Plan on about 10 h 24 min of driving for the 514-mile (827 km) trip from Maipú to Monte Águila, Chile, before any stops. 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Chile: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Distance by road | 514 mi (827 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP5 → RN7 → E-57 → Q-606 |
| 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, Ñuble, Bío-Bío |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Chile
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 Monte Águila drive plays out
RN7 (121 mi) and Q-606 (4 mi) carry about 24% of the 514 miles. The first 131 miles are in Argentina; the last 383 are in Chile. It runs through 7 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Maipú to Monte Águila: the road sequence
| 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 | 217–510 | 293 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío |
| Q-606 | 510–514 | 4 | Bío-Bío |
- 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)
- Mile 439 of this route: Maule → Ñuble (region line)
- Mile 500 of this route: Ñuble → Bío-Bío (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Maipú and Monte Águila
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 130), St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 232), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 292)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 37)
- Museums and history: Firefighters Museum of Santiago (mile 221), St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 232), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 292), St. Ambrose Cathedral, Linares (mile 408), Museo Interactivo Claudio Arrau León (mile 470)
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.
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.
Firefighters Museum of Santiago
In central Santiago, the Firefighters Museum (Museo de Bomberos de Santiago) shares the history and values of the Santiago Fire Department.
St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo
Beside the Plaza de Armas of San Bernardo in metropolitan Santiago, St. Bernard Cathedral is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of San Bernardo.
Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo
A Catholic church in the city of Rengo, the Basílica de Santa Ana is one of Chile's nine minor basilicas, with roots going back to the colonial period.
Teatro Regional del Maule
Known as the TRM, the Teatro Regional del Maule in Talca opened on September 5, 2005, and its main hall seats 1,028 people.
St. Ambrose Cathedral, Linares
Linares Cathedral, dedicated to St. Ambrose, is the Catholic cathedral and seat of the Diocese of Linares in Chile's Maule Region.
Museo Interactivo Claudio Arrau León
On the grounds where pianist Claudio Arrau once lived in Chillán, this museum presents his life and artistic career in a building listed for historic conservation.
More drives to Monte Águila
- Talca to Monte Águila
- Pelluhue to Monte Águila
- Curicó to Monte Águila
- Pichilemu to Monte Águila
- Rancagua to Monte Águila
- Santiago, Chile to Monte Águila
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Maipú to Monte Águila, Chile?
About 10 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 514 miles.
How far is Monte Águila, Chile from Maipú by car?
About 514 miles (827 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 Monte Águila 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 Monte Águila, 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 Monte Águila use?
In order: RP5, RN7, E-57 and Q-606. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Maipú and Monte Águila?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 130, 0.9 mi from the route); St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (cathedral, mile 232, 0.6 mi from the route); Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (basilica, mile 292, 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.