Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon - Road Trip Guide
If you’re visiting southern Utah to see Zion National Park, you’ll find so much more to explore in the sandstone paradise of the desert landscape around here.
Taking a road trip from Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon will transport you from the soaring cliffs of colored rock to swirly slot canyons magically illuminated with shafts of light.
Why Take a Road Trip from Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is an iconic slot canyon on the Navajo Nation near Page, AZ and Lake Powell. Seeing the sunlight streaming through from the top of the canyon onto the undulating sandstone walls will take your breath away.
This natural beauty makes Antelope Canyon a very popular destination to capture incredible photos in a unique place.
A road trip from Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon gives you the opportunity to see some of the most stunning attractions in the desert of southern Utah and northern Arizona.
As you make your way from the town of Springdale, UT, gateway to Zion, to Page, AZ, home to Antelope Canyon, you can stop in Kanab, UT for even more spectacular sights.
How to Get From Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is located just outside the town of Page, AZ, and the drive from Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon is just over two hours.
From Springdale, you’ll head east on UT-9 through Zion to Mt. Carmel Junction where you’ll then take US-89 South. You’ll continue on US-89 South all the way to Page.
Antelope Canyon Tours
Taking a tour of Antelope Canyon has been on my to-do list for awhile because it's such a popular attraction when visiting Zion and southern Utah. Antelope Canyon is located on the land of the Navajo Nation, and a guided tour is required to explore it.
I did my tour of Upper Antelope Canyon with Adventurous Antelope Canyon Tours.
Because Antelope Canyon is so popular, I have heard that tours fill up well in advance, so you definitely need to book ahead. I purchased my tickets two months in advance, and the total cost for two tickets was $300.
On the day of our tour, we met our guide at 11am and loaded in shuttles to drive about 10 minutes to the canyon. While our group was only 6 people, this did not mean that we had a personalized experience in the canyon, since we saw lots of other guides and companies out at the same time.
The total time we spent in the canyon was only 40 minutes, and I did get some pretty pictures. ***Make sure to bring plenty of water with you, especially in the summer.
THE REAL SCOOP FROM A LOCAL
You want to know my real take on the tour? Unpopular opinion alert! Honestly, I would rather do something like kayaking or paddle boarding Antelope Canyon from Lake Powell, which was much more of an adventure.
The tour that I went on felt rushed and short. After posting about my experience on social media I had some followers reach out and suggest perhaps doing one of the canyons that are still beautiful but less popular, like one of the other Navajo Nation canyons, might be a better place to spend the money.......Canyon X was suggested.
I do understand that if you are visiting the area for the first time and you don't have much experience, then Antelope Canyon is very cool to see, but if you don't like crowds and you want a little more bang for your buck, there are better ways to spend your time in the desert southwest. CHECK OUT MY BLOG POST FOR 12 AMAZING SLOT CANYONS IN SOUTHERN UTAH!
Where to Stop Along the Way from Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon
I highly recommend making a pit stop in Kanab, Utah on your road trip from Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon. Kanab is truly one of my favorite towns for a family vacation in southern Utah, and it’s absolutely filled with unique attractions and fun things to do!
You’ll definitely want to check out Moqui Caverns while you’re in Kanab, since it’s just a short hike to these cool caves in the sandstone rock wall. And don’t miss Belly of the Dragon, a half mile tunnel you can hike through.
***The Toadstools
Between Kanab and Antelope Canyon, you can also stop to hike to The Toadstools, interesting hoodoo formations that look like mushrooms. The trail to The Nautilus is also nearby, and this mollusk-like formation is absolutely stunning…and you can slide down it!
***The Nautilus
Local tip: Both of these hikes should be done early in the day in the summer due to the heat.
Where to Eat in Page, AZ
Have a great start to your day at Lake Powell Espresso! This cute little coffee shop offers lots of options to get your caffeine fix, along with a delicious breakfast menu ranging from breakfast burritos to cookie butter waffles. They also have lots of lunch sandwiches, which would be great to grab for a hike.
For a hearty lunch or dinner in Page, you can’t beat BirdHouse. This casual fried chicken spot features lots of chicken meal options and a rotating selection of beer. The chicken sandwich, sauces, and fries were amazing!
Where to Stay: Under Canvas Lake Powell
I spent the night on my road trip from Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon at Under Canvas Lake Powell. The property was absolutely gorgeous with beautiful views of Lake Powell, and the staff was super friendly. The tents are very cute and cozy, and each one has a private bathroom and is furnished with a comfortable bed.
Tasty food and drinks are available for purchase at their onsite cafe (had the french toast in the morning and it was amazing), and they offer live music on the patio in the evening along with yoga in the morning. You can even hike a private slot canyon – Elephant Canyon – right on the property. I loved everything about Under Canvas Lake Powell!
NOTE: Under Canvas Lake Powell is open from mid-March to mid-October. I do worry about how hot it would be there in the middle of the summer, since the tents don’t have air conditioning.
Tips for a Road Trip from Zion National Park to Antelope Canyon
Flash flooding is a serious danger in slot canyons, and you should never go into a slot canyon if rain is predicted. Be aware that your Antelope Canyon tour could get canceled if there is rain in the forecast due to the possibility of flash flooding.
On the other end of the weather spectrum, Antelope Canyon is in the desert, so be prepared for heat, even in the shade of the canyon. It was very hot in Antelope Canyon when we went during the second week of June. Bringing lots of water, sunscreen, a hat, and wearing light, breathable clothing is a must to make it a little more comfortable.
If you want to cool off after your Antelope Canyon tour, I highly recommend visiting The Chains section of Lake Powell. You can play in the water here and even cliff jump, and unlike most of Lake Powell, you don’t need a boat to explore here.
Wether or not you decide to book a tour to Antelope Canyon to see the sunlight streams through this iconic slot canyon, I hope this road trip guide from Zion to Antelope Canyon helps you make the most of your time in this beautiful corner of Utah/Arizona.
Happy Adventuring,
Arika
