By road, Maipú and El Colorado, Chile are about 250 miles (403 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 3 min of driving. 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 | 250 mi (403 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP5 → RN7 → E-57 → G-21 |
| Border crossing | about mile 131, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to El Colorado
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.
Driving Maipú to El Colorado: the shape of the trip
RN7 (121 mi) and G-21 (21 mi) carry about 57% of the 250 miles. The first 131 miles are in Argentina; the last 119 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Maipú and El Colorado
| 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 | 214–215 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 215–227 | 12 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 227–248 | 21 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 248–250 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
- Mile 131 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 188 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
Places worth a stop between Maipú and El Colorado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 119)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 37), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 153), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 208), Jardín Botánico Mapulemu (mile 220)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 119), Museo Histórico Dominico (mile 219), Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 225)
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Museo Histórico Dominico
The Museo Histórico Dominico is housed in the Recoleta Dominica Heritage Center, on the grounds of the Recoleta Dominica church and convent.
Jardín Botánico Mapulemu
National Astronomical Observatory
On Cerro Calán in Las Condes, Chile's National Astronomical Observatory is owned and operated by the University of Chile's Department of Astronomy.
Museo de Cera de Las Condes
Wax figures fill the Museo de Cera de Las Condes, a public museum that opened in July 2019 inside Parque Los Dominicos in the Las Condes district of Santiago.
Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán
El Arrayán Nature Sanctuary (Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán) is a privately owned protected area open to the public in the Lo Barnechea commune of Santiago.
More drives to El Colorado
- Santiago, Chile to El Colorado
- Valparaíso to El Colorado
- Viña del Mar to El Colorado
- Coquimbo to El Colorado
- La Serena to El Colorado
- Copiapó to El Colorado
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 Curicó, Chile
- Maipú to Pichilemu, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Maipú to El Colorado, Chile?
About 6 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 250 miles.
How far is El Colorado, Chile from Maipú by car?
About 250 miles (403 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 El Colorado 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Maipú to El Colorado, Chile?
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.
What roads does the drive from Maipú to El Colorado use?
In order: RP5, RN7, E-57 and G-21. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Maipú and El Colorado?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 119, 0.3 mi from the route); Jardín Botánico Mapulemu (botanical garden, mile 220, 1 mi from the route); National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 225, 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.