Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Ben, etc in one day!
 

I have one day to spend in Arizona on Oct 2nd and wanted to visit Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe bend and the surrounding areas, maybe even Sedona or Lake Powell - can this be done in one day?, Can someone please help me with an itinerary? Thanks so much. I will be with my husband and parents.

I REALLY want to go to The Wave, but not sure about the permit and even if i got the lottery i dont know if my parents would be able to manage the hike - Please advise! :)

I think we need more information such as when you're planning this trip, where you'll be coming from the day before and where you are going the day after.

Since you only have one day is it a complete day including the night before and after.

Ideally Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend should be seen when the sun is high. That normally means between 10:30AM and 2:30PM. They're close to each other so that's not a problem. What else you get to see depends on the answers to my questions.

Driving from one place to the other takes time.

Agree with Meyer, it is easy to do both in the same day, if you are close to the Page area. I can't think of any major airports that are near there, as we have always gone through there from a more extended trip, either from Albuquerque or Vegas. Both of these or a trip from Phoenix would involve more than a one day trip. If you are in Flagstaff, you could probably make it to Antelope in time to get some nice pictures. The key is to have a bright sunny day. We were there in April or May in the mid afternoon (3 ish) and it was awesome, but my afternoon pictures of horseshoe bend were not as satisfying, I think morning might be better for that. I do have some pictures of them at www.flickr.com/photos/emalloy2009/sets In the 2008 or 2009 set.

I will be flying into Phoenix the previous night on Oct 1st and am flying back to NYC on Oct 3rd afternoon. So I only have one day in Arizona, i..e Oct 2nd.

It's a five (5) hour drive from Phoenix to Page.

It you left for Page between 7 and 8AM you could see Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend and return to Phoenix for your return flight.

I guess you really want to see those sights. Correct?
That's some drive and might be better to plan a trip where you could have more time and see more.

Maybe going to Sedona (a 2 hour drive each way) is something you should consider.

I agree with Myer; if I were you, I'd choose Sedona instead. Do you really want to spend 10 hours driving on your one day in Arizona? I suppose, if your flight is late enough on the afternoon of the 3rd, you could spend the night in Page, then leave very early the next morning to drive back to Phoenix for your flight home, thereby only having five hours of driving each day, but it's not something I'd want to do. The sun sets a few minutes after 6:00 PM on Oct. 2 in Arizona (I just looked it up), so you'd only have a few hours of daylight to see things once you got there. The Sedona area is beautiful, and there are lots of wonderful hikes you can take there. Here's a web site that gives information on a lot of Sedona area hikes: http://www.sedonahikes.net/catalog.htm. You could also stop and see Montezuma's Castle, if native cliff dwellings interest you, it's right off of I-17 on the way to Sedona. It's pretty interesting, and doesn't take a lot of time to see.

You could consider taking the 4-hour Verde Canyon train ride out of Clarkdale, near Sedona - we did that a few years ago, and it was one of the highlights of our trip - a fun and relaxing way to see lots of amazing scenery. I looked at their schedule, and on Oct. 2 they run trips at 9:00AM and 2:30 PM. Here's their web site: http://www.verdecanyonrr.com.

The Verde Canyon Railroad is definitely worthwhile -- but (IMO) not if you only have one day.

The drive from PHX to Page is really around 4 hours, maybe a bit more, not 5 hours. Here is my suggestion:

Rise very early and get on the road before 6:00AM. A very early start will be much better, traffic-wise. That will put you in the Page area by 10:00AM. First visit Horseshoe Bend, then Antelope Canyon. You certainly should be done with those by 2:00PM, even with a quick lunch break.

From there, head back down 89 to I-40 west, to I-17 south, to 89a through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. That will be about 3 hours, giving you a little time at least, to see the Red Rocks. It would be so nice if you could spend the night in Sedona. But, if you really can't do that, depart Sedona down 179 back to I-17 to Phoenix, about 2 hours from Sedona.

