Page, AZ

Page is a small city in northern Arizona's Coconino County, with a population of roughly 7,800 residents. Originally established in 1957 as a planned community for workers building the Glen Canyon Dam, the city has since reinvented itself as a tourism hub, owing almost entirely to its position on the southern edge of Lake Powell. Its character is a mix of desert-town utility and gateway-to-the-Southwest charm, with wide streets, big skies, and a steady flow of visitors passing through on their way to some of the most photographed landscapes in the American West. Page sits about 275 miles north of Phoenix and roughly 130 miles north of Flagstaff, placing it within easy striking distance of several national parks and monuments in both Arizona and southern Utah.

Just a few miles south of town, the Colorado River makes its famous tight loop known as Horseshoe Bend, where sheer sandstone cliffs drop roughly 1,000 feet to the emerald water below. A short paved walk from the parking area leads to the overlook, and the spot has become one of the most iconic viewpoints in the region. Most visitors need only 10 to 15 minutes to drive there from Page, making it an easy morning or sunset stop that pairs naturally with a guided canyon tour in the afternoon.

A short drive west of Page, the twisting sandstone walls of Antelope Canyon draw photographers from around the world. The slot canyon, which lies within the Navajo Nation, is famous for the way light beams filter through the narrow openings above and illuminate the orange, swirling walls below. Both upper and lower sections are accessible only through authorized Navajo-led tours, which typically depart from Page several times a day.

The city's defining geographic feature is Lake Powell and the surrounding Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, which begins essentially at the edge of town. Boating, kayaking, and houseboating are popular ways to explore the reservoir's more than 1,900 miles of shoreline, while the nearby Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the largest natural bridges in the world, can be reached by boat across the lake or, for the more adventurous, by a long hiking approach from the Utah side.

Page works as a short-term-rental base because it concentrates so many marquee experiences within a small radius. Guests can wake up to sunrise at Horseshoe Bend, take a midday slot-canyon tour, and finish the day with a sunset cruise on Lake Powell, all without repacking the car. Its position also makes it a natural overnight stop for travelers moving between the Grand Canyon's North Rim, Monument Valley, and the national parks of southern Utah, which keeps demand for lodging steady through most of the year.