A small desert town on Lake Powell — remote enough to demand a real drive, small enough that once you’re there, everything is minutes apart.
Page, Arizona doesn’t sit near much of anything. It’s roughly 2.5 hours from Flagstaff, 4.5 hours from Phoenix, and a haul from Las Vegas too — the kind of place you commit to a full day of driving to reach. But that remoteness is exactly what makes Page work as a home base: it’s a genuinely small town, built almost entirely around Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, and once you’ve arrived, nearly everything worth doing is five to fifteen minutes away.
What to Do in Page, AZ
The honest breakdown before you plan your days.
Dam, Arch & Sunset
Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center, Biidi the Arch, and downtown Lake Powell Boulevard at sunset — no fee, no reservation, no guide required.
Horseshoe Bend & Wahweap
Two of the most photographed spots in the Southwest, both for $10–30. Self-guided, no tour needed.
Antelope Canyon
The famous slot canyons require a guided tour reserved in advance. Book early — summer slots sell out.
Check ToursBook a Hotel Now
Central motel on Lake Powell Boulevard, a chain hotel near Horseshoe Bend, or an RV park with a pool — see the full breakdown below.
Search HotelsFree Things to Do in Page, Arizona
Glen Canyon Dam & Carl Hayden Visitor Center
Start here — it’s free, air-conditioned, and gives you context for everything else you’ll see in the area. The Carl Hayden Visitor Center sits right on the rim of Glen Canyon, with a curved wall of windows looking out over the dam, the bridge, and Lake Powell. Inside you’ll find a large relief map of the entire Glen Canyon/Lake Powell region, exhibits on dam construction and hydropower, dinosaur tracks out front in the Kayenta sandstone, and a display on Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
Kids can stop by the Junior Ranger Corner, a small interactive area built around a play boat with a steering wheel, plus rock art and geology displays — pick up a free Junior Ranger booklet at the desk. Free ranger programs run Thursday through Sunday (2:00 pm talks at the visitor center, evening hikes at 6:30 pm), with astronomy and campground programs added on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Don’t skip the pedestrian walkway across the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge — free, dramatic views straight down into the canyon and the Colorado River, right next to the dam itself.
Biidi the Arch
Also known as the Shell Gas Station Sand Cave, this wind-carved sandstone alcove is one of the best free stops in Page and requires no reservation or guide, unlike the famous slot canyons nearby. Park at the Big Lake Trading Post/Shell station on Coppermine Road, then walk about ten minutes across soft red sand to the arch. The swirling, wave-like sandstone walls look strikingly similar to Antelope Canyon’s — just without the fee or the crowds.
Biidi the Arch sits on private Navajo land, so be respectful: no glass bottles, no graffiti, and pack out anything you bring in.
Lake Powell Boulevard at Sunset
Page’s main strip is Lake Powell Boulevard, home to the Mesa Theater, Canyon Creamery, a Safeway, and several motels — all walkable from each other. It’s also simply a great spot to catch sunset, with wide-open desert sky over the rooftops. Free, easy, and a good way to close out a day without driving anywhere.
Coffee tip: Page has only one Starbucks, and the line can get long since it’s the only Starbucks in town. Odyssey Fixx Cafe, a few blocks over, is a solid local alternative if you’d rather skip the wait.
Food tip: Don’t skip BirdHouse (707 N Navajo Dr), a 4.7-star local favorite for fried chicken. It’s a simple menu done well — Original, Spicy, or Honey Butter chicken, plus sides like mac and cheese and broccoli salad. It’s the kind of place that gets kids out of a slump fast; ours saw the menu and was instantly on board.
Low-Cost Things to Do in Page, Arizona
Wahweap Beach
A stretch of shoreline on Lake Powell near Wahweap Marina, just a few minutes from downtown Page. It’s a low-key, sandy spot to wade in, watch houseboats come and go, and catch a sunset over the water. Wahweap sits inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so there’s a $30 vehicle entrance fee (good for 7 days), or $55 for a Glen Canyon annual pass — a good option if you’re planning multiple visits during your stay. An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) also covers entry here.
If you want to get out on the water without paying for a kayak or boat rental, pick up an inner tube at Walmart before you go. It’s not the same experience as paddling, but it’s a cheap way to float along the shoreline, feel the water, and take in the red rock scenery around you.
Horseshoe Bend
The most famous view in Page, and still one of the better values: $10 per vehicle to park, self-guided, no tour or reservation required. It’s about a six-mile drive from town and a roughly 0.75-mile walk each way from the parking area to the overlook.
Horseshoe Bend’s parking lot is run by the City of Page, not the National Park Service, so this fee is separate from the Glen Canyon entrance fee above — no federal park pass, including the Glen Canyon annual pass or America the Beautiful pass, covers it. Budget for both fees separately if you’re visiting both spots.
Mini Golf at Lake Powell Barnyard
An 18-hole mini golf course set against the Vermillion Cliffs, with water features throughout (don’t worry — the balls float, so nothing’s lost for good). A fun, affordable way to fill an hour with kids without booking a tour.
