Plan on about 11 h 51 min of driving for the 524-mile (844 km) trip from Antofagasta to Potosí, 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: “Most highways do not have shoulders, fences, or barriers, and there are few lane markings.”
| Distance | 524 mi (844 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | F5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 257, Chile → Bolivia |
| Regions on the route | Antofagasta, Potosí |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Border crossing: what to bring for 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.
On the road from Antofagasta to Potosí
F5 (164 mi) carries about 31% of the 524 miles. The first 257 miles are in Chile; the last 267 are in Bolivia. It runs through 2 regions: Antofagasta, Potosí. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Antofagasta and Potosí
| 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 | 359–523 | 164 | Potosí |
| local roads | 523–524 | 1 | Potosí |
- Mile 257 of this route: Antofagasta → Potosí (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Antofagasta and Potosí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pucará de Lasana (mile 159), Salar de Ollagüe (mile 257), Salar de Chiguana (mile 265)
- Nature and outdoors: Baños de Ascotán (mile 214)
- Museums and history: St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Calama (mile 134), Pucará de Lasana (mile 159)
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.
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 Ollagüe
Straddling the border between Bolivia and Chile, Salar de Ollagüe is a salt flat at the western edge of Potosí department, next to Chile's Antofagasta Region.
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.
Arriving in Potosí
Torre da Companhia
Torre da Companhia is a convent in the city of Potosí, Bolivia, near Cerro Rico and the Casa de la Moneda, and is seen as a symbol of the city in its heyday.
Khari Khari Lakes
About 8 km east of Potosí, the Khari Khari Lakes are two closely connected artificial lakes, San Ildefonso and San Pablo, set in the Khari Khari mountain range.
National Mint of Bolivia
The former Mint of Potosí struck much of the silver that crossed the Spanish Main as coins of the Spanish dollar, once a major world currency.
More drives to Potosí
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 does it take to drive from Antofagasta to Potosí, Bolivia?
About 11 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 524 miles.
What is the driving distance from Antofagasta to Potosí, Bolivia?
About 524 miles (844 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 Potosí 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 Potosí, 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.
What are good stops between Antofagasta and Potosí?
Closest to the road: Pucará de Lasana (archaeological site, mile 159, 0.4 mi from the route); Salar de Ollagüe (salt flat, mile 257, 0.2 mi from the route); Salar de Chiguana (salt flat, mile 265, 0.3 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.