By road, El Bolsón and Chaitén, Chile are about 242 miles (390 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 4 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 142, at Paso Futaleufú.
Full advisory: Argentina, Chile. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Chile: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
| Distance by road | 242 mi (390 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RN259 |
| Border crossing | about mile 142, Argentina → Chile (Paso Futaleufú) |
| Regions on the route | Río Negro, Chubut, Los Lagos |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Chile
The route crosses at about mile 142, at Paso Futaleufú, from Chubut into Los Lagos. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Chile | Foreign-plated cars entering Chile need SOAPEX, Chile's mandatory accident insurance for foreign vehicles, unless an international agreement covers the car. Keep the certificate with the car's papers. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from El Bolsón to Chaitén is like
RN40 (94 mi) and RN259 (47 mi) carry about 58% of the 242 miles. The first 142 miles are in Argentina; the last 100 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Río Negro, Chubut, Los Lagos. None of the 3 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
El Bolsón to Chaitén: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Río Negro |
| RN40 | 1–95 | 94 | Río Negro, Chubut |
| RN259 | 95–142 | 47 | Chubut |
| local roads | 142–242 | 100 | Los Lagos |
- Mile 4 of this route: Río Negro → Chubut (region line)
- Mile 142 of this route: Chubut → Los Lagos (international border)
What to see on the way from El Bolsón to Chaitén
- Nature and outdoors: Lago Puelo National Park (mile 8), Futaleufú National Reserve (mile 147)
- Museums and history: Museo Leleque (mile 50)
Lago Puelo National Park
Covering 276.74 square kilometers in northwestern Chubut, Lago Puelo National Park is an Argentine national park in Patagonia.
Museo Leleque
Near kilometer 1440 of Ruta Nacional 40 in Leleque, Chubut, this history museum opened in 1998 in the steppe at the foot of the Andes, about 100 m from the tracks of La Trochita.
Futaleufú National Reserve
Managed by CONAF, Futaleufú National Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Patagonia section of southern Chile.
More drives to Chaitén
- Coyhaique to Chaitén
- San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén, Chile
- Puerto Madryn to Chaitén, Chile
- Rawson to Chaitén, Chile
- San Martín de los Andes to Chaitén, Chile
More drives from El Bolsón
- El Bolsón to Villa El Chocón
- El Bolsón to Curacautín, Chile
- El Bolsón to Frutillar, Chile
- El Bolsón to Monte Águila, Chile
- El Bolsón to Monte Verde, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Bolsón to Chaitén, Chile?
About 6 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 242 miles.
How far is Chaitén, Chile from El Bolsón by car?
About 242 miles (390 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 El Bolsón to Chaitén drive cross the border?
At about mile 142, from Argentina into Chile, at Paso Futaleufú.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from El Bolsón into Chile?
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. A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated July 02, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the El Bolsón to Chaitén drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from El Bolsón to Chaitén use?
In order: RN40 and RN259. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from El Bolsón to Chaitén?
Closest to the road: Lago Puelo National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 8, 11 mi from the route); Museo Leleque (museum, mile 50, 2 mi from the route); Futaleufú National Reserve (national reserve, mile 147, 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.