Page AZ Itinerary: 2 Days at Antelope Canyon & Lake Powell (2026)
Two days in Page, Arizona gives you enough time to see every major attraction: Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, and Glen Canyon Dam. This Page AZ 2-day itinerary is built around the best light at each attraction, the logistics of Navajo Nation tours, and realistic driving times. Follow it and you’ll leave Page, AZ with the best photographs and memories of your Southwest road trip.
Page AZ 2-day itinerary at a glance: Day 1 — Antelope Canyon morning tour (book in advance), Horseshoe Bend at sunset. Day 2 — Sunrise at Horseshoe Bend OR Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell boat tour, optional Navajo Bridge drive. Drive time from Phoenix: 4 hours. From Las Vegas: 4.5 hours. From Salt Lake City: 5.5 hours.
Getting to Page, AZ: Driving Routes
| From | Distance | Drive Time | Best Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 280 miles | 4 hours | I-17 N → US-89 N through Flagstaff |
| Las Vegas, NV | 280 miles | 4.5 hours | US-93 E → US-89 N through Kanab |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 380 miles | 5.5 hours | I-15 S → US-89 S through Kanab |
| Grand Canyon South Rim | 130 miles | 2.5 hours | AZ-64 E → US-89 N |
| Sedona, AZ | 130 miles | 2 hours | AZ-179 N → US-89A → US-89 N |
| Moab, UT | 200 miles | 3 hours | US-191 S → US-89 S |
The drive into Page on US-89 from the south (Flagstaff/Sedona direction) passes through the Navajo Nation across the Colorado Plateau — 100 miles of high-desert landscape with almost no development. Fill your gas tank in Cameron, AZ (the last reliable gas station before Page from the south). Coming from the north via Kanab, Utah, the highway drops through Glen Canyon and offers views of the Vermilion Cliffs and the Colorado River far below.
Day 1: Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
8:00-9:00 AM: Arrive & Breakfast
Start the day at Cornerstone Cafe (644 N Navajo Dr) for breakfast. The huevos rancheros and pancakes are reliable. If you’re an early riser, Ranch House Grille opens at 7 AM.
9:30-11:30 AM: Upper Antelope Canyon Tour
Your Upper Antelope Canyon tour should be booked for the 10 AM or 11 AM slot — this is when the light beams appear in the middle of the canyon (the most photographed moment in Antelope Canyon). The tour takes ~1 hour inside the canyon, plus 15 minutes driving to the site (4 miles east of Page on Navajo Route 222). Allow 2-2.5 hours total including transit.
If Upper Antelope Canyon is sold out (which happens weeks in advance in summer), book Lower Antelope Canyon instead. The photography conditions are different but the canyon is equally beautiful. Lower Antelope is 3 miles east of Page — even closer to town.
12:00-1:30 PM: Lunch & Glen Canyon Dam
After Antelope Canyon, drive to Glen Canyon Dam (2 miles north of Page on US-89). Walk across the bridge (extraordinary views of the Colorado River 710 feet below), visit the Carl Hayden Visitor Center for free exhibits, and — if timing works — join a free guided dam tour (45 minutes, check current schedule). Then lunch at Dam Bar & Grille (just outside the dam on US-89) for burgers and Lake Powell views.
3:00-5:00 PM: Lake Powell Afternoon
Spend the afternoon at Wahweap Marina (4 miles from downtown Page). Options: rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard ($25-40/hour), take a 2-hour sunset cruise (offered by Aramark at Lake Powell Resort, $65/adult), or simply walk the marina waterfront and watch the houseboat parade. The marina has a swim beach with changing facilities and showers.
5:30-7:30 PM: Horseshoe Bend at Sunset
Drive to Horseshoe Bend (3 miles south of Page on US-89) for the late afternoon / sunset light. Arrive 90 minutes before sunset to secure a good spot at the main overlook. The west-facing sandstone walls glow deep orange-red in the hour before sunset, and the Colorado River reflects the colors beautifully. This is the most crowded time at Horseshoe Bend, but the view is worth it.
7:30 PM: Dinner
Drive back to Page for dinner. Ranch House Grille for a Navajo taco experience, or Big John’s Texas BBQ for smoked brisket. Both close by 9 PM.
Day 2: Sunrise, Lake Powell & Optional Day Trips
5:30-7:30 AM: Horseshoe Bend Sunrise (Optional)
If yesterday’s sunset at Horseshoe Bend was crowded, the sunrise visit (full sunrise guide here) will be far quieter. Drive to the parking lot 30 minutes before sunrise. The east-facing light at sunrise hits the canyon walls differently from sunset — warmer and more directional. This is the best photography condition at Horseshoe Bend. Bring a headlamp for the trail in the dark.
