Page, Arizona sits 280 miles northeast of Las Vegas — close enough to reach in a long morning, far enough that the landscape changes completely on the way. You leave the Mojave Desert on I-15, cross into Utah, pass through the red rock canyons around St. George and Kanab, then drop down to the Colorado River at Navajo Bridge before arriving in Page. The drive takes about 4 hours without stops and is one of the best road trips in the Southwest, full stop.
Distance
~280 miles from Las Vegas Strip
Drive time
~4 h direct · 4.5–5 h with stops
Main route
I-15 North → US-89 via Kanab, UT
Best stop en route
Kanab, UT (200 miles, good for lunch)
States crossed
Nevada → Utah → Arizona
Recommended stay
1–2 nights in Page
The route: I-15 North to US-89
The route from Las Vegas to Page passes through three states — Nevada, Utah, and Arizona — and the scenery changes dramatically at each transition:
- Las Vegas → St. George, UT via I-15 North (120 miles, ~1.5 h). I-15 heads northeast out of Las Vegas through the Mojave Desert, then crosses the Nevada–Utah state line around mile 50. The road climbs into the Virgin River Gorge (the most dramatic stretch of I-15 in the Southwest — sheer red canyon walls on both sides) before flattening out at St. George. St. George has the last big cluster of gas stations, fast food, and services before you get remote. Fill up here if your tank is below half.
- St. George / Hurricane → Kanab via US-89 (80 miles, ~1 h). Exit I-15 at Hurricane (or St. George) and join US-89 heading southeast. The road passes through the Arizona Strip — a remote sliver of Arizona north of the Grand Canyon that most visitors never see — before arriving at Kanab, Utah. Kanab is a small town (pop. ~5,000) known as "Little Hollywood" for the decades of Westerns filmed in the surrounding canyons. It has good lunch options, a gas station, and is the last significant town before Page.
- Kanab → Navajo Bridge → Page via US-89 (80 miles, ~1 h). South of Kanab, US-89 enters Arizona and follows the Echo Cliffs — a 50-mile wall of Navajo sandstone that turns from orange to deep red in afternoon light. The road descends to the Colorado River at Navajo Bridge (Marble Canyon), then curves northeast to Page.
Best stops along the way
1. Valley of Fire State Park, NV (35 miles from Las Vegas)
Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest state park: 40,000 acres of Aztec sandstone formations that glow deep red and orange at sunrise and sunset. It sits 35 miles northeast of Las Vegas via I-15 North and NV-169 East — a 20-minute detour off the main route.
The park is best in early morning before the desert heat sets in. If you are departing Las Vegas before 7:00 am (which you should, for a day trip), a brief Valley of Fire stop adds colour to what would otherwise be a dark highway start. The Elephant Rock and Fire Wave formations are the most photogenic and both within a 10-minute walk of the parking areas. Allow 45 minutes to 1 hour, then rejoin I-15 North toward Utah.
2. Virgin River Gorge, AZ (80 miles from Las Vegas)
You drive through this one — no exit needed. I-15 cuts through the Virgin River Gorge in a narrow strip of Arizona between Nevada and Utah, and the canyon walls rise 1,000 feet on both sides of the highway. It is arguably the most spectacular stretch of interstate highway in the United States. No stop required; keep your eyes on the road, but the passenger gets a free canyon show.
3. Kanab, UT (200 miles from Las Vegas)
Kanab is the natural lunch or coffee stop at the midpoint of the drive. The town sits at the junction of US-89 and US-89A, surrounded by red rock canyons used as backdrops in hundreds of Hollywood Westerns from the 1930s through 1970s. A few practical stops:
- Fuel: Multiple stations on the main street. Fill up here — the next stop is Page, 80 miles south.
- Parry Lodge: Historic 1930s motor lodge where John Wayne and Ronald Reagan stayed during filming. Worth driving past even if not stopping.
