Horseshoe Bend has one parking lot, run by the City of Page, with a $10 fee per standard vehicle. That single sentence answers most of what people search for, but the operational details matter: when to arrive to find a space in summer, what counts as “oversized” for the $35 rate, where the ADA accessibility path actually starts, and how the overnight rules work for RV travellers. After parking here three times in 36 hours during the July 2025 field trip, this is the no-fluff logistics guide.
Standard car
$10
Motorcycle
$5
RV / oversized
$35
Standard spaces
~300
Walk to overlook
0.7 mi each way · unshaded
Operator
City of Page Parks & Recreation
How much does parking at Horseshoe Bend cost?
$10 per standard vehicle as of May 2026, collected at the single attendant booth at the lot entrance. Card and cash both work — the booth has a chip-and-PIN reader and contactless. The fee is set and managed by the City of Page Parks & Recreation Department, the same body that runs the trail itself. There is no second fee for entering the overlook; the $10 covers everything from the gate to the rim.
On my July 2025 visits the attendant processed contactless card payments in under 30 seconds and the bottleneck was never at the booth itself — it was the queue of cars waiting to enter the lot, which on a peak afternoon stretched 15-20 vehicles back toward US-89.
What the fee is not: it is not a National Park entry fee (Horseshoe Bend sits on city-managed land, not federal land), and it is not part of the America the Beautiful pass. If you have an annual NPS pass it does not apply here. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area surrounds Horseshoe Bend on most sides but the overlook lot itself was carved out from federal jurisdiction and transferred to the city in the mid-2010s, which is why this lot has a separate fee structure to anything you have seen at Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell or the Grand Canyon.
Where exactly is the parking lot?
On US-89, 4.3 miles south of downtown Page. The entrance is on the west side of the highway, well signed (look for the brown attraction sign about a mile before). The GPS coordinates of the parking lot gate are approximately 36.8775°N, -111.5031°W (the overlook rim itself sits ~400 m west of the gate); pin those in your maps app before you leave Page in case cell service drops on the drive south.
From other staging points:
- Page town centre: 5–8 minutes by car.
- Antelope Canyon (Upper): 10 minutes east via US-98 then south on US-89.
- Glen Canyon Dam Overlook: 5 minutes north — same highway, opposite direction.
- Las Vegas: 4.5 hours via Hoover Dam and US-89. See the dedicated Las Vegas day-trip guide.
Vehicle types and pricing
| Vehicle | Fee | Where to park | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard car / SUV | $10 | Main lot (~300 spaces) | Default rate; covers up to 7-passenger vehicles |
| Motorcycle | $5 | Main lot, designated row | Half rate; reserved row near the trailhead |
| RV / campervan | $35 | Separate oversized lot | Anything over 22 ft or with a trailer; staff direct you on arrival |
| Tour bus / coach | $140 | Oversized lot (designated bays) | Per City of Page commercial vehicle schedule; verify with operator |
| ADA / disabled placard | $10 | ADA spaces near trailhead (~12) | Same fee as standard, closest spaces to the path |
Pricing per City of Page Parks & Recreation, May 2026. Subject to change at the start of each fiscal year (October).
When to arrive (and when to avoid)
The lot fills up but turnover is fast. Most visitors spend 60–90 minutes from arrival to departure (parking, walk in, time at the rim, walk out), so the queue at the gate during peak afternoon is rarely longer than 10–20 minutes even when the lot is technically full.
By time of day:
- Sunrise (~5:30–7:00 am): Lot is roughly 25–40% full. Worst light for photography (river is in shadow), but the easiest parking experience of the day.
- 9:00 am – 1:00 pm:Crowd builds steadily. Lot reaches 70–90%. Tour buses arrive in waves, mostly between 11 am and 1 pm — that hour is the lot's busiest.
- 1:00 – 3:30 pm: Peak. Expect 10-20 minute waits at the gate. Worst time to arrive if you have a tight schedule.
- 3:30 – 6:00 pm: The afternoon-light window for photography (see the Horseshoe Bend pillar for why this is when the river is properly lit). Lot stays at 70–80% but with steady turnover.
- 6:00 – 8:00 pm (summer): Crowd thins quickly. Easiest parking of the afternoon, last 90 minutes of usable light.
Practical rule of thumb: arrive before 3:30 pm or after 6:30 pm in summer to skip the queue. Outside June–August the wait at the gate is rarely an issue at any hour.
RV, oversized vehicles and trailers
RVs, campervans and any vehicle over 22 feet pay $35 to park at Horseshoe Bend. The oversized lot sits adjacent to the main lot but has its own access loop, dedicated attendant signage and approximately 40 oversized bays (counted during the July 2025 visit). The $35 rate is triggered by any oneof three conditions: (a) the vehicle is classified as a recreational vehicle (Class A, B or C, regardless of length — so a 19-foot Class B campervan pays $35), (b) the vehicle exceeds 22 feet in length, or (c) the vehicle is towing a trailer of any length.
What the oversized lot does and does not have:
- Has: dedicated bays, paved surface, restrooms shared with the main lot, easy 30-second walk to the trailhead.
- Does not have: hookups (no electric, no water, no sewage), shade, dump station. There are no overnight stays — see the FAQ on overnight parking.
