Chillán to La Punta, Argentina is about 559 road miles (899 km): roughly 11 h 58 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 172, at Paso Pehuenche.
Full advisory: Chile, Argentina. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 559 mi (899 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | L-25 → L-275 → L-311 → K-85-L → RN145 → RN40 → RN144 → RN143 → RN146 → RNV146 |
| Border crossing | about mile 172, Chile → Argentina (Paso Pehuenche) |
| Regions on the route | Ñuble, Maule, Mendoza, San Luis |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to La Punta
The route crosses at about mile 172, at Paso Pehuenche, from Maule into Mendoza. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Argentina (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Argentina | A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Chillán–La Punta drive in a few lines
RN146 (166 mi) and RN40 (78 mi) carry about 44% of the 559 miles. The first 172 miles are in Chile; the last 387 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Ñuble, Maule, Mendoza, San Luis. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Chillán to La Punta, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–66 | 66 | Ñuble, Maule |
| L-25 | 66–71 | 5 | Maule |
| connecting roads | 71–74 | 3 | Maule |
| L-275 | 74–80 | 6 | Maule |
| L-311 | 80–86 | 6 | Maule |
| connecting roads | 86–88 | 2 | Maule |
| K-85-L | 88–94 | 6 | Maule |
| local roads | 94–173 | 79 | Maule, Mendoza |
| RN145 | 173–219 | 46 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 219–297 | 78 | Mendoza |
| RN144 | 297–367 | 70 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 367–373 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RN143 | 373–378 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RN146 | 378–544 | 166 | Mendoza, San Luis |
| connecting roads | 544–546 | 2 | San Luis |
| RNV146 | 546–556 | 10 | San Luis |
| local roads | 556–559 | 3 | San Luis |
- Mile 32 of this route: Ñuble → Maule (region line)
- Mile 172 of this route: Maule → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 485 of this route: Mendoza → San Luis (region line)
Where to stop on the way to La Punta
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa natal de Violeta Parra (mile 16), Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas (mile 72), San Rafael train station (mile 378)
- Nature and outdoors: Campanario Thermal Baths (mile 152), Médanos Grandes (mile 220)
- Museums and history: Casa natal de Violeta Parra (mile 16), St. Ambrose Cathedral, Linares (mile 64), Museo de Arte y Artesanía de Linares (mile 64), Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas (mile 72), San Rafael train station (mile 378)
Casa natal de Violeta Parra
Violeta Parra's birthplace in San Carlos, in Chile's Ñuble region, is now a cultural center and house museum dedicated to sharing her life and work.
St. Ambrose Cathedral, Linares
Linares Cathedral, dedicated to St. Ambrose, is the Catholic cathedral and seat of the Diocese of Linares in Chile's Maule Region.
Museo de Arte y Artesanía de Linares
Founded in 1962 with works donated by Chilean artists, this museum in Linares, in Chile's Maule Region, specializes in art and crafts.
Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas
Located in the commune of Yerbas Buenas, Linares Province, in the Maule Region, the Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas sits in a town known for its colonial-style houses.
Campanario Thermal Baths
Campanario Thermal Baths (Baños Campanario) are hot springs in Chile's Maule Region, used both for medicinal purposes and by visitors looking for a soak.
Médanos Grandes
Médanos Grandes is a dune field in west-central Argentina, a sandy landscape that covers an area of roughly 2,000 square kilometers.
San Rafael train station
San Rafael station is a railway station in the city of San Rafael, in Argentina's Mendoza Province.
More drives to La Punta
- Paraná to La Punta
- Berisso to La Punta
- Villa Unión to La Punta
- Tafí Viejo to La Punta
- Viña del Mar to La Punta, Argentina
- Rancagua to La Punta, Argentina
More drives from Chillán
- Chillán to Curicó
- Chillán to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Chillán to Pichilemu
- Chillán to El Colorado
- Chillán to Valle Nevado
- Chillán to Los Andes
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chillán to La Punta, Argentina?
About 11 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 559 miles.
How far is La Punta, Argentina from Chillán by car?
About 559 miles (899 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 Chillán to La Punta drive cross the border?
At about mile 172, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Pehuenche.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Chillán into Argentina?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Chillán to La Punta drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Chillán to La Punta use?
In order: L-25, L-275, L-311, K-85-L, RN145, RN40, RN144, RN143, RN146 and RNV146. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chillán to La Punta?
Closest to the road: Casa natal de Violeta Parra (museum, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Histórico de Yerbas Buenas (museum, mile 72, 0.2 mi from the route); San Rafael train station (railway museum, mile 378, 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.