- Restaurants: Sego restaurant (upscale Utah Western cuisine) and Rocking V Café (local favourite, open most days for lunch) are the best options.
4. Navajo Bridge / Marble Canyon (17 miles west of Page)
The last stop before Page is the most dramatic. US-89 crosses the Colorado River at Marble Canyon on two bridges — a pedestrian walkway on the 1929 steel arch bridge and a modern 1995 vehicle bridge beside it. The Colorado River runs 467 feet below, and the canyon walls rising on both sides mark the beginning of the Grand Canyon system heading upstream.
California condors — North America's largest flying bird, with a wingspan up to 9.5 feet — are regularly spotted soaring at eye level from the pedestrian bridge. This is one of the most reliable condor-viewing spots in the country. Allow 20 minutes; the Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center (free, open April–October) has exhibits on the condor recovery program.
The Zion detour: worth it?
Zion National Park is a 30–45 minute detour off the main I-15/US-89 route. From the Hurricane exit on I-15, take UT-9 East through Springdale (Zion's entrance town), drive through the Zion–Mount Carmel tunnel (free for passenger cars), and join US-89 at Mount Carmel Junction heading southeast to Kanab and Page.
You are driving through Zion, not hiking in it. The Zion–Mount Carmel Highway (UT-9) is one of the most scenic roads in the US — the tunnel exit opens to sweeping views of the White Cliffs, and the checkerboard sandstone on the eastern side of the park is unlike anything else in the region. Even at 25 mph through the park, the visual impact is significant.
Take the Zion detour if: you are arriving Page by mid-afternoon (not a hard day-trip schedule) or you are returning to Las Vegas the next day and want to vary the route.
Skip the Zion detour if: you are doing a day trip and need to reach Page by 9:00 am for an Antelope Canyon tour. Forty-five extra minutes on a tight day-trip schedule is significant.
Day trip or overnight?
| Day trip from Las Vegas | Overnight (1–2 nights) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total drive | ~8 h round trip | Split across 2+ days |
| Depart Las Vegas | 5:00 am or earlier | Any time — 7–8 am ideal |
| Antelope Canyon | 1 tour only | Upper + Lower both possible |
| Horseshoe Bend | Mid-morning (no golden hour) | Sunrise or sunset |
| Lake Powell | No time | Boat tour or kayak possible |
| Zion detour | No — too tight | Yes, on outbound or return leg |
| Verdict | Exhausting. One activity max. | Strongly recommended |
For hotels in Page, our Page Arizona hotels guide covers all the main options. The Hyatt Place and Hampton Inn are the best value for international visitors; Lake Powell Resort (operated by Aramark) is the only property directly on the lake.
What to do in Page when you arrive
Page is small but dense with attractions within a 10-mile radius:
- Upper Antelope Canyon — the famous beam-of-light slot canyon. Tours depart every 15–20 minutes from the entrance in Page. Best light: 10:00 am–1:00 pm in summer. Book weeks ahead during April–September.
- Lower Antelope Canyon — 5 miles east of Page on AZ-98. Longer canyon, no crowds walking over you, different atmosphere. A second tour the next morning is very doable.
- Horseshoe Bend — 1.5-mile round-trip walk from US-89 South just outside Page. $10 parking. The Colorado River makes a 270° bend below a 1,000-foot cliff. Best in the hour before sunset or after sunrise.
- Lake Powell — Wahweap Marina, 3 miles north of downtown Page, has boat tours, jet ski rentals, and guided tours to Rainbow Bridge National Monument. In summer the water is warm enough to swim.
For the full plan, the Page Arizona 3-day itinerary fits all four attractions into a structured schedule.
Rental car tips for the Las Vegas–Page drive
Las Vegas is one of the largest car rental markets in the US — prices are generally competitive but fluctuate sharply around weekends and events. A few tips specific to this route:
- Book 2+ weeks ahead in summer — Las Vegas rental inventory can sell out entirely on July and August weekends, pushing walk-up rates to 3–4x normal prices.
