Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon

The Grand Canyon is breathtaking, which explains why it is on many people’s travel bucket list (including mine). We traveled to the Grand Canyon as part of an Arizona roadtrip over eight beautiful fall days. We flew into Phoenix and visited Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, the Petrified Forest, and a few other spots along the way. In this post, I will explain your options for going from the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon.

Before, we dive in, if you are planning an Arizona roadtrip, that includes the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon, you will want to start by getting tickets for a tour at Antelope Canyon because these tours sell out. Antelope Canyon consists of the upper an lower canyon. Most people will want the upper canyon. The best time of day to visit to view the sunbeams is between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm.

🎫Book your tickets for Upper Antelope Canyon by clicking here!

After you have your tickets for Antelope Canyon, you can plan the rest of your adventure.

Your next decision is whether your Grand Canyon visit will include the South Rim, the North Rim, or both. Most people visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon because it is open year round. The North Rim is closed from mid-October to mid-May. Check the Grand Canyon National Park’s website for exact dates. We only visited the South Rim.

If you plan to start at Antelope Canyon and then go to the Grand Canyon, please click here. want to learn about going from the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon, please click here. If you want to go from the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon, then keep reading.

South Rim: Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon

How far is Grand Canyon’s South Rim to Antelope Canyon?

The drive from the Grand Canyon South Rim Visitor’s Center to Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona takes 2.5 hours (131 miles). Your travel time will vary depending on how busy the park is, what time of day you leave, and whether you stop along the way. You will need to rent a car if you want flexibility and if your visit to the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon are part of a roadtrip (and you flew to the area).

🚘Reserve your rental car by clicking here!

If you are driving to Antelope Canyon, you can take a slight detour to Tuba City on your way. Tuba City is 1 hour and 40 minutes from the Grand Canyon South Rim and is about a 10 minute drive from US 89 (about 20 minutes out of the way – roundtrip).

I recommend leaving the Grand Canyon no later than 9 am. This gives you enough time to stop in Tuba City and get to Page (Antelope Canyon) by lunchtime.

If you leave earlier, then you will have a chance for “one more” stop to take in the views at the Grand Canyon. If you leave later, then you will likely need to stop at Tuba City for lunch. Of course, you can leave later in the day and get to Page by evening and tour Antelope Canyon the next day.

If the park is busy, then you may need to leave earlier than 9 am to reach Page for lunch.

Detour: Things To Do Near Tuba City

There are two main activities in Tuba City:

1. The Explore Navajo Interactive Museum is a small museum about Navajo life. I have not visited it, but the reviews suggest that you might spend an hour here. The reviews are a bit mixed (“very informative” to “could have more artifacts”). You will need to go all the way to Tuba City for this museum (about 10 miles from US 89). This might be a good option if you want to eat lunch in Tuba City instead of waiting to get to Page.
2. Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks is about 3.5 miles from US 89. I recommend stopping here. The site is in the Navajo Nation. There is no admission fee, but be sure to tip your Navajo guide at the site. Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks is definitely a must do if you have kids with you or anyone interested in dinosaurs. You might spend half an hour here.

Restaurants from the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon

The junction of AZ-64 and US-89 highways is about an hour and 10 minutes from the South Rim. You will find a few places to eat near here: Burger King, Blue Canyon Grill, HWY 89 Yummy Shack, and Cameron Trading Place.

Tuba City has several more restaurants, including pizza, fast food, and dine-in options. Or, you could just wait and eat in Page.

North Rim: Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon

How far is Grand Canyon’s North Rim to Antelope Canyon?

There are two ways to drive from the Grand Canyon North Rim Visitor’s Center to Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona. The shorter option takes about 2.5 hours (124 miles) (via US-89A N and AZ-67) and stays in Arizona. The longer option takes 2 hours and 45 minutes (154 miles) (via US-89 and AZ-67-S) and goes through Utah. You will need to rent a car to get from the North Rim to Antelope Canyon.

🚘Reserve your rental car by clicking here!

Things To Do Along the Shorter Arizona Route (via US-89A N and AZ-67)

1. You can bike, hike, ride horses, and camp at the Kaibab National Forest.
2. Condors roost in the Vermillion Cliffs, so may get a chance to see one at the Condor Viewing Site.
3. U.S.-89A includes the Vermillion Cliffs scenic highway. The drive is on your route to Antelope Canyon and is 41 miles from Jacob Lake to Marble Canyon, Arizona.

Restaurants Along the Shorter Arizona Route (via US-89A N and AZ-67)

There are a few dining options at the North Rim inside and outside of the Grand Canyon. There are two restaurants once you turn onto 89A before arriving in Page. Cliff Dwellers Restaurant is 1.5 hours from the North Rim and Lonely JackRabbit is another 10 minutes further.

Things To Do Along the Longer Utah Route (via US-89 and AZ-67-S)

1. Le Fevre Overlook is in the Kaibab National Forest. You are able to see the Grand Stairase-Escalante National Monument from this viewpoint.
2. Peekaboo Slot Canyon Jeep Tour or guided hike are a 25 minute drive north of Kanab — so they are further out of your way if your end goal is Antelope Canyon. However, you might consider staying the night in Kanab, which is 1.5 hours (81 miles) from the North Rim.
3. This route brings you into the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument region. Along the route, you can stop for a 1.5 mile hike at the Toadstool Hoodoos, which are 45 miles east of Kanab. The Big Water Visitor Center is another place to stop on your way to Page.

Restaurants Along the Longer Utah Route (via US-89 and AZ-67-S)

There are a few dining options at the North Rim inside and outside of the park. There are several restaurants in Kanab, which is a 1.5 hour drive from the North Rim. Kanab looks like your best bet for a meal, so plan your day accordingly.

