Concepción, Chile to Mendoza, Argentina is about 527 road miles (848 km): roughly 10 h 53 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 400, 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: “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.”
| Total distance | 527 mi (848 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 400, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 400, 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.
On the road from Concepción to Mendoza
RN7 (103 mi) and RN40 (10 mi) carry about 21% of the 527 miles. The first 400 miles are in Chile; the last 127 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Bío-Bío, 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: Concepción to Mendoza
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–314 | 314 | Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 314–316 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 316–353 | 37 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 353–357 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 357–359 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 359–365 | 6 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 365–400 | 35 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 400–503 | 103 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 503–509 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 509–513 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 513–515 | 2 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 515–525 | 10 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 525–527 | 2 | Mendoza |
- Mile 30 of this route: Bío-Bío → Ñuble (region line)
- Mile 92 of this route: Ñuble → Maule (region line)
- Mile 204 of this route: Maule → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 344 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 400 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
Stops between Concepción and Mendoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Buin Zoo (mile 291), Santuario Padre Hurtado (mile 309), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 400), Puente del Inca (mile 411)
- Museums and history: Puente viejo de Confluencia (mile 40), St. Bartholomew Cathedral, Chillán (mile 62), St. Augustine Cathedral, Talca (mile 152), Museo del Ahorro (mile 310), Puente del Inca (mile 411), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 518)
- With kids: Buin Zoo (mile 291)
Puente viejo de Confluencia
A national monument, the old Confluencia bridge is a 521-meter wooden viaduct over the Ñuble River between Chillán and Portezuelo, named after the adjacent town and now used only by pedestrians.
St. Bartholomew Cathedral, Chillán
Chillán Cathedral, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is the seat of the Diocese of Chillán and stands in the city center opposite the Plaza de Armas, at Arauco and Libertad streets.
St. Augustine Cathedral, Talca
Also known as Talca Cathedral, St. Augustine Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Talca, Chile, dedicated to Saint Augustine.
Buin Zoo
Buin Zoo is a bioparque in the commune of Buin, Santiago Metropolitan Region, and a member of the Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Santuario Padre Hurtado
The Santuario Padre Hurtado in Santiago holds the tomb of Saint Alberto Hurtado, and its museum at the main entrance covers his childhood, youth, belongings, Jesuit vocation and death.
Museo del Ahorro
Inside BancoEstado's headquarters at Morandé 25, facing Plaza de la Ciudadanía in Santiago, Museo del Ahorro tells the history of the state bank, beginning with Chile's independence.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
High in the Andes at 3,832 meters on the Argentina–Chile border, Christ the Redeemer of the Andes was unveiled on March 13, 1904, to mark the peaceful settlement of a border dispute between the two countries.
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.
When you get to Mendoza
Reserva natural Divisadero Largo
About 8 km from the city of Mendoza, Divisadero Largo Nature Reserve sits in the foothills of the first Andean ranges west of town.
Mendoza Cathedral
Dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto, Mendoza Cathedral began as a 19th-century chapel and was built as an interim cathedral in 1934.
Teatro Independencia
For live performances in Mendoza, Argentina, Teatro Independencia is the city's premier performing arts venue.
More drives to Mendoza
- La Rioja to Mendoza
- Catamarca to Mendoza
- Viña del Mar to Mendoza, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Mendoza, Argentina
- Talca to Mendoza, Argentina
- Rancagua to Mendoza, Argentina
More drives from Concepción
- Concepción, Chile to Curicó
- Concepción, Chile to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Concepción, Chile to Pichilemu
- Concepción, Chile to El Colorado
- Concepción, Chile to Valle Nevado
- Concepción, Chile to Los Andes
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Concepción, Chile to Mendoza, Argentina?
About 10 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 527 miles.
How far is Mendoza, Argentina from Concepción, Chile by car?
About 527 miles (848 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 Concepción to Mendoza drive cross the border?
At about mile 400, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Concepción 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 Concepción to Mendoza 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 Concepción to Mendoza use?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Concepción to Mendoza?
Closest to the road: Buin Zoo (zoo, mile 291, 0.2 mi from the route); Santuario Padre Hurtado (sanctuary, mile 309, 0.2 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 411, 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.