La Rioja to Los Andes, Chile is about 503 road miles (810 km): roughly 12 h 10 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 460, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Distance by road | 503 mi (810 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN38 → RN150 → RN40 → RP436 → RP414 → RP12 → RN149 → RN7 |
| Border crossing | about mile 460, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Valparaíso |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Chile
The route crosses at about mile 460, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Mendoza into Valparaíso. 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.
How the La Rioja to Los Andes drive plays out
RN150 (118 mi) and RN149 (94 mi) carry about 42% of the 503 miles. The first 460 miles are in Argentina; the last 43 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Valparaíso. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from La Rioja to Los Andes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | La Rioja |
| RN38 | 3–45 | 42 | La Rioja |
| RN150 | 45–163 | 118 | La Rioja, San Juan |
| RN40 | 163–240 | 77 | San Juan |
| RP436 | 240–254 | 14 | San Juan |
| RP414 | 254–285 | 31 | San Juan |
| RP12 | 285–311 | 26 | San Juan |
| RN149 | 311–405 | 94 | San Juan, Mendoza |
| RN7 | 405–460 | 55 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 460–503 | 43 | Valparaíso |
- Mile 100 of this route: La Rioja → San Juan (region line)
- Mile 367 of this route: San Juan → Mendoza (region line)
- Mile 460 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
Stops between La Rioja and Los Andes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Chiflón (mile 90), Puente del Inca (mile 449), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 460)
- Nature and outdoors: El Chiflón (mile 90), El Leoncito National Park (mile 350), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 483), Lobo Thermal Baths (mile 494)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 449)
El Chiflón
On National Route 150, about 70 km west of Patquía, El Chiflón Provincial Park belongs to the Talampaya–Ischigualasto geological basin and shares its landscape, geology and cultural features with those parks.
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.
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.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
High in the Andes at 3,832 meters on the Argentina–Chile border, Christ the Redeemer of the Andes was unveiled on March 13, 1904, to mark the peaceful settlement of a border dispute between the two countries.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
Lobo Thermal Baths
Thermal springs in Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Lobo Thermal Baths (Baños de Lobo) are used for both therapeutic soaking and tourism.
In Los Andes itself
Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes
Opened in 1969 by Carlos Coros, the Los Andes Archaeological Museum occupies a 19th-century house and holds a collection tied to the Aconcagua culture and the Inca civilization.
Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda
In Pocuro, in the commune of Calle Larga, this museum and cultural center occupies the house where President Pedro Aguirre Cerda was born, plus a former agricultural school. Both buildings became national monuments in 1972.
Corazon Thermal Baths
In Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Corazón Thermal Baths (Baños Corazón) are hot springs whose waters have been used for medicinal purposes.
More drives to Los Andes
- Santiago, Chile to Los Andes
- Viña del Mar to Los Andes
- Coquimbo to Los Andes
- La Serena to Los Andes
- Copiapó to Los Andes
- Rancagua to Los Andes
More drives from La Rioja
- La Rioja to Villa Carlos Paz
- La Rioja to Mendoza
- La Rioja to Maipú
- La Rioja to Tunuyán
- La Rioja to Amaicha del Valle
- La Rioja to Tafí Viejo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Rioja to Los Andes, Chile?
About 12 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 503 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Rioja to Los Andes, Chile?
About 503 miles (810 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 Rioja to Los Andes drive cross the border?
At about mile 460, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from La Rioja 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 La Rioja to Los Andes 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 La Rioja to Los Andes use?
In order: RN38, RN150, RN40, RP436, RP414, RP12, RN149 and RN7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Rioja to Los Andes?
Closest to the road: El Chiflón (park, mile 90, 0.1 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 449, 0.2 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 460, 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.