The Wayro route from Los Ángeles to Barreal, Argentina is 534 miles (859 km), about 11 h 2 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 408, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 534 mi (859 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 408, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 408, 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.
On the road from Los Ángeles to Barreal
RN149 (70 mi) and RN7 (55 mi) carry about 23% of the 534 miles. The first 408 miles are in Chile; the last 126 are in Argentina. It runs through 8 regions: Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Los Ángeles to Barreal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–323 | 323 | Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 323–325 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 325–362 | 37 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 362–365 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 365–368 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 368–373 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 373–409 | 36 | Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| RN7 | 409–464 | 55 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 464–534 | 70 | Mendoza, San Juan |
- Mile 40 of this route: Bío-Bío → Ñuble (region line)
- Mile 101 of this route: Ñuble → Maule (region line)
- Mile 213 of this route: Maule → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 283 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 352 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 408 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 503 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Los Ángeles and Barreal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laja Falls (mile 21), Centro Cultural Matucana 100 (mile 318), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 360), Puente del Inca (mile 420)
- Nature and outdoors: Laja Falls (mile 21), El Leoncito National Park (mile 519)
- Museums and history: Museo Marta Colvin (mile 71), Paine Memorial (mile 293), Centro Cultural Matucana 100 (mile 318), Puente del Inca (mile 420)
Laja Falls
Beside Ruta 5 about 25 km from Los Ángeles, the Laja River pours over four cascades up to roughly 35 meters high, cut into basalt left by ancient lava flows from the Antuco volcano.
Museo Marta Colvin
On the Fernando May campus of the Universidad del Bío-Bío in Chillán, Museo Marta Colvin presents the life and work of local sculptor Marta Colvin. It opened on July 15, 2011.
Santuario de María Auxiliadora
Run by the Salesian order, the Sanctuary of María Auxiliadora is a Catholic church and shrine in Talca, in Chile's Maule Region, opened in 1915.
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.
Teatro Caupolicán
Opened in 1936 on San Diego street in Santiago, Teatro Caupolicán is a theater and music venue.
Centro Cultural Matucana 100
Near Quinta Normal Park, Matucana 100 is a nonprofit cultural center in Estación Central hosting dance, theater, music, photography, visual arts and film programs.
Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes
Pilgrims come to the Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes in Rinconada, Valparaíso Region, to venerate the relics of Saint Teresa of the Andes, Chile's first saint. The shrine was built to receive thousands of the faithful.
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.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to Barreal
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Capilla del Monte to Barreal
- Villa Carlos Paz to Barreal
- Córdoba, Argentina to Barreal
- Viña del Mar to Barreal, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Barreal, Argentina
More drives from Los Ángeles
- Los Ángeles to Pelluhue
- Los Ángeles to Curicó
- Los Ángeles to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Los Ángeles to Pichilemu
- Los Ángeles to El Colorado
- Los Ángeles to Valle Nevado
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Los Ángeles to Barreal, Argentina?
About 11 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 534 miles.
What is the driving distance from Los Ángeles to Barreal, Argentina?
About 534 miles (859 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 Ángeles to Barreal drive cross the border?
At about mile 408, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Los Ángeles 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Los Ángeles to Barreal, Argentina?
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.
What roads does the drive from Los Ángeles to Barreal use?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7 and RN149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Los Ángeles to Barreal?
Closest to the road: Laja Falls (waterfall, mile 21, 0.4 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 360, 0.5 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 420, 0.2 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.