By road, El Colorado and Barreal, Argentina are about 244 miles (393 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 15 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 119, 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Total distance | 244 mi (393 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 119, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Barreal
The route crosses at about mile 119, 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.
How the El Colorado to Barreal drive plays out
RN149 (70 mi) and RN7 (55 mi) carry about 51% of the 244 miles. The first 119 miles are in Chile; the last 125 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
El Colorado to Barreal: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 1–22 | 21 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 22–35 | 13 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 35–36 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 36–72 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 72–73 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 73–76 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 76–78 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 78–85 | 7 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 85–119 | 34 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 119–174 | 55 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 174–244 | 70 | Mendoza, San Juan |
- Mile 63 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 214 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
What to see on the way from El Colorado to Barreal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 131)
- Nature and outdoors: Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 19), Rosaleda del Parque Araucano (mile 28), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 43), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 97), El Leoncito National Park (mile 231)
- Museums and history: Museum of Local Traditional Housing (mile 29), Museo de Anatomía (mile 32), Puente del Inca (mile 131)
Apoquindo Waterfall
Fed by snowmelt from Cerro San Ramón and Cerro Provincia, Apoquindo Waterfall lies in Aguas de Ramón Natural Park on the east side of Santiago, near Apoquindo.
National Astronomical Observatory
On Cerro Calán in Las Condes, Chile's National Astronomical Observatory is owned and operated by the University of Chile's Department of Astronomy.
Rosaleda del Parque Araucano
Inside Santiago's Parque Araucano, this 2,000-square-meter rose garden displays a range of rose species and varieties.
Museum of Local Traditional Housing
Also known as the Museum of Chilean Housing, the Museum of Local Traditional Housing sits in the Bosque Santiago area of Santiago's Parque Metropolitano.
Museo de Anatomía
Museo de Anatomía is a museum that belongs to the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Chile.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to Barreal
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Capilla del Monte to Barreal
- Villa Carlos Paz to Barreal
- Córdoba, Argentina to Barreal
- Viña del Mar to Barreal, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Barreal, Argentina
More drives from El Colorado
- El Colorado to Algarrobo
- El Colorado to Quintay
- El Colorado to Reñaca
- El Colorado to Vicuña
- El Colorado to Pisco Elqui
- El Colorado to Punta de Choros
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from El Colorado to Barreal, Argentina?
About 6 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 244 miles.
How far is Barreal, Argentina from El Colorado by car?
About 244 miles (393 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 Colorado to Barreal drive cross the border?
At about mile 119, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from El Colorado 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 El Colorado to Barreal, 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 El Colorado to Barreal?
In order: G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7 and RN149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from El Colorado to Barreal?
Closest to the road: National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 25, 1 mi from the route); Museum of Local Traditional Housing (museum, mile 29, 1 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 131, 0.3 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.