By road, La Paz, Bolivia and La Quiaca, Argentina are about 511 miles (822 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 46 min of driving. You cross from Bolivia into Argentina at about mile 510, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Argentina. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 511 mi (822 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | F1 → F30 → F21 → F14 |
| Border crossing | about mile 510, Bolivia → Argentina (La Quiaca–Villazón) |
| Regions on the route | La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Jujuy |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to La Quiaca
The route crosses at about mile 510, at La Quiaca–Villazón, from Potosí into Jujuy. 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 Bolivia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Bolivia | You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. |
| 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, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from La Paz to La Quiaca
F1 (202 mi) and F30 (123 mi) carry about 64% of the 511 miles. The first 510 miles are in Bolivia; the last 1 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: La Paz, Oruro, Potosí, Jujuy. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: La Paz to La Quiaca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | La Paz |
| connecting roads | 4–8 | 4 | La Paz |
| F1 | 8–210 | 202 | La Paz, Oruro |
| F30 | 210–333 | 123 | Oruro, Potosí |
| connecting roads | 333–334 | 1 | Potosí |
| F21 | 334–451 | 117 | Potosí |
| connecting roads | 451–453 | 2 | Potosí |
| F14 | 453–508 | 55 | Potosí |
| local roads | 508–511 | 3 | Potosí, Jujuy |
- Mile 98 of this route: La Paz → Oruro (region line)
- Mile 256 of this route: Oruro → Potosí (region line)
- Mile 510 of this route: Potosí → Jujuy (international border)
Where to stop on the way to La Quiaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Chacoma Tombs (mile 15), Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 157), Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (mile 501)
- Museums and history: Tama Chullpa (mile 77), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción (mile 138), Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 157)
Chacoma Tombs
Found in 2017 on the Altiplano near Chacoma and Mazo Cruz in Viacha municipality, the Chacoma Tombs (Tumbas de Chacoma) are a necropolis of underground, cave-like burial chambers, unlike the region's chullpa burial towers.
Tama Chullpa
On the Bolivian Altiplano near the community of Culli Culli Alto, Tama Chullpa is a necropolis of funerary towers, or chullpas, attributed to the pre-Inca Pacajes culture of the Late Intermediate period.
Arenales de Cochiraya
Northwest of Oruro, the Arenales de Cochiraya are 150 hectares of sand formations at the foot of Cerro San Pedro, protected as cultural and landscape heritage and home to a sand sculpture festival since 2004.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
Oruro's cathedral has been the seat of the Diocese of Oruro since 1924 and stands where the Jesuits' 17th-century church, finished in 1702, once stood.
Machacamarca Railway museum
The Machacamarca Railway Museum (Museo Ferroviario de Machacamarca) is a railway museum in the municipality of Machacamarca, in Bolivia's Oruro department.
Ecoparque Encantado Protected Municipal Area
Within the municipality of Tupiza, in Potosí's Sud Chichas province, Ecoparque Encantado is a municipal protected area in southern Bolivia.
Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas
Covering 58,480 hectares of semi-arid puna between 3,200 and 4,700 meters, Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas is a municipal protected area in Villazón, Potosí.
More drives to La Quiaca
- Catamarca to La Quiaca
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Cochabamba to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Oruro to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Quillacollo to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Villa Tunari to La Quiaca, Argentina
More drives from La Paz
- La Paz, Bolivia to Coroico
- La Paz, Bolivia to Llallagua
- La Paz, Bolivia to Challapata
- La Paz, Bolivia to Quillacollo
- La Paz, Bolivia to Villa Tunari
- La Paz, Bolivia to Cochabamba
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Paz, Bolivia to La Quiaca, Argentina?
About 12 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 511 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Paz, Bolivia to La Quiaca, Argentina?
About 511 miles (822 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 La Paz to La Quiaca drive cross the border?
At about mile 510, from Bolivia into Argentina, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from La Paz 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 La Paz, Bolivia to La Quiaca, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from La Paz to La Quiaca use?
In order: F1, F30, F21 and F14. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Paz and La Quiaca?
Closest to the road: Chacoma Tombs (necropolis, mile 15, 0.7 mi from the route); Machacamarca Railway museum (railway museum, mile 157, 0.4 mi from the route); Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (protected area, mile 501, 0.9 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.