Plan on about 13 h 33 min of driving for the 592-mile (953 km) trip from Antofagasta to Oruro, Bolivia, before any stops. You cross from Chile into Bolivia at about mile 257.
Full advisory: Chile, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
| Distance | 592 mi (953 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | F5 → F30 → F1 |
| Border crossing | about mile 257, Chile → Bolivia |
| Regions on the route | Antofagasta, Potosí, Oruro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 23.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing from Chile into Bolivia
The route crosses at about mile 257, from Antofagasta into Potosí. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Bolivia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Bolivia | You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. |
| Entering Chile (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for 90 days or less on a tourist passport; you get a Tourist Card valid for up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for your whole stay. |
| Driving in Chile | A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Antofagasta to Oruro drive plays out
F30 (123 mi) and F1 (72 mi) carry about 33% of the 592 miles. The first 257 miles are in Chile; the last 335 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Antofagasta, Potosí, Oruro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Antofagasta and Oruro
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–62 | 62 | Antofagasta |
| connecting roads | 62–63 | 1 | Antofagasta |
| local roads | 63–359 | 296 | Antofagasta, Potosí |
| F5 | 359–397 | 38 | Potosí |
| F30 | 397–520 | 123 | Potosí, Oruro |
| F1 | 520–592 | 72 | Oruro |
- Mile 257 of this route: Antofagasta → Potosí (international border)
- Mile 474 of this route: Potosí → Oruro (region line)
Stops between Antofagasta and Oruro
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pucará de Lasana (mile 158), Salar de Chiguana (mile 265), Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 573)
- Nature and outdoors: Baños de Ascotán (mile 214), Laguna Verde (mile 236)
- Museums and history: St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Calama (mile 134), Pucará de Lasana (mile 158), Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 573)
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Calama
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, also called Calama Cathedral, is the main Catholic church of the Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama in Chile.
Pucará de Lasana
Built in the 12th century, the Pucará de Lasana is a pre-Columbian fortress in the village of Lasana, El Loa Province, roughly 900 years old.
Baños de Ascotán
South of the Ascotán salt flat, the Baños de Ascotán are a group of three hot springs.
Salar de Ascotán
Salar de Ascotán, also known as Salar de Cebollar, is a salt flat in northern Chile whose drainage basin of 1,455 square kilometers is shared with Bolivia.
Laguna Verde
Laguna Verde is a shallow saltwater lagoon in the Antofagasta Region, within the drainage basin of the Salar de Carcote.
Salar de Carcote
Also known as Salar de San Martín, Salar de Carcote is a salt flat in northern Chile, lying southwest of the town of Ollagüe.
Salar de Chiguana
Near the Chilean border in Bolivia's Potosí department, the Salar de Chiguana is a salt flat in a depression fed by small streams from the mountains.
Machacamarca Railway museum
The Machacamarca Railway Museum (Museo Ferroviario de Machacamarca) is a railway museum in the municipality of Machacamarca, in Bolivia's Oruro department.
Once you reach Oruro
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
Oruro's cathedral has been the seat of the Diocese of Oruro since 1924 and stands where the Jesuits' 17th-century church, finished in 1702, once stood.
Conchupata Lighthouse
The Conchupata Lighthouse (Faro de Conchupata) is a lighthouse structure located in the Bolivian city of Oruro.
Basílica menor de Nuestra Señora del Socavón
On Pie de Gallo hill in Oruro, this Catholic basilica honors the Virgin of the Socavón, patron of the city's miners and the heart of the Oruro Carnival. Bolivia declared it national cultural heritage in 2013.
More drives to Oruro
More drives from Antofagasta
- Antofagasta to Iquique
- Antofagasta to Arica
- Antofagasta to Putre
- Antofagasta to Caldera
- Antofagasta to Copiapó
- Antofagasta to La Serena
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Antofagasta to Oruro, Bolivia?
About 13 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 592 miles.
What is the driving distance from Antofagasta to Oruro, Bolivia?
About 592 miles (953 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Antofagasta to Oruro drive cross the border?
At about mile 257, from Chile into Bolivia.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Antofagasta into Bolivia?
No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated May 07, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Antofagasta to Oruro, Bolivia?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Antofagasta to Oruro?
In order: F5, F30 and F1. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Antofagasta to Oruro?
Closest to the road: Pucará de Lasana (archaeological site, mile 158, 0.4 mi from the route); Salar de Chiguana (salt flat, mile 265, 0.3 mi from the route); Machacamarca Railway museum (railway museum, mile 573, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.