La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres is about 528 road miles (850 km): roughly 10 h 48 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Argentina. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 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.”
| Total distance | 528 mi (850 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN38 → RN1V38 → RN9 → RP59 → RP24 → RN51 |
| Provinces on the route | La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres
RN38 (190 mi) and RN9 (184 mi) carry about 71% of the 528 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Province |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | La Rioja |
| RN38 | 3–170 | 167 | La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán |
| RN1V38 | 170–214 | 44 | Tucumán |
| RN38 | 214–237 | 23 | Tucumán |
| RN9 | 237–421 | 184 | Tucumán, Salta |
| connecting roads | 421–423 | 2 | Salta |
| RP59 | 423–434 | 11 | Salta |
| connecting roads | 434–436 | 2 | Salta |
| RP24 | 436–442 | 6 | Salta |
| RN51 | 442–528 | 86 | Salta |
- Mile 52 of this route: La Rioja → Catamarca (province line)
- Mile 140 of this route: Catamarca → Tucumán (province line)
- Mile 285 of this route: Tucumán → Salta (province line)
Where to stop on the way to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tastil (mile 490)
- Museums and history: San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca Cathedral (mile 96), Archaeological Museum Adam Quiroga (mile 96), Timoteo Navarro Museum of Art (mile 234), Basílica de la Merced (mile 234), Museo de Bellas Artes de Salta (mile 422), Tastil (mile 490)
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca Cathedral
Dedicated to the Virgen del Valle, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Valley stands in San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca.
Archaeological Museum Adam Quiroga
The Archaeological Museum Adam Quiroga (Museo Arqueológico Adán Quiroga) safeguards what is considered the most important collection of archaeological pieces in Catamarca province.
Timoteo Navarro Museum of Art
The Timoteo Navarro Provincial Museum of Fine Arts is the leading fine arts museum in Tucumán Province, Argentina.
Basílica de la Merced
San Miguel de Tucumán's Basílica de la Merced holds the image of Our Lady of Mercy, named General of the Argentine Army by General Manuel Belgrano on September 24, 1812.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Salta
Created by the Salta provincial government, the Museo de Bellas Artes de Salta shows a growing collection of work by local, national and international artists.
Convento de San Bernardo
Built in the late 16th or early 17th century, Convento de San Bernardo in central Salta is among the city's oldest buildings and a National Historic Monument since 1941.
Tastil
Tastil is an archaeological site you'll find near Santa Rosa de Tastil, in Argentina's Salta Province.
More drives to San Antonio de los Cobres
- San Salvador de Jujuy to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Tafí Viejo to San Antonio de los Cobres
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Santiago del Estero to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Catamarca to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Sucre to San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina
From La Rioja to other places in Argentina
- 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
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres?
About 10 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 528 miles.
How far is San Antonio de los Cobres from La Rioja by car?
About 528 miles (850 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres use?
In order: RN38, RN1V38, RN9, RP59, RP24 and RN51. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres?
Closest to the road: San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca Cathedral (basilica, mile 96, 2 mi from the route); Basílica de la Merced (basilica, mile 234, 2 mi from the route); Tastil (historic site, mile 490, 0.4 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.