Plan on about 7 h 24 min of driving for the 332-mile (535 km) trip from Maipú to Santa Cruz, 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
| Distance | 332 mi (535 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 24 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Santa Cruz
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 Santa Cruz drive plays out
RN7 (121 mi) and RP5 (3 mi) carry about 37% of the 332 miles. The first 131 miles are in Argentina; the last 201 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Maipú to Santa Cruz
| 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 | 217–332 | 115 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
- 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)
Stops between Maipú and Santa Cruz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 119), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 130), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 180), Centro Cultural Matucana 100 (mile 221), Parque Safari (mile 276), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 292)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 37)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 119), Centro Cultural Matucana 100 (mile 221), Open Air Museum San Miguel (mile 225), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 292)
- 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.
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.
Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes
Pilgrims come to the Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes in Rinconada, Valparaíso Region, to venerate the relics of Saint Teresa of the Andes, Chile's first saint. The shrine was built to receive thousands of the faithful.
Centro Cultural Matucana 100
Near Quinta Normal Park, Matucana 100 is a nonprofit cultural center in Estación Central hosting dance, theater, music, photography, visual arts and film programs.
Teatro Parque Cousiño
Teatro Parque Cousiño is a building by Horacio Guzmán and Manuel Cifuentes, the latter the son of Chilean politician Abdón Cifuentes and the first architect to graduate from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.
Open Air Museum San Miguel
More than sixty urban art murals and mosaics cover apartment walls, houses, benches and kiosks in Villa San Miguel, forming this open-air museum in the San Miguel commune, south of Santiago.
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.
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.
In Santa Cruz itself
Museo de Colchagua
In Santa Cruz, in Chile's O'Higgins Region, Museo de Colchagua is a private museum managed by the Fundación Cardoen, led by businessman Carlos Cardoen.
More drives to Santa Cruz
- Algarrobo to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Santiago, Chile to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Viña del Mar to Santa Cruz, Chile
- El Colorado to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Los Andes to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Coquimbo to Santa Cruz, Chile
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 Santa Cruz, Chile?
About 7 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 332 miles.
What is the driving distance from Maipú to Santa Cruz, Chile?
About 332 miles (535 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz use?
In order: RP5, RN7 and E-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Maipú to Santa Cruz?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 119, 0.3 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 180, 0.4 mi from the route); Centro Cultural Matucana 100 (art museum, mile 221, 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.