Three days in Page allows you to cover the local Big Three — Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell — plus one major day trip to Monument Valley, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, or the Grand Canyon North Rim. It is the minimum duration for travelers who want to use Page as a base camp for the Grand Circle without feeling like they are spending their entire vacation in a car.

This itinerary assumes you are staying in Page for three nights. If you are willing to move hotels, you could spend Night 3 near your day-trip destination and reduce driving time, but that adds packing and checking in/out overhead. Most travelers prefer to base in Page and accept the longer drive days.

Day 1: Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

Time	Activity	Notes
6:30 a.m.	Breakfast	Ranch House Grille or Hot N Sweet.
7:30 a.m.	Antelope Canyon tour (Lower recommended)	2.5–3 hours. Book in advance.
11:00 a.m.	Lunch in Page	El Tapatio, Fiesta Mexicana, or Lake Powell Espresso.
12:00 p.m.	Rest at hotel or pool	Midday break. Recharge for the afternoon.
3:30 p.m.	Horseshoe Bend	1.5 miles round-trip. Late-afternoon light is best.
5:30 p.m.	Dinner in Page	Grand Canyon Brewing, Dam Bar & Grille, Sunset 89.
7:30 p.m.	Optional: stargazing or early night	Rest up for the long drive tomorrow.

Day 2: Lake Powell

Time	Activity	Notes
7:00 a.m.	Breakfast	Canyon Crepes or Miss B's Bistro.
8:00 a.m.	Glen Canyon Dam visitor center	Free. 45 minutes. Good orientation for the lake.
9:00 a.m.	Lake Powell activity	Options: half-day boat rental, kayak to Antelope Canyon, scenic cruise, or houseboat departure. See Lake Powell guide.
1:00 p.m.	Lunch at marina or beach	Pack a picnic or eat at Wahweap Grille / Jádí'tooh.
2:00 p.m.	Continue Lake Powell activity or shoreline relaxation	If on a boat, explore side canyons. If on shore, swim or relax.
5:00 p.m.	Return to Page	Shower and change for dinner.
6:30 p.m.	Dinner	Try a restaurant you skipped on Day 1.

Day 3: Day Trip

Day 3 is where you choose your adventure. Each option involves significant driving — there is no way around it. The question is which landscape you want to see.

Option A: Monument Valley (2.5 hours one way)

The most iconic landscape of the American Southwest. The 17-mile Valley Drive is a self-guided dirt road loop past the Mittens, Merrick Butte, and other formations. A Navajo guide is required for backcountry access beyond the loop. The drive from Page to Monument Valley is scenic — Highway 98 to 160 to 163 — and passes through the Navajo Nation.

• Leave Page: 7:00 a.m.
• Arrive Monument Valley: 9:30 a.m.
• Valley Drive + overlooks: 3–4 hours
• Lunch: The View Hotel restaurant or pack a picnic
• Return to Page: 3:00–4:00 p.m. arrival

Best for: Photographers, Western movie fans, anyone who wants the classic Southwest panorama.

Tradeoff: The dirt road is rough and slow. Summer dust is intense. Winter snow can make it impassable without 4WD.

Option B: Zion National Park (2 hours one way)

Zion is dramatically different from the Page area — green canyon walls, the Virgin River, and hanging gardens instead of red sandstone and desert. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is accessible by shuttle March through November; in winter, you can drive your own car. The most famous hike is Angels Landing (permit required), but the Riverside Walk and Emerald Pools are accessible to most visitors.

• Leave Page: 6:30 a.m.
• Arrive Zion: 8:30 a.m.
• Shuttle to canyon + hiking: 4–5 hours
• Lunch: Zion Lodge or Springdale
• Return to Page: 4:00–5:00 p.m. arrival

Best for: Hikers, families with mixed interests, anyone who wants contrast with the desert.

Tradeoff: The shuttle system means you are on Zion's schedule, not your own. Summer crowds are extreme — arrive before 8:00 a.m. to avoid shuttle lines.

Option C: Bryce Canyon National Park (2.5 hours one way)

Bryce is famous for its hoodoos — tall, thin spires of rock that glow orange and red at sunrise and sunset. The park sits at 8,000–9,000 feet, which means it is significantly cooler than Page. The Rim Trail and Navajo Loop are the most accessible hikes. Bryce is smaller and more compact than Zion, which makes it easier to see the highlights in a single day.

• Leave Page: 6:30 a.m.
• Arrive Bryce: 9:00 a.m.
• Rim Trail + Navajo Loop: 3–4 hours
• Lunch: Bryce Lodge or picnic
• Return to Page: 4:00–5:00 p.m. arrival

Best for: Photographers, geology enthusiasts, anyone who wants cooler temperatures.

Tradeoff: The elevation can affect some visitors. Winter snow closes some trails. The drive involves a significant climb from Page's 4,300 feet to Bryce's 8,000+ feet.

