130 mi
From South Rim
~2.5 hr
Via US-89 through Cameron
$85–$100
Antelope Canyon tour/person
0.6 mi
Horseshoe Bend walk (round trip)
$10
Horseshoe Bend city lot (no pass)
Leave by 7 AM
If attempting same-day round trip
Lowdown Verdict
Page is a destination in its own right, not a day trip. At 130 miles each way, the Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend combination deserves an overnight in Page — doing it as a round-trip day from Grand Canyon means 5 hours of driving for a rushed afternoon. If you cannot book Antelope Canyon 2 to 4 weeks ahead, the Page day trip loses its centerpiece. Plan around confirmed bookings, or stay a night.
The Drive: Grand Canyon to Page via Cameron
Grand Canyon Village → AZ-64 East (Desert View Drive, 54 miles) → Cameron on US-89 → US-89 North 76 more miles → Page. The Desert View Drive portion passes Lipan Point, Navajo Point, and Desert View Watchtower — worth a quick stop at Watchtower if you have not visited it yet. From Cameron, US-89 North runs through the Painted Desert and past the Navajo Bridge over Marble Canyon before reaching the Page mesa.
Morning light tip: Drive to Page on the outbound leg in the morning and return in the afternoon — the Vermilion Cliffs on US-89 between Page and Cameron glow orange-red in the late afternoon on the return, giving you both the Painted Desert sunrise and the Vermilion Cliffs sunset in one drive.
Antelope Canyon: Upper vs. Lower
Antelope Canyon is a Navajo-owned slot canyon on the Navajo Nation land east of Page. Entry is permitted only via a Navajo-guided tour — there is no independent entry of any kind. The canyon splits into two distinct sections with different tour operators, different experiences, and different booking dynamics.
Upper Antelope Canyon (The Crack)
The iconic light shaft canyon — wide beams of sunlight penetrate the narrow ceiling from 10 AM to 1 PM between March and October, creating the famous "beam" photographs. Wide enough to walk upright throughout. Level ground, no ladder climbing. Most popular canyon in the American Southwest.
- Tour price: $85–$100/person + Navajo tribal fee (~$8)
- Duration: 1 hour guided tour
- Book 2 to 4 weeks ahead (March–October)
- Best light shafts: 10 AM to 1 PM (summer months)
- Operator: Antelope Canyon Navajo Tours (main operator)
Lower Antelope Canyon (The Corkscrew)
Narrower slot with dramatic drainage patterns and wave-carved walls. Requires short ladder descents into the canyon. No light shafts but more complex formations and better photography throughout the day without the 10 AM–1 PM constraint. Less crowded than Upper.
- Tour price: $85–$100/person + Navajo tribal fee
- Duration: 1 to 1.5 hour guided tour
- More same-day availability than Upper
- Walkup slots fill by 8 AM on peak days
- Better choice for photography all day
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Permit reminder: Both canyons require a Navajo-guided tour — no independent entry is permitted under any circumstances. Flash flooding risk makes self-guided entry dangerous and illegal on Navajo Nation land. The tribal fee (~$8) is separate from the tour operator's fee and is collected at the entrance. Bring cash for the tribal fee in case card readers are unavailable.
Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is the most photographed overlook in Arizona — a 270-degree meander of the Colorado River 1,000 feet below a sandstone cliff, 5 miles south of downtown Page on US-89. The overlook is accessible via a 0.6-mile round trip walk from the city parking lot: flat paved path to the canyon edge, then gravel for the final 100 feet to the viewpoint platform.
Parking
City lot at 1000 AZ-89. $10 flat fee at kiosk. America the Beautiful passes NOT accepted. Cash and card accepted. Open 24 hours.
The Walk
0.6 miles round trip. Flat paved path turning to gravel. ~10 minutes each way. No elevation change. Stroller and wheelchair accessible to the main viewpoint platform.
Safety
No railing on most of the horseshoe edge. Stay on the marked paved platform at the main viewpoint. Watch children carefully. 1,000-foot vertical drop to the river.
Best Time
Sunrise for golden light on the canyon walls. Late afternoon for the shadow play on the river meander. Midday sun creates flat light and high heat in summer.
Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam
Page sits on a mesa at the edge of Glen Canyon, where the Colorado River is impounded behind Glen Canyon Dam to form Lake Powell. The dam overlook is free and accessible from US-89 on the approach into Page — the 710-foot concrete arch dam and the deep blue of the reservoir against the orange sandstone are a dramatic contrast. The Carl Hayden Visitor Center at the dam is free and explains the reservoir's history and the ongoing drought-level impacts on water storage.
Wahweap Marina, 5 miles north of Page on US-89, is the main access point for Lake Powell boat tours and houseboat rentals. Day tours to Rainbow Bridge National Monument depart from Wahweap — a 50-mile boat ride through Lake Powell's canyon arms to the largest natural bridge in North America. Rainbow Bridge tours take a full day (7 AM to 5 PM) and should be booked well in advance for peak season. See the full day trips index for the dedicated Lake Powell — Wahweap Marina page.
When to Skip Page as a Day Trip
Skip the Page day trip from Grand Canyon if any of these apply:
- You cannot confirm Antelope Canyon bookings 2 to 4 weeks ahead — Horseshoe Bend alone does not justify 5 hours of driving
- You are visiting in late October through February — light shaft photography at Upper Antelope requires summer sun angles; the canyon is still beautiful but the signature photos are impossible
- You have canyon hiking planned the same day — 5 hours of highway driving plus physical hiking is too much in one day
- Your group includes mobility-limited members — Lower Antelope Canyon requires ladder descents and is not accessible
The better option: build Page as a one-night add-on when exiting Grand Canyon. Drive east on AZ-64 through Desert View Watchtower, continue to Cameron, then north on US-89 to Page (2.5 hours total). Stay one night. Full Antelope Canyon morning, Horseshoe Bend afternoon, Glen Canyon Dam overlook before departing. Then return south through Cameron and back to the canyon or continue to your next destination. See the Grand Canyon from Page planning guide for the full routing.
Page from Grand Canyon FAQ
Continue Planning
All Day Trips →
8 destinations from the South Rim
Grand Canyon from Page →
Route planning from Page to the rim
Desert View Watchtower →
On the route to Cameron and Page
Flagstaff from GC →
80 mi — best basecamp in the region
Sedona from GC →
110 mi south — red rock country
Travel Planning Guide →
Multi-day itineraries, permits
Extend Your Trip: Full Lake Powell Guide
From Page, Lake Powell is right next door — houseboat rentals, slot canyon hiking, marinas, and what season to visit.