9:00 AM-12:00 PM: Lake Powell Boat Tour to Rainbow Bridge
The most spectacular Lake Powell experience is the Rainbow Bridge National Monument boat tour — a 4-hour round trip from Wahweap Marina to the world’s largest known natural stone arch (290 feet high, 275 feet span). Book through Page AZ tours operators or directly with Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas. The tour passes through the extraordinary canyon country of Glen Canyon, with sheer sandstone walls dropping to the intensely blue-green lake. Cost: $120-150/adult.
1:00-3:00 PM: Navajo Village Heritage Center (Optional)
The Navajo Village Heritage Center (2 miles from downtown Page) offers a 2-hour guided tour of Navajo life, including a traditional hogan, cooking demonstrations, and weaving. This is one of the better cultural tourism experiences in the region — genuinely educational and run by the community. Book in advance ($30/adult). Not a tourist-trap version of indigenous culture.
Day 2 Alternative: The Vermilion Cliffs Loop Drive
If the Rainbow Bridge tour doesn’t appeal, drive the Vermilion Cliffs loop (90-mile circuit, 3 hours driving plus stops). Head south on US-89 to Navajo Bridge / Marble Canyon (40 miles), then continue to Lee’s Ferry (the put-in point for Grand Canyon river trips), then north on House Rock Road back to US-89 near Kanab. The Vermilion Cliffs along this route are a UNESCO World Heritage candidate — 3,000-foot red and orange escarpments stretching for 40 miles.
The Wave permit: The most famous rock formation in the Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is The Wave (at Coyote Buttes North). Access requires a permit lottery — only 64 people per day are allowed. Apply online at recreation.gov 4 months in advance. This is not a walk-up experience; plan months ahead if this is your goal.
Page, AZ Day Trip Options
| Destination | Distance from Page | Drive Time | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon North Rim | 90 miles | 2 hours | Least-visited rim, forest setting, no shuttle needed |
| Monument Valley | 85 miles | 1.5 hours | The iconic Navajo buttes of every Western film |
| Kanab, UT | 75 miles | 1 hour | Coyote Gulch, Zion day trips, ‘Little Hollywood’ |
| Antelope Canyon X | 5 miles | 10 min | Newer, less crowded Navajo-owned canyon (permit lottery) |
| Zion National Park | 170 miles | 2.5 hours | The Narrows, Angels Landing, Emerald Pools |
Kanab, Utah is the easiest and most rewarding day trip from Page — 75 miles north on US-89. Kanab is the base for southern Utah’s slot canyon country, including Buckskin Gulch (the world’s longest slot canyon), Coral Pink Sand Dunes, and day trips into Bryce Canyon and Zion. See our 3-day Kanab, Utah itinerary for a detailed guide to what to do there.
Page, AZ Road Trip Itinerary: The Full Southwest Loop
Page works best as part of a larger Southwest road trip. A classic 10-day loop from Las Vegas includes: Las Vegas → Zion National Park (1 night) → Bryce Canyon (1 night) → Kanab (1 night) → Page, AZ (2 nights) → Grand Canyon South Rim (1 night) → Sedona (1 night) → Phoenix. This loop covers the greatest concentration of natural wonders in the world. See our Sedona guide and Flagstaff itinerary for the Arizona leg.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Page, AZ?
Two days is ideal for the main attractions: Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, and a Lake Powell boat tour. If you add a day trip to the Grand Canyon North Rim or Monument Valley, budget 3 days. One day is doable (Antelope Canyon + Horseshoe Bend) but rushed.
Is Page, AZ worth visiting?
Absolutely. Page is home to Antelope Canyon (one of the most beautiful geological formations on earth) and Horseshoe Bend (one of the most dramatic viewpoints in the Southwest) — two bucket-list experiences within 10 miles of each other. For Southwest travelers, Page is an essential stop.
What is the best time of year to visit Page, AZ?
April-May and September-October offer the best conditions: light beams at Antelope Canyon, comfortable temperatures (65-85°F), and moderate crowds. Summer (June-August) brings very high temperatures (95-110°F) and peak crowds but also the most reliable light beams. Winter (November-March) has the lowest prices, almost no crowds, and cooler temperatures (35-65°F), but the light beams at Upper Antelope Canyon are absent as the sun angle is too low.
See our Antelope Canyon tour guide for booking details, Horseshoe Bend sunrise guide for the best photography conditions, where to stay in Page, AZ for the best hotels, and our complete Page, AZ tours guide for every activity from Lake Powell boat tours to Navajo cultural experiences.
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