Antelope Canyon: Day Trips and Tours from Phoenix

Vertical waves of red sandstone greet you as you enter the stone corridors of Antelope Canyon. Carved by wind, sand and water over millennia, this otherworldly slot canyon is like no other. Northern Arizona’s enchanted terrain has a fairy-tale look that you have to see to believe. Escape reality with an Antelope Canyon day trip from Phoenix.

Here's everything you need to know about Antelope Canyon, one of the most exciting day trips from Phoenix.

How do I get to Antelope Canyon from Phoenix?

Antelope Canyon is located about 450 kilometers north of Phoenix on the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park in northern Arizona. The closest town is Page, Arizona. While Phoenix is in the Pacific Time Zone, Antelope Canyon is on Mountain Time, one hour later than Pacific time.

From Phoenix to Antelope Canyon by car

The drive north to Antelope Canyon takes about 4.5 hours. Drive on I-17 north from Phoenix for 234 kilometers to US-180 and I-40 east toward Flagstaff. Take exit 201 from I-40 east to US-89 for 225 kilometers. In Page, take AZ-98 for about 7 kilometers until you reach your destination.

Guided tour to Antelope Canyon from Phoenix

The long but extremely picturesque drive from Phoenix to Antelope Canyon is too pretty to spend with your eyes on the road. Enlist a professional to whisk you north through some of Arizona’s most beautiful landscapes. You must hire a guide to enter the canyon, and a guided tour from Phoenix is a great way to bundle transportation, lunch and a guided tour.

How much do Antelope Canyon tickets cost?

In order to visit either Upper or Lower Antelope Canyon, you are required to join an official tour. Tours of the canyon without transportation range from US$55 per person to US$135 per person, depending on the duration of the tour and group size. All tours charge an additional US$8 per person Navajo Nation permit fee and a US$2 to US$3 per person tax.

What is on the itinerary of a typical excrusion?

Start early from Phoenix with pickup at your lodging. Departure times vary according to the time of the year and daily temperature forecast, but expect to leave between 4 AM and 8 AM. Set out on your 4.5-hour journey through the high desert, ready for sublime scenery.

Small-group tours travel the fabled Route 66 and pause for photo ops at Lake Powell. Set aside some extra funds for Navajo handicrafts you can purchase along the way. Once you arrive at the canyon, follow your guide through the weather-hewn pathways of Lower Antelope Canyon. Learn about the geology and history of all you see on a 1-hour hike.

Relax over a picnic or restaurant lunch in Page before moving on to Horseshoe Bend, just a 15-minute drive from Page. Here, you'll explore for an hour and take scenic photographs. Return to your Phoenix lodging between 6 PM and 8 PM.

What types of tours are available to go to Antelope Canyon from Phoenix?

Guided tours to Antelope Canyon from Phoenix

With combined round-trip transportation, a guided hike of Lower Antelope Canyon and a hike to Horseshoe Bend, a guided tour from Phoenix is utterly convenient.

Enter the subterranean world with a Navajo guide for an hour of discovery. With lunch, water and all fees in one price, you’ll see the best of the canyon without the stress.

Small group guided tours to Antelope Canyon from Phoenix

For just a little more than the cost of a group tour, small-group tours pack a lot of benefits into the cost difference. Travel with a group of no more than 13 people, making additional stops for views of Lake Powell and shopping at a Navajo trading post. You’ll also have a guided hike in Horseshoe Bend.

How much do Antelope Canyon day trips from Phoenix cost?

Guided tours in Lower Antelope Canyon cost US$380 per adult and US$355 per child. Bundled in the price is round-trip transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, water, lunch and commentary from your guide during the drive and the hike.

Small-group tours cost US$420 per person. These tours provide all that guided tours include as well as breakfast, a guided hike in Horseshoe Bend, and stops at Lake Powell and a Navajo trading post.

For all tours, all entry fees, the US$8 per person Navajo Nation permit and taxes are typically included.

What are the highlights at Antelope Canyon?

If your idea of a desert is undulating dunes as far as the eye can see, you are in for a surprise in Northern Arizona’s high desert. Rich red earth contrasts with a cobalt sky, deep green pines dot the hills and plains, and awe-inspiring towers of rock punctuate the horizon.

On the drive between Page and Phoenix, enjoy sweeping desert vistas with stops for photos and souvenirs. If you opt for the small-group outing, you’ll travel along Route 66, one of America’s most legendary roads. Along the way, glimpse the incongruous desert waters of Lake Powell and Arizona’s highest mountain range, the San Francisco Peaks.

As you take the first steps of your tour along a dusty trail, you see nothing but stretches of desert. Suddenly, stairs appear and you’ll descend into a space like none other you’ve ever seen. Wander through the narrow, winding canyon bed, taking in the contrast of red rock and blue sky above.

Thousands of years of water, wind and sand have scoured Lower Antelope Canyon, creating sharp meanders and occasional arches. If you plan your excursion between May and September, you may also spot beams of sunlight reaching to the floor of the canyon. While you are not allowed to take videos, you may snap photos to your heart’s content.

Your Navajo guide will enhance your journey with the history and geology of the canyon. Take your time as you tread between what looks like vertical jigsaw puzzle pieces separated by just a few meters.

Absorb all you’ve seen over lunch in Page before moving on to Horseshoe Bend, just minutes from town. Similar to your approach to Lower Antelope Canyon, your hike to the Horseshoe Bend overlook leads you over flat sands that give no indication of what’s to come.

After about 2.5 kilometers, the iconic view appears. The curve of the Colorado River nearly creating an island out of the towering rock bend will leave you without words. Railings keep you from getting dangerously close to the edge, but don’t fret. You’ll have no trouble capturing photos of this breathtaking spot.

If you book a small-group tour that offers a guided hike to the overlook, take advantage of your guide’s vast knowledge of the area that’s been the Navajos’ home for centuries. As you motor back to Phoenix, marvel at the play of light on the land that’s different from the morning’s drive.

When is the best time to visit Antelope Canyon?

The best time to visit Antelope Canyon is spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). During these months, the weather is mild, and the crowd sizes are more manageable than in the peak summer months.

If you're looking to see the famous light beams, these are most visible during the summer months (late March to early October). Midday is the optimal time for this.

Are there any tours to Antelope Canyon from other cities in the United States?

Yes, there are tours departing from other cities in the United States:

• Antelope Canyon day tours from Las Vegas
• Antelope Canyon tours from Grand Canyon National Park
• Antelope Canyon day trips from Sedona
• Multi-day Antelope Canyon trips from Los Angeles
• Multi-day tours to Antelope Canyon from San Francisco

Travel tips

• Regardless of when you decide to visit, it's highly recommended to book your tour well in advance. This ensures that you secure a spot and can visit at the optimal time for lighting.
• In Lower Antelope Canyon, you'll need to navigate stairs and more uneven terrain. Wear comfortable closed-toed shoes with good grip.
• The desert environment can be dehydrating. Bring water, wear sunscreen, and consider wearing a hat and sunglasses.
• Temperatures inside the canyon can be cooler than outside. Depending on the season and time of day, you might want to wear layers to adjust to the changing conditions.