That does make a long day, with a lot of driving, and it sure would help if you could spend October 1 night either in Page, or even Cameron or Flagstaff, and the night of October 2 in Sedona. That would make it a bit more relaxing. And the drive from PHX to Flag is all freeway, so easy driving, even in the dark.

The others have given you great advice. I only want to comment on The Wave, since you mentioned it, for future reference for you. There's no way you could fit it in on this trip even if you were able to get the permits. It's pretty much a full day outing to see all there is to see at The Wave itself and nearby features.

My husband and I hiked that in mid-May a few years ago. It is not for anyone who isn't physically fit. You don't have to be in super shape, but it is a somewhat strenuous hike due to the terrain and, depending on the time of year, the temperature.

We want to do it again someday. Now that's he's retired from teaching we can plan to make the trek in cooler weather. Still, we'll wear our hydration packs and carry a bottle of Gatorade each. The low humidity out there just seems to suck you dry even if it isn't 100 degrees. Having enough to drink and some salty snacks are very important.

You'll also need a GPS as they give the co-ordinates to help you find it. There is no trail and attempting to locate The Wave using only the landmarks on the directions they give you would be hard. The ranger we spoke with the day before we did the hike told he he couldn't find it the first time he went out. (this was pre-GPS days).

It's something well-worth doing and I hope you get to do it someday.

I believe you can do quick Grand Canyon and Sedona trip in one day from PHX - our friend who live them offered to take us. However, I have also heard that we could go to Sedona and catch highway 89A North out of town or do what MikePinTucson suggested. Which is better, starting with Sedona or ending with it? Please give me the exact route! :)

I am think that maybe we will skip Grand Canyon and do Antelope/Horseshoe bend instead with Sedona? I will always get a chance to go back to Vegas and maybe can see the Grand Canyon/Zion/Bryce/etc the next time I go. What do you all think?

Oh and btw - we are coming from a Road Trip from SF-Napa-Yosemite-Death Valley-LV (evening flight from LV to Phx on Oct 1st). I was also wondering if it makes more sense to not take a flight but maybe instead drive from LV or DV to someplace that fits with this plan better?

It is better to end with Sedona. Oak Creek Canyon is a great, scenic drive. But it is better coming down the canyon into Sedona because you get the red rock views in front of you as you near Sedona. From Page, the exact route would be 89 south to !-40 west, to I-17 south, to 89a south through Oak Creek Canyon.

If there is no special reason to go to PHX on October 1, I would drive from LV straight to Page on October 1. It would be just over 4 hours, taking the route that goes north of the GC. If you have to be in PHX on October 1, it would probably be better to fly. You would get there quicker and you would avoind the car drop off fee.

MikePinTucson, can you give me the route from PHX - Antelope/Horseshoe/Lake Powell - Sedona, please? Also, please recommend what we should see in these places & surrounding areas to maximize our short time there. I hear that

Is there a way from Death Valley to Page? I suppose we would have to go via LV, correct?

PHX to Page / Lake Powell area:
I-10 west to I-17 north to I-40 east to 89 north. Before Page, you will see the Horshoe Bend turnoff on your left. The turnoff to Antelope Canyon will be on your right just before Page. I already gave you the route from Page to Sedona.

From DV to Page it looks like you would just hit the northern end of LV and take the Bruce Woodbury Beltway over to I-15. Past St. George you would get off I-17 and take state routes over to Page. There are a couple of ways, but the fastest is getting to Kanab, UT, then 89 to Page. You go in and out of Utah and Arizona, so route numbers change. I'm not sure if this link will work or not, but I used Bing Maps for the route:

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.asp...J0b3A9MH4wfjB+

In Sedona, if you can eke out the better part of a day, I would do the following:
Pink Jeep Broken Arrow tour
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Red Rock Crossing
Bell Rock
Sunrise or sunset at airport mesa
dinner either at the Cowboy Club Silver Saddle Room or Dahl & DiLuca