in Page
       Day 4: Visit Horseshoe Bend, then drive to Bryce Canyon (2.5 hours), overnight in Bryce Canyon
       Day 5: Bryce Canyon to Zion National Park (1.5 hours), overnight in Springdale, UT
       Day 6: Drive back to Las Vegas (~3 hours from Springdale)
       Below please find a suggested route map:
       
       The itinerary can be reversed (LV-Zion-Bryce-Page-MV-Grand Canyon) if need be. Be aware that during the month of November, daytime temperatures will be cooler, and you could encounter snow. Be sure to pack warmer clothing just in case. Even though that time of year is considered shoulder or off-season, advance reservations for hotels are strongly recommended.
       Another suggestion: purchase an “America The Beautiful” Federal Lands Access Pass to save money on park entrance fees. You can buy it at the first National Park or Monument you stop at.
       Best wishes for safe travels!
       Alley 🙂

       Reply

12. hi I am interested in going to Horseshoe Bend from Las Vegas for 1 day tour. Can you send me which hotel and dates.

    Reply

    1. Hi Michael,
       You would need to inquire directly with the tour operator, which we have provided links to in the article. Here they are for further reference:
       https://gc.tours/antelope-canyon-horseshoe-bend/#antelopecanyonhorseshoebendtour
       https://www.taketours.com/las-vegas-nv/1-day-antelope-canyon-horseshoe-bend-tour-from-las-vegas-489-5068.html
       Good luck ~ Alley 🙂

       Reply