- Consider a one-way rental if continuing to Salt Lake City, Phoenix, or Flagstaff rather than returning to Las Vegas. One-way fees are often waived or low between major Southwest cities.
- Standard car is fine — the entire route is paved and does not require 4WD. The roads to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend are also paved.
- Budget extra for gas — 560 miles round trip at ~30 mpg average is roughly 19 gallons. Gas in rural Utah and Arizona runs $0.20–0.40 more per gallon than Las Vegas.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Page Arizona from Las Vegas?
Page is approximately 280 miles from Las Vegas via I-15 North and US-89. The drive takes about 4 hours without stops. The route crosses into Utah briefly before descending into Arizona near the Colorado River at Navajo Bridge.
Is it worth driving from Las Vegas to Page Arizona?
Yes — and the drive itself is part of the appeal. The US-89 corridor through Kanab and down to Navajo Bridge is one of the most scenic roads in the Southwest. Page gives you Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Lake Powell in one location. For Las Vegas visitors, it is the closest slot canyon destination and a natural extension of a Southwest road trip.
Can you do a day trip from Las Vegas to Page Arizona?
It is possible but long — 8 hours of driving plus time in Page makes for a 13–15 hour day. Leave Las Vegas by 5:00 am at the latest. A realistic schedule: arrive Page 9:00 am, do one Antelope Canyon tour (book in advance), walk Horseshoe Bend, lunch, depart 2:30 pm, back in Las Vegas by 6:30 pm. You will have time for one major activity, not two. An overnight stay in Page is a much better use of the drive.
What is the best route from Las Vegas to Page Arizona?
The standard route is I-15 North to US-89 via Kanab, Utah — about 280 miles and 4 hours. From Las Vegas, take I-15 North into Utah (cross the state line around mile 50), continue to the Hurricane/St. George area, then take US-89 southeast through Kanab and down to Page. The road passes through the Navajo Bridge / Marble Canyon area just before reaching Page. This is by far the most common and most scenic route.
Is there gas between Las Vegas and Page Arizona?
Yes, multiple stops: St. George, UT (120 miles from Las Vegas) is the most reliable for fuel, food, and services. Kanab, UT (200 miles) also has gas stations and restaurants. After Kanab the next stop is Page itself (80 miles further). Fill up in Kanab if below half a tank.
Can you see the Grand Canyon on the way from Las Vegas to Page?
Not the main South Rim — that requires a significant detour. However, the Navajo Bridge viewpoint 17 miles west of Page gives you a spectacular view of Marble Canyon, which is the beginning of the Grand Canyon gorge system at the Colorado River. It is a free 15-minute stop directly on the route and arguably more dramatic than many viewpoints at the developed South Rim, because you are right at river level looking up.
Do Las Vegas tour buses go to Page Arizona and Antelope Canyon?
Some do — there are guided day tours from Las Vegas to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend that cover the 280-mile drive and back in one day. They are very long (14–16 hours door to door) and restrict your time in Page to 3–4 hours maximum. Self-driving with a rental car gives you more flexibility at a similar or lower total cost for two or more people.
Is Zion National Park on the way from Las Vegas to Page?
Zion is a detour of about 30–45 minutes each way off the main I-15/US-89 route. From the Hurricane exit on I-15, take UT-9 East through Springdale (the Zion entrance town) and through the Zion–Mount Carmel Tunnel, then join US-89 at Mount Carmel Junction toward Kanab. You drive through the park rather than hiking in it, but the canyon scenery from the road alone is worth the detour if you have time. If you are staying overnight, it is an easy stop on either the outbound or return leg.
About this guide
Written by Diego Fresno, travel writer and independent publisher covering the American Southwest. This guide is based on a July 2025 road trip from Las Vegas through Kanab to Page, including the Zion detour on the return leg.. Verified quarterly — last review April 2026. About the author →
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