The Wayro route from Curicó to Villa El Chocón, Argentina is 547 miles (881 km), about 10 h 42 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 378, at Paso Pino Hachado.
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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 547 mi (881 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN242 → RN40 → RN22 → RN237 |
| Border crossing | about mile 378, Chile → Argentina (Paso Pino Hachado) |
| Regions on the route | Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío, La Araucanía, Neuquén |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Villa El Chocón
The route crosses at about mile 378, at Paso Pino Hachado, from La Araucanía into Neuquén. 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 Curicó to Villa El Chocón
RN22 (81 mi) and RN242 (36 mi) carry about 21% of the 547 miles. The first 378 miles are in Chile; the last 169 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío, La Araucanía, Neuquén. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Curicó to Villa El Chocón: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–264 | 264 | Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío, La Araucanía |
| connecting roads | 264–265 | 1 | La Araucanía |
| local roads | 265–377 | 112 | La Araucanía |
| RN242 | 377–413 | 36 | La Araucanía, Neuquén |
| RN40 | 413–444 | 31 | Neuquén |
| local roads | 444–448 | 4 | Neuquén |
| RN22 | 448–529 | 81 | Neuquén |
| RN237 | 529–546 | 17 | Neuquén |
| local roads | 546–547 | 1 | Neuquén |
- Mile 101 of this route: Maule → Ñuble (region line)
- Mile 162 of this route: Ñuble → Bío-Bío (region line)
- Mile 233 of this route: Bío-Bío → La Araucanía (region line)
- Mile 378 of this route: La Araucanía → Neuquén (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Curicó and Villa El Chocón
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Alto Bío Bío National Reserve (mile 372), Museo Carmen Funes (mile 495)
- Nature and outdoors: Tolhuaca National Park (mile 288), Malalcahuello National Reserve (mile 318), Conguillío National Park (mile 327), Alto Bío Bío National Reserve (mile 372)
- Museums and history: O'Higginiano Historical Museum (mile 40), St. Ambrose Cathedral, Linares (mile 70), Mural de María Martner a Bernardo O'Higgins (mile 134), St. Mary of the Angels Cathedral (mile 203), Museo Carmen Funes (mile 495)
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.
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.
Mural de María Martner a Bernardo O'Higgins
In Chillán Viejo's Parque Monumental Bernardo O'Higgins, on the former site of the home of O'Higgins and his mother Isabel Riquelme, sculptor María Martner created this untitled mosaic mural.
St. Mary of the Angels Cathedral
Los Ángeles Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Angels, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Santa María de Los Ángeles in Chile.
Tolhuaca National Park
Created on October 16, 1935, Tolhuaca National Park began with 3,500 hectares taken from the Malleco National Reserve and gained a second section of that reserve in 1985.
Malalcahuello National Reserve
Shaped by volcanic and glacial activity, Malalcahuello National Reserve spans the Lonquimay and Curacautín communes in the Araucanía Region, with Lonquimay Volcano, the Navidad crater and fields of recent lava rock.
Conguillío National Park
Set in the Andes of the Araucanía Region, Conguillío National Park takes in the Llaima volcano and Sierra Nevada, with islands of vegetation surrounded by broad lava flows.
Alto Bío Bío National Reserve
In the eastern Upper Bío-Bío River basin of the Araucanía Region, Alto Bío Bío National Reserve is covered mostly in Andean steppe with scattered araucaria trees.
Museo Carmen Funes
Plaza Huincul's municipal paleontology museum is known for its dinosaur fossils, including the only specimen of Argentinosaurus huinculensis and sauropod embryos found at a nesting site in Auca Mahuida.
Arriving in Villa El Chocón
Ernesto Bachmann Paleontological Museum
A municipal museum in Villa El Chocón, the Ernesto Bachmann Paleontological Museum covers the paleontology, archaeology and history of the town and its surroundings.
Cañadón Escondido
Cañadón Escondido is a small canyon in Villa El Chocón, in Argentina's Neuquén Province.
More drives to Villa El Chocón
- San Antonio Oeste to Villa El Chocón
- Bahía Blanca to Villa El Chocón
- Trelew to Villa El Chocón
- Rawson to Villa El Chocón
- El Bolsón to Villa El Chocón
More drives from Curicó
- Curicó to El Colorado
- Curicó to Valle Nevado
- Curicó to Los Andes
- Curicó to Algarrobo
- Curicó to Quintay
- Curicó to Reñaca
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Curicó to Villa El Chocón, Argentina?
About 10 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 547 miles.
How far is Villa El Chocón, Argentina from Curicó by car?
About 547 miles (881 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 Curicó to Villa El Chocón drive cross the border?
At about mile 378, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Pino Hachado.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Curicó 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Curicó to Villa El Chocón, Argentina?
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.
Which highways go from Curicó to Villa El Chocón?
In order: RN242, RN40, RN22 and RN237. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Curicó and Villa El Chocón?
Closest to the road: Mural de María Martner a Bernardo O'Higgins (historic monument, mile 134, 1 mi from the route); Alto Bío Bío National Reserve (national reserve, mile 372, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Carmen Funes (museum, mile 495, 0.2 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.