By road, Los Ángeles and Maipú, Argentina are about 536 miles (863 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 49 min of driving. 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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 536 mi (863 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RP60 → RP5 |
| 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.5 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 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.
How the Los Ángeles to Maipú drive plays out
RN7 (103 mi) and RP60 (6 mi) carry about 20% of the 536 miles. The first 408 miles are in Chile; the last 128 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Los Ángeles to Maipú: the road sequence
| 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 | 409–512 | 103 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 512–513 | 1 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 513–518 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 518–522 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 522–526 | 4 | Mendoza |
| RP60 | 526–532 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RP5 | 532–536 | 4 | Mendoza |
- 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 353 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 408 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Los Ángeles and Maipú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laja Falls (mile 21), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (mile 318), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 409), Puente del Inca (mile 420), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 528)
- Nature and outdoors: Laja Falls (mile 21)
- Museums and history: Museo San Francisco de Chillán (mile 70), O'Higginiano Historical Museum (mile 162), Paine Memorial (mile 294), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (mile 318), Museum of the War of the Pacific (mile 319), Puente del Inca (mile 420), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 528)
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 San Francisco de Chillán
Part of the Franciscan heritage complex facing Plaza San Francisco in Chillán, this museum displays religious, historical, archaeological and natural history collections tied to the Franciscan Order.
O'Higginiano Historical Museum
Housed in the Casa de la Independencia in Talca, the O'Higginiano Historical Museum is an art museum that has operated under its current name since August 20, 1964.
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 Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Designed in Gothic Revival style by Brother Gerardo (Gustave Knockaert) and Huberto Boulangeot, this basilica stands in the Santiago commune.
Museum of the War of the Pacific
In Santiago's Barrio Brasil, the Museum of the War of the Pacific is devoted to that conflict and named after Domingo de Toro Herrera, an army veteran of the war.
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.
When you get to Maipú
Mendoza Wine Museum
Run by Bodega La Rural about 16 km from the city of Mendoza, the Mendoza Wine Museum (Museo del Vino) displays objects from the region's winemaking going back to colonial times.
More drives to Maipú
- La Rioja to Maipú
- Catamarca to Maipú
- Valparaíso to Maipú, Argentina
- Talca to Maipú, Argentina
- Rancagua to Maipú, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Maipú, 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 is the drive from Los Ángeles to Maipú, Argentina?
About 10 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 536 miles.
How far is Maipú, Argentina from Los Ángeles by car?
About 536 miles (863 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 Maipú 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Los Ángeles to Maipú 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 Maipú?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RP60 and RP5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Los Ángeles to Maipú?
Closest to the road: Laja Falls (waterfall, mile 21, 0.4 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 420, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional Americanista (museum, mile 528, 0.3 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.