Plan on about 10 h 18 min of driving for the 514-mile (827 km) trip from La Rioja to Uquía, before any stops.
Full advisory: Argentina. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 514 mi (827 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN38 → RN1V38 → RN9 → RN34 → RN1V66 |
| Provinces on the route | La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The La Rioja–Uquía drive in a few lines
RN9 (233 mi) and RN38 (190 mi) carry about 82% of the 514 miles. It runs through 5 provinces: La Rioja, Catamarca, Tucumán, Salta, Jujuy. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
La Rioja to Uquía: the road sequence
| 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 | 237–397 | 160 | Tucumán, Salta |
| RN34 | 397–417 | 20 | Salta, Jujuy |
| RN1V66 | 417–441 | 24 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 441–514 | 73 | Jujuy |
- 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)
- Mile 413 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (province line)
What to see on the way from La Rioja to Uquía
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Posta de Hornillos (mile 487), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 493), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 494)
- Museums and history: San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca Cathedral (mile 96), Laureano Brizuela Art Museum (mile 96), Casa de Tucumán (mile 233), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (mile 234), Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy (mile 442), Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (mile 444), Posta de Hornillos (mile 487), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 493), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 494)
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 Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Known locally as Santo Domingo church, this Tucumán basilica began construction in 1863 and again in 1883, after Dominicans were brought from Lules to meet the city's need for priests.
Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy
The Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of San Salvador de Jujuy and is counted among Argentina's historic buildings.
Museo Juan Galo Lavalle
Inside a mid-18th-century house declared a National Historic Monument, this provincial history museum marks the place where independence-era leader Juan Galo Lavalle was killed.
Posta de Hornillos
Dating from the colonial era, the Posta de Hornillos is a former relay post in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Tilcara department, that has worked as a history museum since 1979.
Pucará de Tilcara
On a hill just outside Tilcara in Jujuy, the Pucará de Tilcara is a pre-Inca fortification placed for easy defense and good views over a long stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting
On Rivadavia street in Tilcara, Jujuy, the Museo Nacional Terry occupies the colonial-style house where painter José Antonio Terry lived and focuses on his paintings.
More drives to Uquía
- Purmamarca to Uquía
- Salta to Uquía
- Cafayate to Uquía
- Amaicha del Valle to Uquía
- Santa María, Argentina to Uquía
- Catamarca to Uquía
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 Uquía?
About 10 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 514 miles.
How far is Uquía from La Rioja by car?
About 514 miles (827 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.
Is it safe to drive from La Rioja to Uquía?
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 Uquía use?
In order: RN38, RN1V38, RN9, RN34 and RN1V66. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Rioja and Uquía?
Closest to the road: Posta de Hornillos (museum, mile 487, 0.1 mi from the route); Pucará de Tilcara (fortress, mile 493, 0.4 mi from the route); José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (historic house museum, mile 494, 0.5 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.