For RV road trips needing an overnight base near Horseshoe Bend, the realistic options are Page-Lake Powell Campground (in town, full hookups), Wahweap Campground (12 minutes north on the Lake Powell side, full hookups, operated by the Lake Powell Resorts concessioner) or Lone Rock Beach (BLM dispersed camping on the Utah side, no hookups, beach access).
Accessibility (ADA) parking and path
Horseshoe Bend has had partial ADA accessibility since the City completed the 2020 access upgrade. The lot has roughly 12 ADA-marked spaces immediately adjacent to the trailhead, with no shuttle required — the spaces are 30 metres from the path entrance. Same $10 fee as standard, no separate ADA permit charge.
The trail itself splits roughly halfway along (around 500–600 metres from the trailhead). The left branch is the accessibility path — packed surface, wider, gentle gradient, ending at a raised fenced viewing platform. The right branch is the original sandy path ending at the unfenced main overlook. Practical notes from the field trip:
- Standard wheelchairs can manage the left branch with one assistant pushing, especially on the return leg (the gentle slope reverses into a slight uphill).
- Power chairs handle it unassisted.
- Strollers roll along the packed surface but may need to be lifted over a short transition near the platform.
- The surface is still exposed sand in places after winter storms or strong winds — if you are travelling with someone in a wheelchair, call ahead to City of Page Parks & Recreation for current conditions.
- The unfenced main overlook itself is not accessible. The platform on the left branch is the only guardrailed viewing spot.
What the lot has (and what it does not)
What is in the parking area:
- Restrooms at the trailhead — clean, well-maintained, open whenever the lot is staffed.
- Shade ramada with picnic benches, near the trailhead.
- Drinking water fountain — sometimes operational, do not rely on it. Bring water from town.
- Trash cans at trailhead and at the rim.
- Information board with current trail conditions, sunset time, and any closures.
What it does not have:
- No food, no vending. Eat in Page before you come.
- No visitor centre or staffed information booth — the attendant booth is for parking fees only.
- No gift shop. The closest is in downtown Page.
- No phone signal in parts of the trail (Verizon and AT&T weakest here). Drop a pin in maps before leaving Page.
- No drone use — the area is inside Glen Canyon NRA airspace and on the boundary of Navajo Nation land. Both ban drones; rangers actively enforce.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to park at Horseshoe Bend?
$10 per standard vehicle as of May 2026, collected at a single attendant booth at the lot entrance by the City of Page Parks & Recreation. Card and cash both accepted. Motorcycles pay $5; oversized vehicles, RVs and commercial vans pay $35. Tour buses pay $140. There is no entry fee for the overlook itself — the $10 only covers parking.
Is there free parking near Horseshoe Bend?
No. There is no legal free alternative within walking distance. The shoulder of US-89 is signed as no-parking and the City of Page enforces it actively. The lot is the only access point, and the $10 fee is non-negotiable. If you object on principle, the realistic alternative is to skip Horseshoe Bend and visit the free Glen Canyon Dam Overlook five minutes north — different view, same canyon system, no parking fee.
Do you need to book or reserve a parking spot?
No reservations. Parking is first-come, first-served. The lot has roughly 300 standard spaces and during summer afternoons (4-6 pm peak) it fills up — but turnover is fast because most visitors stay 60-90 minutes total. If the lot is full when you arrive, attendants will hold you in a short queue at the entrance until a space frees up; expect a 10-20 minute wait at peak hour.
What time does the parking lot open?
The lot itself has no physical gate and is technically accessible 24 hours, but the attendant booth (and therefore fee collection and any visitor services) is staffed roughly from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Outside those hours you can park if you arrived earlier or you might find the booth unattended — in either case the City still expects the fee, which is collected on exit if needed.
Can I park overnight or sleep in the lot?
No. Overnight stays, camping and sleeping in vehicles are prohibited. Page Parks & Recreation patrols the lot and enforces the policy. If you are travelling by RV or campervan, the nearest legal overnight options are the Page-Lake Powell Campground, Wahweap Campground (Lake Powell side) and several BLM dispersed-camping areas north of Page on US-89.
Is the America the Beautiful pass valid at Horseshoe Bend?
No. America the Beautiful (the federal annual interagency pass) does not apply to Horseshoe Bend because the parking lot is on city-managed land, not federal land. Horseshoe Bend was carved out from Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and transferred to the City of Page in the mid-2010s, which is why this lot has its own separate $10 fee structure. National Park passes do not grant any discount or exemption.
Is the parking lot paved or dirt?
Paved, with marked spaces. The fee gate, attendant booth, restrooms and a small shade ramada are all on paved surface. The trail itself starts as packed surface (the 2020 accessibility path on the left branch) before turning to compacted sand toward the overlook. The right branch — original sandy path — never sees pavement.
About this guide
Written by Diego Fresno, travel writer and independent publisher specialising in the American Southwest. This parking guide draws on three lot visits during the July 2025 field trip (sunrise, midday and the afternoon-light window) plus current City of Page Parks & Recreation parking-fee schedule cross-checked in May 2026. Verified quarterly — last review April 2026. About the author →
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