Where to Stay
Because everything in this guide is so close together, where you stay matters less than you’d think — but here are three solid options depending on your style and budget.
Lake Powell Motel — Retro & Central
A classic, single-story motor court right on Lake Powell Boulevard, walking distance to ice cream, the movie theater, and the grocery store. Good pick if you want to be in the heart of town.
Home2 Suites by Hilton Page Lake Powell — Near Horseshoe Bend
A 4.1-star, all-suite Hilton property about 3.8 miles (roughly 8 minutes) from Horseshoe Bend via US-89. A solid choice if you want a familiar chain and easy access to the canyon overlooks. There’s also a Walmart nearby, handy for stocking up on water, snacks, and sunscreen before a day out at the canyons or the lake.
Roam America RV Camping & Cabins — Near Horseshoe Bend
Right off the highway near Horseshoe Bend, with RV sites, cabins, and a fenced pool with red-rock views. A good option if you’re road-tripping or traveling with a group.
Courtyard by Marriott Page at Lake Powell
A larger, full-service Marriott property with views of Glen Canyon and the Lake Powell Golf Course, an on-site restaurant, and a seasonal outdoor pool and hot tub. It’s roughly 10–15 minutes from Antelope Canyon and 5–7 minutes from Horseshoe Bend — a solid pick if you want Marriott Bonvoy points or a bit more space than a limited-service hotel offers.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Page — Lake Powell Area (IHG)
A newly renovated IHG property in downtown Page, within easy reach of Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. A good middle-ground option if you’re loyal to IHG Rewards and want a downtown location.
Book a Hotel Near Page, AZ Now
Whether you want a central motel, a chain hotel near Horseshoe Bend, or a house/cabin for the group, book early — Page is a small town and rooms go fast in peak season (May–September).
Tours & Paid Experiences Worth Booking
Everything above you can do on your own, no reservation required. But Page is also the launch point for some of the most photographed spots in the Southwest, and those typically mean booking ahead and paying a guide. A few worth planning around:
- Antelope Canyon (Upper & Lower) — the famous slot canyons, both requiring a guided tour booked in advance. We’ll have a full guide to Upper Antelope Canyon up soon.
- Lake Powell boat tours — from short sightseeing cruises to sunset dinner cruises out of Wahweap Marina.
- Kayak rentals — a step up from the inner-tube approach at Wahweap Beach, available through the marina.
- Red Heritage — a Navajo-owned dinner theater pairing a Navajo taco dinner with a live show of traditional dancing, drumming, and storytelling. Tickets run around $80 per adult.
- Horseshoe Bend raft trips — a different way to see the bend, from the water instead of the overlook.
Book Antelope Canyon & Other Page Tours
Slots for Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon sell out, especially in summer — book as far ahead as you can.
We’ll be adding dedicated guides for Horseshoe Bend, the Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center, and Upper Antelope Canyon soon — check back or explore the rest of the site for the deep dives.
Quick Reference: Page, Arizona
| The Question | The Answer |
|---|---|
| Distance from Phoenix | About 4.5 hours |
| Distance from Flagstaff | About 2.5 hours |
| Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center | Free |
| Biidi the Arch | Free, no guide needed |
| Wahweap Beach | $30/7-day vehicle pass or $55 annual Glen Canyon pass |
| Horseshoe Bend | $10/vehicle, separate city fee, no park pass accepted |
| Antelope Canyon | Guided tour required, book ahead |
| Red Heritage dinner show | About $80/adult |
| Getting around | Everything in town is a 5–15 minute drive |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glen Canyon Dam Visitor Center free to visit?
Yes. The Carl Hayden Visitor Center and its exhibits, including the relief map and Junior Ranger Corner, are free to enter.
Is Biidi the Arch free, and do you need a guide?
Yes to both — it’s free to visit and doesn’t require a guide or reservation, unlike Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. It sits on private Navajo land near a Shell station on Coppermine Road, so visitors are asked to leave no trace.
How much does Horseshoe Bend cost?
Parking is $10 per vehicle, collected by the City of Page — this is separate from any National Park Service fee, so federal passes (including the Glen Canyon annual pass and America the Beautiful pass) don’t cover it. The overlook is reached via a self-guided, roughly 0.75-mile walk from the lot. No tour or reservation is required.
Is Wahweap Beach free to visit?
Not quite — Wahweap sits within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, so there’s a $30 vehicle entrance fee good for 7 days, or a $55 Glen Canyon annual pass if you’ll be visiting more than once. An America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) also covers entry.
How far apart are these attractions in Page, AZ?
Very close. Page is a small town, and most of the spots on this list — downtown, the dam, Wahweap Beach, and Horseshoe Bend — are within a five-to-fifteen-minute drive of each other.
Where should I stay near Horseshoe Bend?
Home2 Suites by Hilton Page Lake Powell and Roam America RV Camping & Cabins are both within about four miles of Horseshoe Bend. For a more central, walkable base, Lake Powell Motel on Lake Powell Boulevard puts you near downtown dining and shops instead.
Do I need to book Antelope Canyon in advance?
Yes. Both Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon require a guided tour booked ahead of time — no self-guided or same-day walk-up access is available.