Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama is about 516 road miles (830 km): roughly 10 h 52 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Chile. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Total distance | 516 mi (830 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | B-710 → B-700 |
| Regions on the route | Atacama, Antofagasta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama is like
B-710 (69 mi) and B-700 (8 mi) carry about 15% of the 516 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Atacama, Antofagasta. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–224 | 224 | Atacama, Antofagasta |
| B-710 | 224–293 | 69 | Antofagasta |
| B-700 | 293–301 | 8 | Antofagasta |
| local roads | 301–454 | 153 | Antofagasta |
| connecting roads | 454–457 | 3 | Antofagasta |
| local roads | 457–516 | 59 | Antofagasta |
- Mile 158 of this route: Atacama → Antofagasta (region line)
Where to stop on the way to San Pedro de Atacama
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa Museo Tornini (mile 47), Faro Monumental de Chañaral (mile 103), Teatro Alhambra de Taltal (mile 193), Reserva Natural de Paposo (mile 225)
- Nature and outdoors: Pan de Azúcar National Park (mile 129), Junquillar Spring (mile 222), Reserva Natural de Paposo (mile 225)
- Museums and history: Casa Museo Tornini (mile 47), Faro de Punta Caldera (mile 47), Faro Monumental de Chañaral (mile 103), Teatro Alhambra de Taltal (mile 193), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Calama (mile 456)
Casa Museo Tornini
Exhibits at Casa Museo Tornini in Caldera, Atacama, cover the port's history, the Constituent Revolution, the War of the Pacific and Italian immigration in the late 19th century.
Faro de Punta Caldera
Inaugurated on March 1, 1868, the Faro de Punta Caldera stands on the southern point of Caldera Bay, 2 km west of Caldera. It was built of wood with a square structure unique in Chile.
Faro Monumental de Chañaral
Also called the Millennium Lighthouse, Faro Monumental de Chañaral was built in Chañaral in 2000 to mark the turn of the millennium.
Pan de Azúcar National Park
Straddling the line between the Antofagasta and Atacama regions, Pan de Azúcar is one of Chile's national parks.
Teatro Alhambra de Taltal
In Taltal, the Teatro Alhambra stands directly across from Plaza Arturo Prat, so you'll find it facing the town's square.
Junquillar Spring
Agua de Junquillar is a natural spring where water rises to the surface in Chile's Antofagasta Region.
Reserva Natural de Paposo
Paposo National Reserve is a state-protected area in the Antofagasta Region, 65 km north of the village of Paposo, with plant life set in the arid environment typical of northern Chile.
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.
In San Pedro de Atacama itself
Tulor
Near San Pedro de Atacama, Tulor is an archaeological site with the remains of a former village complex covering 5,200 square meters, plus 22 outlying structures.
Pukará de Quitor
About 3 km northwest of San Pedro de Atacama, Pukará de Quitor is a pre-Columbian stone fortress overlooking the valley of the San Pedro River.
Museo del Meteorito
San Pedro de Atacama's Museo del Meteorito keeps a permanent exhibit of meteorites found in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
More drives to San Pedro de Atacama
- Tacna to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Sucre to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Oruro to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- San Salvador de Jujuy to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
From Copiapó to other places in Chile
- Copiapó to Vicuña
- Copiapó to Pisco Elqui
- Copiapó to Reñaca
- Copiapó to Quintay
- Copiapó to Algarrobo
- Copiapó to El Colorado
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama?
About 10 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
How far is San Pedro de Atacama from Copiapó by car?
About 516 miles (830 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama use?
In order: B-710 and B-700. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama?
Closest to the road: Faro Monumental de Chañaral (lighthouse, mile 103, 0.3 mi from the route); Teatro Alhambra de Taltal (national monument, mile 193, 0.7 mi from the route); Reserva Natural de Paposo (nature area, mile 225, 0.8 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.