La Rioja to San Lorenzo is about 431 road miles (694 km): roughly 8 h 28 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.”
| Distance by road | 431 mi (694 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN38 → RN1V38 → RN9 → RP57 |
| Provinces on the route | La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
How the La Rioja to San Lorenzo drive plays out
RN38 (190 mi) and RN9 (181 mi) carry about 86% of the 431 miles. It runs through 4 provinces: La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: La Rioja to San Lorenzo
| 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 | 237–418 | 181 | Tucumán, Salta |
| RP57 | 418–424 | 6 | Salta |
| local roads | 424–431 | 7 | 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)
Stops between La Rioja and San Lorenzo
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.
Laureano Brizuela Art Museum
Set in an old house in the center of San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, this art museum carries the name of its founder, painter and photographer Laureano Brizuela, and dates back to 1935.
Casa de Tucumán
Built in colonial times in San Miguel de Tucumán, Casa de Tucumán is the historic house and museum where Argentina's Declaration of Independence was issued on July 9, 1816.
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.
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 is the drive from La Rioja to San Lorenzo?
About 8 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 431 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Rioja to San Lorenzo?
About 431 miles (694 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 Lorenzo drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from La Rioja to San Lorenzo?
In order: RN38, RN1V38, RN9 and RP57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Rioja and San Lorenzo?
Closest to the road: San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca Cathedral (basilica, mile 96, 2 mi from the route); Casa de Tucumán (museum, mile 233, 2 mi from the route); Basílica de la Merced (basilica, mile 234, 2 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.