You’re probably here because you came across a beautiful picture of Horseshoe Bend and you’re asking yourself; is there anything I should know before visiting? Is it worth the hype? Is there other stuff to do in the area? How far of a hike is it?
We’re here to answer all of those questions and more!
Directions to Horseshoe Bend
Let’s start with how to get to Horseshoe Bend! Horseshoe Bend is located in Page, Arizona. We were on a two week long road trip when we decided to drive from Las Vegas to visit the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Horseshoe Bend. If you have a car, or choose to rent a car, the drive from Las Vegas to Page Arizona is about 4 and a half hours.
(Tip: Anytime we rent a car we use Discovercars.com, because it compares all the top rental car prices in the area and shows us the most affordable ones.)
A few other popular spots that you might be driving from are; Flagstaff, AZ, which is a little over 2 hours away and Phoenix, Arizona, which is also about 4 and a half hours away.
Once you arrive in Page, AZ, Horseshoe Bend is slightly outside the city on Highway 89. You can’t see it from the highway, however, you’ll definitely see the parking lot for it. After parking in the lot, you have about a 10 – 15 minute, half mile hike up a slight incline. Then as you come over the small hill, you see it in all its glory. You have arrived!
Are guided tours of Horseshoe Bend an option?
The good news is that if you’re not up for driving to Page, AZ, there’s a small airport that you can fly into, or you can take a tour, as there are small and large day tours from Sedona, Flagstaff, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. That way you can sit back and relax while someone else does all the driving. There are even helicopter tours if you’d prefer to get a view from the air!
Most tours will also include either the Grand Canyon or Antelope Canyon on top of Horseshoe Bend. If you do choose to go with a tour group, we suggest choosing a smaller, more intimate tour, instead of exploring each place with a Greyhound bus filled with tourists.
You can find our most recommended tour groups here:
Click here for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend Tours
Is there an entry fee to Horseshoe Bend?
When we originally visited Horseshoe Bend in 2017, there was not an entry fee, however, there is now a $10 parking fee for cars and other passenger vehicles. If you’re traveling by motorcycle, it’s only $5.
For tour group vans and buses the price ranges from $35 – $140 depending on the number of passengers, however, normally this fee is included within the price of your guided tour, so you don’t have to worry about this.
Also, if you have a national park pass…. bad news, it’s not accepted at Horseshoe bend.
When is the best time to visit Horseshoe Bend?
I hope you’re an early riser, because we found that the best time to visit is at sunrise. The large tour groups hadn’t arrived yet, so there were only a few other people. We got to walk around the edge taking pictures and videos undisturbed for about 2 hours before the large tour buses pulled up. We also visited on a weekday so it was less crowded. Plus, it was October so it was definitely not the peak season, which is from June to August.
Are you wondering when is the best time of day for a photo shoot? If so, know that we’re not professional photographers, however, we did speak to a few photographers while there. One photographer said that since Horseshoe Bend faces due West, visiting during either sunrise or sunset will make for magnificent pictures. But be warned… he did say that it is VERY busy at sunset.
What should I wear to Horseshoe Bend?
As I mentioned we visited in October and it was getting a bit chilly. We wore long pants and light hoodies, but we’re also from Florida so we’re babies when it comes to the cold. However, it does actually get cold there, especially from November to February, and it’s not uncommon for it to snow during those months.
Now it is the desert, so if you’re visiting during the summer months, remember to bring water as it gets pretty hot there. We also recommend wearing a hat and bringing sunscreen if you plan to be out there for awhile under the summer sun.
And this is kind of random, however, Megan and I both wore sneakers. The trail is not paved and is sand and gravel, plus we ventured off the trail a bit, so by the end of our hike there and back, both of our shoes were filled with sand and rocks. We didn’t mind, however, a couple walked by laughing as we were outside our car dumping the sand out of our shoes. I noticed the couple both had high top hiking boots on. So if you have hiking boots or high top sneakers, it might be worth wearing them.
My overall recommendation for what to wear; look up the weather before you head to Horseshoe Bend and prepare responsibly.
Where should I stay?
If you plan on staying overnight in Page, Arizona, then there’s a ton of hotels and inns to stay at in the area, however, one of our favorite hotels is the Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell as it boasts some gorgeous views of the Arizona landscape.
Here are our 3 most recommended hotels in the area:
- Hyatt Place Page / Lake Powell – Heated Outdoor pool, 24/7 Restaurant,
- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson – Heated Indoor pool, Closest to Horseshoe Bend
(Both hotels have Free Breakfast and Coin Laundry) - Red Rock Hotel – Our Budget Friendly Option, Studio Apartment With a Kitchen
And all 3 are rated 4+ stars (out of 5) on Google.
Click here to see a full list of hotels and inns in Page, Arizona
Are there other things to do in the area?
There’s a lot of other things to do in the area, besides just seeing Horseshoe Bend. You can literally make an entire vacation out of staying in Page, Arizona. Since you’ll most likely only spend an hour or two at Horseshoe Bend, we recommend heading over to Antelope Canyon before or after. It’s only about a 10-15 minute drive. An important thing to know about visiting Antelope Canyon is that all visitors MUST buy tickets as all tours are guided. Meaning that you’re not able to wander through Antelope Canyon by yourself. We recommend buying tickets online beforehand as we were told tickets sell out quickly. Purchase your guided tour tickets here
Click Here For Antelope Canyon Tours
There’s also Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and there is not a shortage of things to do there. From kayaking, hiking, fishing, and more! You could easily spend an entire day here.
Now if you’ve never seen the Grand Canyon, and you’re staying in Page, then you’re obligated to go visit it as well. The South Rim is only located about 1-2 hours away from Page, AZ, and is open 365 days a year. And the good news is that if you have a National Park Pass it is accepted there.
I’ll never forget when I first visited the Grand Canyon. I was like a kid in a candy store; my eyes widened, jaw dropped to the floor, and I remember being in just such aw.
Let us know in the comments of this post or below our video if you enjoyed your Arizona travels as much as we did!
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