Plan on about 8 h 57 min of driving for the 424-mile (682 km) trip from El Bolsón to Curacautín, Chile, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 154, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
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.”
| Total distance | 424 mi (682 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RN231 → T-981-U → T-87 → S-11-R |
| Border crossing | about mile 154, Argentina → Chile (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Río Negro, Neuquén, Los Lagos, Los Ríos, La Araucanía |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Chile
The route crosses at about mile 154, at Paso Cardenal Samoré, from Neuquén 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.
The El Bolsón–Curacautín drive in a few lines
RN40 (133 mi) and S-11-R (33 mi) carry about 39% of the 424 miles. The first 154 miles are in Argentina; the last 270 are in Chile. It runs through 5 regions: Río Negro, Neuquén, Los Lagos, Los Ríos, La Araucanía. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from El Bolsón to Curacautín, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Río Negro |
| RN40 | 1–134 | 133 | Río Negro, Neuquén |
| RN231 | 134–153 | 19 | Neuquén |
| local roads | 153–197 | 44 | Neuquén, Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| connecting roads | 197–198 | 1 | Los Lagos |
| T-981-U | 198–220 | 22 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| T-87 | 220–234 | 14 | Los Ríos |
| connecting roads | 234–235 | 1 | Los Ríos |
| local roads | 235–388 | 153 | Los Ríos, La Araucanía |
| connecting roads | 388–390 | 2 | La Araucanía |
| S-11-R | 390–423 | 33 | La Araucanía |
| local roads | 423–424 | 1 | La Araucanía |
- Mile 88 of this route: Río Negro → Neuquén (region line)
- Mile 154 of this route: Neuquén → Los Lagos (international border)
- Mile 166 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 176 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 200 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Los Ríos → La Araucanía (region line)
Places worth a stop between El Bolsón and Curacautín
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago Guillelmo (mile 51), Puente Chirre (mile 207), Puente Collilelfu (mile 272)
- Nature and outdoors: Área natural protegida Río Azul - Lago Escondido (mile 20), Lago Guillelmo (mile 51), Nahuel Huapi National Park (mile 109), Los Arrayanes National Park (mile 121), Puyehue National Park (mile 165)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 75), Puente Chirre (mile 207), Puente Collilelfu (mile 272), St. Joseph Cathedral, Temuco (mile 372)
Área natural protegida Río Azul - Lago Escondido
Near El Bolsón, in the Bariloche department of Patagonia, the Río Azul - Lago Escondido protected natural area covers Andean Patagonian forest.
Lago Guillelmo
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park in Río Negro's Bariloche department, Lago Guillelmo is a glacial lake ringed by Andean Patagonian forest that drains into Lake Mascardi.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi
Close to Nahuel Huapi Lake, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi is the main Catholic cathedral of San Carlos de Bariloche, set amid gardens on a large plot.
Nahuel Huapi National Park
Established in 1922 and reconfigured in 1934, Nahuel Huapi National Park surrounds Nahuel Huapi Lake in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes.
Los Arrayanes National Park
Covering the Quetrihué Peninsula on Nahuel Huapi Lake, 3 km from Villa La Angostura in Neuquén, Los Arrayanes National Park protects 17.53 square kilometers.
Puyehue National Park
In the Andes across the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions, Puyehue National Park takes in hot springs, volcanoes and evergreen forests. It was expanded in 1950 and 1981.
Puente Chirre
Built in reinforced concrete between 1940 and 1945 as a railroad bridge, Puente Chirre in Río Bueno now carries road traffic and was declared a National Monument in 2017.
Puente Collilelfu
Puente Collilelfu is a bridge in the Los Lagos commune of Valdivia province, in Chile's Los Ríos Region.
St. Joseph Cathedral, Temuco
Also known as Temuco Cathedral, St. Joseph Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral church of the city of Temuco, Chile.
More drives to Curacautín
- Villa Mercedes to Curacautín
- Talca to Curacautín
- Curicó to Curacautín
- Rancagua to Curacautín
- Santiago, Chile to Curacautín
- Los Andes to Curacautín
More drives from El Bolsón
- El Bolsón to Villa El Chocón
- El Bolsón to Frutillar, Chile
- El Bolsón to Monte Águila, Chile
- El Bolsón to Chaitén, Chile
- El Bolsón to Monte Verde, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Bolsón to Curacautín, Chile?
About 8 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 424 miles.
How far is Curacautín, Chile from El Bolsón by car?
About 424 miles (682 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 Curacautín drive cross the border?
At about mile 154, from Argentina into Chile, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
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 Curacautín 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.
Which highways go from El Bolsón to Curacautín?
In order: RN40, RN231, T-981-U, T-87 and S-11-R. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between El Bolsón and Curacautín?
Closest to the road: Lago Guillelmo (lake, mile 51, 0.4 mi from the route); Puente Chirre (historic bridge, mile 207, 0.1 mi from the route); Puente Collilelfu (historic monument, mile 272, 0.6 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.