By road, Los Andes and Capilla del Monte, Argentina are about 550 miles (885 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 19 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 42, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Chile, Argentina. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Total distance | 550 mi (885 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RN40 → RP162 → RP246 → RP270 → RP203 → RN141 → RN79 → RN77 → RN38 |
| Border crossing | about mile 42, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Córdoba |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Capilla del Monte
The route crosses at about mile 42, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Valparaíso into Mendoza. 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 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. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Los Andes–Capilla del Monte drive in a few lines
RN141 (126 mi) and RN7 (103 mi) carry about 42% of the 550 miles. The first 42 miles are in Chile; the last 508 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja, Córdoba. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Los Andes and Capilla del Monte
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 2–7 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 7–42 | 35 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 42–145 | 103 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 145–146 | 1 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 146–151 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 151–155 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 155–158 | 3 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 158–237 | 79 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| connecting roads | 237–239 | 2 | San Juan |
| RP162 | 239–245 | 6 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 245–247 | 2 | San Juan |
| RP246 | 247–259 | 12 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 259–261 | 2 | San Juan |
| RP270 | 261–266 | 5 | San Juan |
| RP203 | 266–271 | 5 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 271–273 | 2 | San Juan |
| RN141 | 273–399 | 126 | San Juan, La Rioja |
| RN79 | 399–406 | 7 | La Rioja |
| RN77 | 406–470 | 64 | La Rioja, Córdoba |
| RN38 | 470–549 | 79 | Córdoba |
| local roads | 549–550 | 1 | Córdoba |
- Mile 42 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 220 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
- Mile 350 of this route: San Juan → La Rioja (region line)
- Mile 466 of this route: La Rioja → Córdoba (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Los Andes and Capilla del Monte
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 42), Puente del Inca (mile 53), Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 168), Oratorio de la Difunta Correa (mile 288)
- Nature and outdoors: Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 20)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 53), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 160), Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 168), Casa Museo Arturo Illia (mile 524)
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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.
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.
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
Teatro Independencia
For live performances in Mendoza, Argentina, Teatro Independencia is the city's premier performing arts venue.
Museo del Área Fundacional
Founded in 1993, this museum in the city of Mendoza displays items of historical and archaeological value from the surrounding region.
Oratorio de la Difunta Correa
Pilgrims travel to this shrine in Vallecito, in San Juan Province, to venerate Deolinda Correa, known as the Difunta Correa, at the spot where her first miracle is believed to have taken place.
Santuario de San Expedito
Pilgrims come to this shrine in Bermejo, about 74 km northeast of the city of Caucete in San Juan Province, to venerate Saint Expeditus.
Casa Museo Arturo Illia
In Cruz del Eje, Córdoba province, the Casa Museo Arturo Illia preserves the home where Arturo Illia lived until 1963, when he became president of Argentina; it was declared a National Historic Monument in 2001.
More drives to Capilla del Monte
- Córdoba, Argentina to Capilla del Monte
- Paraná to Capilla del Monte
- Rosario, Argentina to Capilla del Monte
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Capilla del Monte
- Pergamino to Capilla del Monte
- Arrecifes to Capilla del Monte
More drives from Los Andes
- Los Andes to Reñaca
- Los Andes to El Colorado
- Los Andes to Valle Nevado
- Los Andes to Quintay
- Los Andes to Algarrobo
- Los Andes to Vicuña
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Los Andes to Capilla del Monte, Argentina?
About 12 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 550 miles.
What is the driving distance from Los Andes to Capilla del Monte, Argentina?
About 550 miles (885 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 Los Andes to Capilla del Monte drive cross the border?
At about mile 42, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Los Andes 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Los Andes to Capilla del Monte drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Los Andes to Capilla del Monte?
In order: E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RN40, RP162, RP246, RP270, RP203, RN141, RN79, RN77 and RN38. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Los Andes and Capilla del Monte?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 42, 0.9 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 53, 0.3 mi from the route); Oratorio de la Difunta Correa (sanctuary, mile 288, 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.