Plan on about 10 h 14 min of driving for the 464-mile (747 km) trip from Maipú to Pelluhue, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Distance | 464 mi (747 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP5 → RN7 → E-57 → L-30-K → 126 N → M-50-K |
| 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 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Argentina into 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 Pelluhue drive plays out
RN7 (121 mi) and 126 N (38 mi) carry about 34% of the 464 miles. The first 131 miles are in Argentina; the last 333 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, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Maipú to Pelluhue
| 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 | 217–393 | 176 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule |
| L-30-K | 393–398 | 5 | Maule |
| 126 N | 398–436 | 38 | Maule |
| local roads | 436–441 | 5 | Maule |
| connecting roads | 441–442 | 1 | Maule |
| M-50-K | 442–460 | 18 | Maule |
| local roads | 460–464 | 4 | 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)
Stops between Maipú and Pelluhue
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 119), Santuario Padre Hurtado (mile 222), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 224), Parque Safari (mile 276), Teatro Victoria (mile 340)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 37), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 201)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 119), Catedral de San Jorge, Santiago de Chile (mile 220), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 224)
- With kids: Parque Safari (mile 276)
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.
Colina Thermal Baths
In the north of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region, the Colina Thermal Baths (Baños de Colina) are hot springs on the Colina River used for both medicinal and tourist purposes.
Catedral de San Jorge, Santiago de Chile
On Santa Filomena street in the Patronato neighborhood of Recoleta, St. George's Cathedral is the seat of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Chile under the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Santuario Padre Hurtado
The Santuario Padre Hurtado in Santiago holds the tomb of Saint Alberto Hurtado, and its museum at the main entrance covers his childhood, youth, belongings, Jesuit vocation and death.
Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio
Chile's Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio is a national museum dedicated to sharing the country's aviation heritage with visitors.
Parque Safari
On the road from Rancagua to Doñihue, Parque Safari is a zoo that began as a personal project of local businessman and animal lover Iván Sánchez Lobos.
Teatro Victoria
Santuario de María Auxiliadora
Run by the Salesian order, the Sanctuary of María Auxiliadora is a Catholic church and shrine in Talca, in Chile's Maule Region, opened in 1915.
When you get to Pelluhue
Los Ruiles National Reserve
Los Ruiles National Reserve, in Cauquenes Province of the Maule Region, has two sections protecting enclaves of native forest home to several threatened and endangered species.
More drives to Pelluhue
- Pichilemu to Pelluhue
- Rancagua to Pelluhue
- Santiago, Chile to Pelluhue
- Los Andes to Pelluhue
- Viña del Mar to Pelluhue
- Valparaíso to Pelluhue
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 Pelluhue, Chile?
About 10 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 464 miles.
How far is Pelluhue, Chile from Maipú by car?
About 464 miles (747 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 Pelluhue 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 Pelluhue 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.
What roads does the drive from Maipú to Pelluhue use?
In order: RP5, RN7, E-57, L-30-K, 126 N and M-50-K. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Maipú and Pelluhue?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 119, 0.3 mi from the route); Santuario Padre Hurtado (sanctuary, mile 222, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (museum, mile 224, 0.5 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.