You could spend a year exploring Arizona and still have a bucket list a mile long. But if you’re heading to the Grand Canyon State for a few days or just want an incredible weekend trip, I highly recommend visiting Sedona and Page. And if you’re not sure where to start with those two places, here’s a three day Sedona and Antelope Canyon road trip itinerary.
Assuming you’re flying into Phoenix (or driving in from somewhere in the southwest), Sedona is a beautiful drive through gorgeous mountainous desert landscapes. I typically drive from Tucson, and it takes me about 3.5 hours to get there.
Day 1 – Sedona
- Check into your lodging.
- Enjoy the local artsy shopping.
- Go see Cathedral Rock. Hike it if you’re feeling ambitious.
- Check out a local restaurant for some great food.
- Highlight: Hike the Boynton Canyon Trail and find the Subway Cave.
If you find it, please be respectful of the cliff dwellings and leave no trace.
Day 2 – Sedona to Page
- Highlight: Sunrise hike at Devil’s Bridge.
- Get breakfast at Sedona Crepes.
- Stop by Slide Rock State Park. Stare longingly at the gorgeous water if you’re visiting in the winter. Go for a swim and a slide if you’re there during the summer.
- Drive to Page, Arizona. It’s about a three hour drive.
- Check into your lodging.
- Take a short drive through Vermillion Cliffs National Monument.
- Walk across Old Navajo Bridge.
- Highlight: Enjoy Horseshoe Bend for a beautiful sunset.
Day 3 – Page
- Get breakfast at the Ranch House Grille.
- Check out of your lodging.
- Head over to Lake Powell for some beautiful views if you have time.
- Highlight: Antelope Canyon Tour
- Antelope Canyon is broken up into multiple canyons, and you can’t go wrong with seeing any of them.
- There are an overwhelming number of tours available, and they’re probably all pretty great. I wanted a photography-specific tour, which was only available at Antelope Canyon X.
- I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Antelope Canyon X Photography Tour. Only one family provides the tours, and the group sizes are limited. This ensures the canyons are never too busy to get a good photo. I had plenty of time to set up my tripod and get as many shots as I wanted without having to worry about other tourists. Additionally, our tour guide was great. He was knowledgeable, had a good sense of humor, and he held back tour groups any time we needed more time to get the shots we wanted.
- Sadly make your way back to the car at the end of seeing Antelope Canyon, and start the drive back to whatever city you flew into. If you are flying out of Phoenix, plan for about 4.5 hours in the car.
- Stop for Mexican food for dinner. Arizona has amazingly good Mexican food.
- Don’t forget to stop and take photos as you go. There are so many beautiful landscapes to see on the drive.
Whether you’re a photographer, adventure enthusiast, or just someone who appreciates beautiful scenery, this weekend Sedona and Antelope Canyon road trip itinerary should satisfy your desert landscape cravings!