Option D: Grand Canyon North Rim (2.5 hours one way)

The North Rim is the less-visited side of the Grand Canyon, with cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and a different perspective than the South Rim. The main viewpoints — Bright Angel Point, Cape Royal, Point Imperial — are accessible by car. The road is closed December 1 through May 15.

• Leave Page: 6:30 a.m.
• Arrive North Rim: 9:00 a.m.
• Viewpoints + short hikes: 4–5 hours
• Lunch: Grand Canyon Lodge or picnic
• Return to Page: 4:00–5:00 p.m. arrival

Best for: Grand Canyon purists, anyone who wants to avoid South Rim crowds.

Tradeoff: The North Rim has fewer services than the South Rim. The lodge and restaurant are seasonal. The drive from Page involves a long stretch of forest road that can be snowy in late fall and early spring.

Option E: White Pocket (1.5 hours one way, plus rough road)

If you have a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and want to stay closer to Page, White Pocket is an alternative to the long day trips. The sandstone formations are as photogenic as The Wave but require no permit. The road is deep sand — sedans and crossovers get stuck regularly.

• Leave Page: 7:00 a.m.
• Arrive White Pocket: 9:00 a.m. (including slow sand road)
• Explore and photograph: 3–4 hours
• Lunch: Pack a picnic — no facilities
• Return to Page: 2:00–3:00 p.m.

Best for: Photographers, adventurous drivers, anyone who wants to avoid the long drive to the national parks.

Tradeoff: The road is genuinely dangerous for unprepared vehicles. No cell service. No facilities. If you get stuck, a tow costs $1,000+.

Day Trip Comparison

Destination	Drive (one way)	Best season	Physical effort	Best for
Monument Valley	2.5 hours	Year-round (4WD in winter)	Low (driving loop)	Iconic landscapes; photography
Zion National Park	2 hours	March–November (shuttle season)	Moderate–high (hiking)	Hikers; contrast with desert
Bryce Canyon	2.5 hours	Year-round (some trails close in winter)	Moderate (elevation)	Geology; cooler temps
Grand Canyon North Rim	2.5 hours	Mid-May–mid-October (road closed Dec–May)	Low–moderate	Grand Canyon without crowds
White Pocket	1.5 hours + rough road	Year-round (road impassable when wet)	Low (walking on sandstone)	Photography; 4WD adventure

Logistics for Day 3

• Gas: Fill up the night before. The day trips involve 200+ miles of driving.
• Food: Pack a lunch. Restaurant options at Monument Valley, Zion, and Bryce are limited and expensive.
• Water: Bring more than you think, especially for Zion and Bryce hikes.
• Entrance fees: Monument Valley ($8/person), Zion ($35/vehicle), Bryce ($35/vehicle), Grand Canyon North Rim ($35/vehicle). America the Beautiful pass accepted at all national parks.
• Weather: Check the forecast for your destination, not just Page. Bryce can be 30 degrees cooler. Zion can have flash flood warnings.

Should You Stay in Page or Move Hotels?

Most travelers stay in Page for all three nights. The advantage is not packing and unpacking daily. The disadvantage is long drive days — 5+ hours in the car on Day 3.

If you choose Monument Valley for Day 3, you could stay at The View Hotel or Goulding's Lodge that night and drive back to Page the next morning. This breaks up the driving but adds a hotel change.

If you choose Zion, you could stay in Springdale for Night 3 and drive to your next destination from there. This makes sense if you are heading south toward Phoenix or Las Vegas after Page.

Antelope Canyon anchors Day 1 of this three-day plan. For a full booking guide with every authorized operator and current pricing, see Antelope Canyon tours.

Day 2 afternoon: float the Colorado River beneath the 1,000-foot walls of Horseshoe Bend. For the half-day trip and other river options, see Colorado River rafting.

Day 1 afternoon: Horseshoe Bend. For the complete visitor guide with parking, safety, and tour options, see Horseshoe Bend tours.

For an aerial perspective on your third day — or as a substitute for a long day-trip drive — see air tours.

Day 1 morning: slot canyon options. For a comparison of all guided tours near Page, see slot canyon tours.

For a more relaxed two-day version that skips the day trip, see our two-day itinerary. For a compressed one-day version, see one day in Page.

Day 2: full-day boat rental on Lake Powell. For the complete rental guide — including fuel costs, what to bring, and where you can go — see boat rentals.

For a guided version of this itinerary with professional transport, hotel reservations, and park logistics handled for you, see multi-destination tours.

For photography advice — including the best times for light beams and how to shoot handheld in dim conditions — see Antelope Canyon photo tips.

For overnight lodging options near the Grand Canyon if you want to stay closer to the rim rather than returning to Page, see Grand Canyon hotels.

For lodging options near Horseshoe Bend — a highlight of most Page itineraries — see Horseshoe Bend hotels.

For lodging options near Antelope Canyon — the anchor of most Page itineraries — see Antelope Canyon hotels.