The Wayro route from Chillán to Maipú, Argentina is 467 miles (752 km), about 9 h 36 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 340, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 467 mi (752 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RP60 → RP5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 340, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 340, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Valparaíso 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.
How the Chillán to Maipú drive plays out
RN7 (103 mi) and RP60 (6 mi) carry about 23% of the 467 miles. The first 340 miles are in Chile; the last 127 are in Argentina. It runs through 6 regions: Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Chillán and Maipú
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–254 | 254 | Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 254–256 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 256–293 | 37 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 293–296 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 296–299 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 299–304 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 304–340 | 36 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 340–443 | 103 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 443–444 | 1 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 444–449 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 449–453 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 453–457 | 4 | Mendoza |
| RP60 | 457–463 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RP5 | 463–467 | 4 | Mendoza |
- Mile 32 of this route: Ñuble → Maule (region line)
- Mile 144 of this route: Maule → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 214 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 284 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 340 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Maipú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa natal de Violeta Parra (mile 16), Teatro Victoria (mile 131), Puente del Inca (mile 352), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 459)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 263)
- Museums and history: Casa natal de Violeta Parra (mile 16), O'Higginiano Historical Museum (mile 93), Pukara of La Compañía (mile 207), Museo de Artes Visuales (mile 250), Puente del Inca (mile 352), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 459)
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.
O'Higginiano Historical Museum
Housed in the Casa de la Independencia in Talca, the O'Higginiano Historical Museum is an art museum that has operated under its current name since August 20, 1964.
Teatro Victoria
Pukara of La Compañía
On the hill above the village of La Compañía, in Graneros, this site holds remains of a Promaucae fortress later used by the Incas, the southernmost surviving Inca structure.
Teatro Manuel Rodríguez
Opened in 1941 facing Plaza Manuel Rodríguez in Santiago's Barrio República, this theater is named for Colonel Manuel Rodríguez, a hero of Chile's independence.
Museo de Artes Visuales
Next to the Museo Arqueológico de Santiago on Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro, the Museo de Artes Visuales is in Santiago's Barrio Lastarria.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca is a natural rock arch spanning the Las Cuevas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River. It stands beside the village of the same name in Las Heras Department, Mendoza Province.
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
Once you reach Maipú
Mendoza Wine Museum
Run by Bodega La Rural about 16 km from the city of Mendoza, the Mendoza Wine Museum (Museo del Vino) displays objects from the region's winemaking going back to colonial times.
More drives to Maipú
- La Rioja to Maipú
- Catamarca to Maipú
- Valparaíso to Maipú, Argentina
- Talca to Maipú, Argentina
- Rancagua to Maipú, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Maipú, 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 Maipú, Argentina?
About 9 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 467 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chillán to Maipú, Argentina?
About 467 miles (752 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 Maipú drive cross the border?
At about mile 340, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
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 Maipú 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 Maipú use?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RP60 and RP5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chillán to Maipú?
Closest to the road: Casa natal de Violeta Parra (museum, mile 16, 0.4 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 352, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional Americanista (museum, mile 459, 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.