Maipú to Curicó, Chile is about 341 road miles (548 km): roughly 7 h 21 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 131, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Argentina, Chile. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Distance by road | 341 mi (548 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP5 → RN7 → E-57 |
| Border crossing | about mile 131, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Curicó
The route crosses at about mile 131, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Mendoza into Valparaíso. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Chile | Foreign-plated cars entering Chile need SOAPEX, Chile's mandatory accident insurance for foreign vehicles, unless an international agreement covers the car. Keep the certificate with the car's papers. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Maipú to Curicó drive plays out
RN7 (121 mi) and RP5 (3 mi) carry about 36% of the 341 miles. The first 131 miles are in Argentina; the last 210 are in Chile. It runs through 5 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Maipú and Curicó
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Mendoza |
| RP5 | 1–4 | 3 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 4–9 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RN7 | 9–130 | 121 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 130–170 | 40 | Mendoza, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 170–175 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 175–178 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 178–214 | 36 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 214–217 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 217–341 | 124 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule |
- Mile 131 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 188 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 257 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 328 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Maule (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Maipú and Curicó
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 119), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 130), Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (mile 225)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 37), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 208)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 119), Museo Arqueológico de Santiago (mile 221), Chilean Historical and Military Museum (mile 222), Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (mile 225), Pukara of La Compañía (mile 264)
Cacheuta Spa
At Cacheuta, on the Mendoza River in the Andes foothills, Cacheuta Spa is a bathing complex built around natural hot springs, along the old road from Mendoza toward the Uspallata Pass and Chile.
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.
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.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Museo Arqueológico de Santiago
The Museo Arqueológico de Santiago is an archaeology museum in the Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro area of Santiago.
Chilean Historical and Military Museum
Founded in 1895 and run by the Chilean Army, this Santiago museum of military history has occupied the 19th-century Alcázar, a former military academy and National Historic Monument, since 1997.
Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos
Housed in the old modernist terminal of Los Cerrillos airport in Santiago, this contemporary art center opened in 2016 for temporary exhibitions and Chilean art from 1967 onward.
Pukara of La Compañía
On the hill above the village of La Compañía, in Graneros, this site holds remains of a Promaucae fortress later used by the Incas, the southernmost surviving Inca structure.
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.
In Curicó itself
Teatro Victoria
More drives to Curicó
- Santiago, Chile to Curicó
- Viña del Mar to Curicó
- Coquimbo to Curicó
- La Serena to Curicó
- Chillán to Curicó
- Los Ángeles to Curicó
More drives from Maipú
- Maipú to Capilla del Monte
- Maipú to San José de Jáchal
- Maipú to Villa Unión
- Maipú to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Maipú to Pichilemu, Chile
- Maipú to Pelluhue, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Maipú to Curicó, Chile?
About 7 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 341 miles.
What is the driving distance from Maipú to Curicó, Chile?
About 341 miles (548 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 Maipú to Curicó drive cross the border?
At about mile 131, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Maipú into Chile?
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. A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated July 02, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Maipú to Curicó drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Maipú to Curicó?
In order: RP5, RN7 and E-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Maipú and Curicó?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 119, 0.3 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 130, 0.9 mi from the route); Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (art museum, mile 225, 0.7 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.