The Wayro route from Los Ángeles to El Bolsón, Argentina is 475 miles (764 km), about 9 h 54 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 321, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
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: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Total distance | 475 mi (764 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | T-87 → T-981-U → RN231 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 321, Chile → Argentina (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Bío-Bío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Neuquén, Río Negro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 321, at Paso Cardenal Samoré, from Los Lagos into Neuquén. 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 El Bolsón
RN40 (134 mi) and T-981-U (22 mi) carry about 33% of the 475 miles. The first 321 miles are in Chile; the last 154 are in Argentina. It runs through 6 regions: Bío-Bío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Neuquén, Río Negro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Los Ángeles and El Bolsón
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–240 | 240 | Bío-Bío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos |
| T-87 | 240–255 | 15 | Los Ríos |
| T-981-U | 255–277 | 22 | Los Ríos, Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 277–278 | 1 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 278–321 | 43 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| RN231 | 321–341 | 20 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 341–475 | 134 | Neuquén, Río Negro |
- Mile 33 of this route: Bío-Bío → La Araucanía (region line)
- Mile 181 of this route: La Araucanía → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 299 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 321 of this route: Los Lagos → Neuquén (international border)
- Mile 388 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Los Ángeles and El Bolsón
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Municipal de Collipulli (mile 42), Puente Collilelfu (mile 203), Lago Guillelmo (mile 424)
- Nature and outdoors: Puyehue National Park (mile 310), Los Arrayanes National Park (mile 354), Nahuel Huapi National Park (mile 365), Lago Guillelmo (mile 424)
- Museums and history: St. Joseph Cathedral, Temuco (mile 102), Puente Collilelfu (mile 203), Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 400), Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia (mile 400)
Teatro Municipal de Collipulli
Opened in 1942, the Teatro Municipal de Collipulli is a public cultural venue in this Malleco Province town in northern La Araucanía, and one of the commune's main architectural and cultural landmarks.
St. Joseph Cathedral, Temuco
Also known as Temuco Cathedral, St. Joseph Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral church of the city of Temuco, Chile.
Puente Collilelfu
Puente Collilelfu is a bridge in the Los Lagos commune of Valdivia province, in Chile's Los Ríos Region.
Puyehue National Park
In the Andes across the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions, Puyehue National Park takes in hot springs, volcanoes and evergreen forests. It was expanded in 1950 and 1981.
Los Arrayanes National Park
Covering the Quetrihué Peninsula on Nahuel Huapi Lake, 3 km from Villa La Angostura in Neuquén, Los Arrayanes National Park protects 17.53 square kilometers.
Nahuel Huapi National Park
Established in 1922 and reconfigured in 1934, Nahuel Huapi National Park surrounds Nahuel Huapi Lake in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi
Close to Nahuel Huapi Lake, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi is the main Catholic cathedral of San Carlos de Bariloche, set amid gardens on a large plot.
Francisco Moreno Museum of Patagonia
Set in the Civic Center of Bariloche, the Francisco P. Moreno Museum of Patagonia covers natural history and cultural anthropology.
Lago Guillelmo
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park in Río Negro's Bariloche department, Lago Guillelmo is a glacial lake ringed by Andean Patagonian forest that drains into Lake Mascardi.
Arriving in El Bolsón
Parque Serrano
Parque Serrano is a municipal protected natural area in El Bolsón, in Argentine Patagonia, covered by the Andean Patagonian forest ecoregion.
More drives to El Bolsón
- San Carlos de Bariloche to El Bolsón
- San Martín de los Andes to El Bolsón
- Neuquén to El Bolsón
- Comodoro Rivadavia to El Bolsón
- Trelew to El Bolsón
- Rawson to El Bolsón
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 is the drive from Los Ángeles to El Bolsón, Argentina?
About 9 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 475 miles.
What is the driving distance from Los Ángeles to El Bolsón, Argentina?
About 475 miles (764 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 El Bolsón drive cross the border?
At about mile 321, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Los Ángeles to El Bolsón 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 Ángeles to El Bolsón?
In order: T-87, T-981-U, RN231 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Los Ángeles to El Bolsón?
Closest to the road: Teatro Municipal de Collipulli (theater, mile 42, 0.2 mi from the route); Puente Collilelfu (historic monument, mile 203, 0.6 mi from the route); Lago Guillelmo (lake, mile 424, 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.