Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend day trip from Las Vegas
By the ThingsVegas Editorial Team | Published November 5, 2026 | Last reviewed: November 5, 2026
Two rules decide this trip. Antelope Canyon is guide only, booked in advance, with no self guided entry at all. And every tour runs on Arizona time, which ignores daylight saving. Get those two right and the longest day trip from Las Vegas, about 14 hours, runs cleanly.
Prices last checked: November 5, 2026. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026. Sources are named on this page; check the official page before you pay, because prices and hours change.
Upper, Lower or Canyon X: which canyon should you book?
| Canyon | From price, per adult | The walk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Antelope | From $95 (operator listing) | Flat floor, about 100 yards, van ride to the mouth | The famous light beams, easiest walking |
| Lower Antelope | From $75 (operator listing) | Longer, with stairs, ladders and boulders | Color and texture, usually fewer people |
| Canyon X | $47 hike plus $15 permit ($68.99 all in, September 2026) | About 90 minutes, quieter canyon | The budget pick and the calm pick |
The from prices above are the operators' own listings: Antelope Canyon's operator FAQ lists Lower from $75 per adult and Upper from $95 per adult, and tours run 60 to 90 minutes. Prime midday and photography slots cost more at every operator, and Upper's midday beams are a spring to early fall effect, so a November visitor is buying the corridor and the color, not the beam. Canyon X is the value outlier: its operator priced the 90 minute hike at $47 per adult in a September 2026 census of operator booking pages, $68.99 all in with the permit and fees.
What is the Navajo permit, and what does it cost in 2026?
Every canyon visit sits inside Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, and the park charges a per person permit on top of the tour. In 2026 that permit is $15 per person per entry, charged by Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation and either built into the tour price or added at checkout, depending on the operator. One correction worth making in print: older guides, and our own research notes from October, carried an $8 permit figure. Operator booking pages checked in September and November 2026 charge $15, and $15 is the figure to budget. The same September 2026 census found both Lower Antelope operators, Ken's Tours and Dixie's, at $80.50 per adult all in, permit, tax and booking fee included, which is a useful reality check on any headline from price. Keep your permit receipt if you tour two canyons in one day, so you are not charged twice.
Self drive cost calculator: Page day, per person
The canyon part of a self drive day. Add your own fuel for about 550 miles of driving.
Canyon: People:
- Canyon tours plus permits: $180
- Horseshoe Bend parking, per car: $10
Uses the from prices in the table above, checked November 5, 2026. Prime time slots cost more. If your operator includes the $15 permit, tick the box and the calculator removes it.
Horseshoe Bend: the part you do on your own
Ten minutes from the canyon check ins, Horseshoe Bend needs no booking at all. The overlook stands about 1,000 feet above a Colorado River meander, reached by a 1.5 mile round trip paved trail from the City of Page car park on US-89, about 5 miles south of Page. Parking is $10 per vehicle and $5 per motorcycle, open daily from sunrise to sunset, and the lot is city property, which is why your America the Beautiful pass does not cover it. Allow 60 to 90 minutes including photos. There is almost no shade on the trail, so even in November, carry water for the walk.
Tour from Las Vegas or drive yourself?
The guided version exists because the drive is the trip: about 275 miles and 4.5 to 5 hours each way, roughly 14 hours door to door with the canyon and the Bend inside it. A tour from Las Vegas bundles the driving, the canyon booking and the permit handling into one early pickup. Compare current departures on Viator's Las Vegas day trips page, and check that any Antelope product you pick names the canyon section, because Upper and Lower are different bookings with different operators. The self drive version has one real advantage: you choose your canyon slot first, then drive to Page for it, and you can sleep in Page and take a second morning. Flash flood honesty belongs on this page too: slot canyons close when storms threaten anywhere in the drainage, tours cancel on the operator's call, and a cancelled canyon is a safety system working, not a ruined day you argue with. Sibling days: Zion in a day, the Grand Canyon rim decision, and the full set on our day trips hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Antelope Canyon without a guide?
No. Antelope Canyon sits on Navajo Nation land, and entry is only with a licensed Navajo guide on a scheduled tour booked in advance, per Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation and every authorized operator. There is no self guided access to Upper, Lower or Canyon X at any time of year. Book the canyon tour first, then plan the rest of the day around it.
How much does Antelope Canyon cost in 2026?
The operators' own pages list Lower Antelope Canyon from $75 per adult and Upper Antelope Canyon from $95 per adult, with prime midday slots costing more. On top of the tour, the Navajo Nation park permit is $15 per person per entry in 2026, sometimes included in the tour price and sometimes added at checkout. One September 2026 census of operator booking pages found Lower tours at $80.50 all in at both operators.
What does Horseshoe Bend cost, and do you need a guide?
No guide and no reservation. Horseshoe Bend is a 1.5 mile round trip paved trail from a City of Page car park on US-89 south of Page, open daily sunrise to sunset. Parking is $10 per vehicle or $5 per motorcycle, and the America the Beautiful pass does not cover it, because the lot is city property, not federal land.
Why does Arizona time matter for this trip?
Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, and tour times run on Arizona time. From Las Vegas, which does observe it, your phone can show two different times on the same morning depending on which side of the state line you are standing. A missed check in loses the tour, and tours are the whole trip, so confirm the check in time in Arizona time the night before.
How long is the day from Las Vegas?
About 275 miles and 4.5 to 5 hours of driving each way, so a guided day tour runs about 14 hours door to door. Self driving the same day is possible but it is the longest standard day trip sold from Las Vegas. The overnight version, sleeping in Page, turns the return drive into a second morning at the canyon or the lake.