Sedona to Antelope Canyon: Drive Time and Route

Sedona to Antelope Canyon is about 165 miles and takes roughly three hours, climbing north through Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff and then north again on US-89 to Page, Arizona.

It is one of the most scenic drives in Arizona, and it links the state’s two most photographed red rock landscapes. Here is what to know before you go.

Sedona to Antelope Canyon at a glance

The route

Head north out of Sedona on US-89A through Oak Creek Canyon. This stretch is the highlight of the drive: a narrow, wooded canyon that climbs sharply via a set of switchbacks to a viewpoint at the top. Allow extra time, because you will want to stop, and because the road is slow by nature.

At Flagstaff, join US-89 north. The landscape shifts from ponderosa pine to open high desert, running along the western edge of the Navajo Nation with the Painted Desert off to the east, and carries you into Page.

In winter, be aware that Flagstaff sits at 7,000 feet and gets real snow. Oak Creek Canyon and US-89 can both be affected. Check conditions before setting out between roughly November and March.

Should you do it as a day trip?

Six hours of driving plus a canyon tour makes for a very full day. It is doable, and people do it, but you will spend most of the daylight in the car.

The better version is an overnight in Page. That gives you a relaxed drive with time to stop in Oak Creek Canyon, a canyon tour without clock pressure, and Horseshoe Bend on the same trip. Splitting the drive with a night in Flagstaff also works well.

Worth stopping for

• Oak Creek Canyon Vista — at the top of the switchbacks, with Navajo artisans often selling work at the overlook.

• Flagstaff — roughly the midpoint, with Lowell Observatory and a walkable historic downtown.

• Sunset Crater and Wupatki — on a loop road just north of Flagstaff off US-89, and easy to do together.

• Cameron Trading Post — the traditional stop on the last leg into Page.

If you are stopping in Flagstaff anyway, our guide to Flagstaff to Antelope Canyon covers that shorter leg in detail.

Adding the Grand Canyon

Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and Antelope Canyon form a natural three-stop trip. From Sedona you can route via Flagstaff to the South Rim, then east and north to Page. See Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon for that leg.

Booking your tour

Antelope Canyon sits on Navajo Nation land and requires an authorized Navajo guide, with no self-guided option. Tours fill weeks ahead in summer, so book before you leave Sedona.

Deciding between the canyons? Read our Upper vs Lower comparison. Ready to go? Reserve your Lower Antelope Canyon tour or contact us for help with timing.