Which route should you take?

The answer depends on how much time you have. The shorter route will allow you to do things in Page the same day you leave the North Rim. The longer route will likely take longer because there are more things to do along the way. Kanab looks like a good spot to stay the night because there are a lot of things to do in Kanab.

Page, Arizona

We drove from the South Rim with a stop at Moenkopi Dinosaur Tracks before getting to Page by lunchtime. We spent the rest of the day at Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell, and the Utah/Arizona sign. There are numerous other activities that you could do in Page if spend more time here.

Things To Do in Page, Arizona

Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is absolutely stunning and worth the journey. You will need a guide to visit the canyon, which is in the Navajo Nation.

There are two main canyons: upper and lower. The Upper Antelope Canyon is mostly flat and the more popular destination. The Lower Antelope Canyon requires visitors to descend the equivelant of 3-4 flights of stairs.

We visited Upper Antelope Canyon because we only spent the afternoon and night in Page. If we had a full day in Page, then we may have gone to the Lower Antelope Canyon, too.

The length of the tour of Upper Antelope Canyon is about 1.5 hours. The tour of the Lower Antelope Canyon is about an hour.

🎫Book your tickets for Upper Antelope Canyon by clicking here!

There are also several combination tours available that include both the upper and lower canyon with Horseshoe Bend, the upper canyon with Horseshoe Bend, or the upper canyon with Lake Powell.

If you can’t get tickets to Antelope Canyon or are spending more time in Page, you could also visit Waterhole Canyon, which is 5 miles south of Page, AZ. Another option is Canyon X.

When is the Best Time of Day to Visit Antelope Canyon?

The light of the sunbeams is best during the mid-day (11 am to 1:30 pm). There should be fewer people during the early morning or mid-afternoon.

Horseshoe Bend

Horseshoe Bend is part of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. There is no fee to visit Horseshoe Bend, but there is a fee to park in the parking lot at the site. You will walk a 0.6 mile trail from the parking lot to the overlook. The trail is flat and is accessible. Plan to spend about 1.5 hours at Horseshoe Bend. You can also add a 1-Hour Page Horseshoe Bend Trail Ride to your adventure!

Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell

The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area covers part of Arizona and Utah. We drove across the Glen Canyon Dam and parked on the dam for views of Lake Powell.

For visitors spending more time in Page, there are numerous things to do at Lake Powell. There are guided boat tours, off-road driving, guided kayak trips that include Water Antelope Canyon, hiking, and several overlooks for spectacular views.

Utah/Arizona Welcome Signs

The Welcome to Utah and Arizona signs are just 7 miles (or 8 minutes) north of Glen Canyon Dam. If you drove to Page from the South Rim or took the shorter route from the North Rim, be sure to take the short drive to the border if you need to check Utah off your list! If you drove to Page on the longer route from the North Rim, you would have already had a chance to stop at the sign on your way back into Arizona.

Restaurants in Page, Arizona

There are several restaurants in Page. We ate dinner at Slackers (burgers and pub food) and lunch at a Mexican restaurant.

FAQ: From Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon

Can you go from the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas?

Yes! If you are traveling to Las Vegas, you can add a trip to the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and other stops by either driving yourelf or with a 1- or 2-day tour. Here are three tour options:

1. 2-Day small group tour to the Grand Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon
2. Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend Day Tour
3. Grand Canyon South Rim, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell Day Trip

What is the best time to go to Antelope Canyon?

The best time to visit Antelope Canyon for the sunbeams is during the spring or summer between 11 am and 1:30 pm. However, we visited in October and got a tour at noon. The light was great!

When is the best time to visit the Grand Canyon to avoid crowds and experience pleasant weather?

It is ideal to visit the Grand Cayon’s South Rim March through May and September through November. The weather is more moderate and the crowds will be smaller. We visited during my daughter’s fall break. The weather was cool, but not cold.

The North Rim is only open between May 15 and October 15. The North Rim is cooler than the South Rim and their are fewer visitors.

What are some things to avoid doing at the Grand Canyon?

• You should respect the barriers at the Grand Canyon. People do fall into the Grand Canyon.
• Do not throw trash or other things into the Grand Canyon.
• Do not take anything. Leave nature as you found it.
• Stay away from wildlife. Do not attempt to pet wildlife or get too close.
• Be mindful of conditions and National Park warnings about hiking into the canyon. During the summer, it does get hot enough that the park may advise against hiking into the canyon.
• Do not enter any caves or mines in canyon.

Can you visit Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon in one day?

Technically, yes. Remember, it is a 2.5 hour drive from the South Rim to Antelope Canyon. You need daylight (and a tour) to visit Antelope Canyon. It is likely doable, but I would not recommend trying to do both in one day.

Can you fly from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon?

Yes! You can take a scenic flight from Grand Canyon Village to Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell!

How far is Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend from Grand Canyon?

It is a 2.5 hour drive (131 miles) from the South Rim Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon and Horshoe Bend. It is also 2.5 hours (124 miles) from the North Rim to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend (if you take the shorter Arizona route). It takes 2 hours and 45 minutes (154 miles) to go from the North Rim through Utah.

Are Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend worth visiting while travelling through Arizona, Utah, or Nevada?

Yes! Visiting Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend will add at least half a day to your trip for the stop. This assumes you can plan your route so they are on the way. They might add a day to your trip if they are off your planned route through Arizona, Utah, or Nevada.

Read More About Our Arizona Road Trip

An Amazing 8-Day Arizona Road Trip

Arizona Packing List for Fall: From the Grand Canyon to the Petrified Forest

10 BEST Things To Do In Antelope Canyon (Picked By A Pro!)

Antelope Canyon to Grand Canyon

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