Plan on about 3 h 22 min of driving for the 160-mile (257 km) trip from Los Andes to Santa Cruz, Chile, before any stops.
Full advisory: Chile. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 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.”
| Distance | 160 mi (257 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Los Andes to Santa Cruz: the shape of the trip
E-57 (4 mi) carries about 2% of the 160 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Los Andes to Santa Cruz
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 1–5 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 5–6 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 6–42 | 36 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 42–43 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 43–160 | 117 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
- Mile 15 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 85 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Santa Cruz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 52), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 119)
- Nature and outdoors: Colina Thermal Baths (mile 27), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 35)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Jorge, Santiago de Chile (mile 47), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 52), Paine Memorial (mile 73), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 119)
Colina Thermal Baths
In the north of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region, the Colina Thermal Baths (Baños de Colina) are hot springs on the Colina River used for both medicinal and tourist purposes.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Catedral de San Jorge, Santiago de Chile
On Santa Filomena street in the Patronato neighborhood of Recoleta, St. George's Cathedral is the seat of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Chile under the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Teatro Teletón
Owned by the Teletón Chile Foundation, Teatro Teletón is a theater on Mario Kreutzberger Street in Santiago, near Santa Ana Metro station and beside the Autopista Central.
Centro Cultural Teatro Huemul
Built between 1914 and 1917 for the centennial of the republic, Teatro Huemul in Santiago's Barrio Huemul was declared a National Historic Monument in 2016.
Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio
Chile's Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio is a national museum dedicated to sharing the country's aviation heritage with visitors.
Paine Memorial
About twenty miles south of Santiago, the Paine Memorial in the rural community of Paine honors local residents who were abducted or unlawfully arrested and then killed under the Pinochet dictatorship.
Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo
A Catholic church in the city of Rengo, the Basílica de Santa Ana is one of Chile's nine minor basilicas, with roots going back to the colonial period.
Teatro Municipal de San Fernando
Teatro Municipal de San Fernando is a public theater in the commune of San Fernando, Colchagua Province, in Chile's Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region.
Arriving in Santa Cruz
Museo de Colchagua
In Santa Cruz, in Chile's O'Higgins Region, Museo de Colchagua is a private museum managed by the Fundación Cardoen, led by businessman Carlos Cardoen.
More drives to Santa Cruz
- Algarrobo to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Santiago, Chile to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Viña del Mar to Santa Cruz, Chile
- El Colorado to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Coquimbo to Santa Cruz, Chile
- La Serena to Santa Cruz, Chile
From Los Andes to other places in Chile
- 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 does it take to drive from Los Andes to Santa Cruz, Chile?
About 3 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 160 miles.
How far is Santa Cruz, Chile from Los Andes by car?
About 160 miles (257 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 Los Andes to Santa Cruz drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Los Andes and Santa Cruz?
Closest to the road: Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (museum, mile 52, 0.5 mi from the route); Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (basilica, mile 119, 0.7 mi from the route); Teatro Municipal de San Fernando (theater, mile 134, 1 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.