Maipú to Valle Nevado, Chile is about 255 road miles (411 km): roughly 6 h 22 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: “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 | 255 mi (411 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP5 → RN7 → E-57 → G-21 → G-251 |
| 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 10.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Chile border
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 Valle Nevado: the shape of the trip
RN7 (121 mi) and G-21 (20 mi) carry about 55% of the 255 miles. The first 131 miles are in Argentina; the last 124 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 Valle Nevado
| 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 | 227–247 | 20 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-251 | 247–255 | 8 | 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)
What to see on the way from Maipú to Valle Nevado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 119)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 37), Lobo Thermal Baths (mile 165), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 201), Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 231)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 119), Museo de Química y Farmacia Profesor César Leyton Caravagno (mile 220), Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (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.
Lobo Thermal Baths
Thermal springs in Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Lobo Thermal Baths (Baños de Lobo) are used for both therapeutic soaking and tourism.
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.
Teatro Oriente
Museo de Química y Farmacia Profesor César Leyton Caravagno
Created in 1951 at the University of Chile, this museum on Merced Street in Santiago preserves the history of chemistry and pharmacy, starting from the look of old-time apothecaries.
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 la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa
Housed in La Llavería at the Santa Rosa de Apoquindo estate in Las Condes, Santiago, this museum's three galleries explore how the horse, the land and its people shaped Chilean identity.
Apoquindo Waterfall
Fed by snowmelt from Cerro San Ramón and Cerro Provincia, Apoquindo Waterfall lies in Aguas de Ramón Natural Park on the east side of Santiago, near Apoquindo.
More drives to Valle Nevado
- Santiago, Chile to Valle Nevado
- Algarrobo to Valle Nevado
- Valparaíso to Valle Nevado
- Viña del Mar to Valle Nevado
- Reñaca to Valle Nevado
- Coquimbo to Valle Nevado
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 does it take to drive from Maipú to Valle Nevado, Chile?
About 6 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 255 miles.
What is the driving distance from Maipú to Valle Nevado, Chile?
About 255 miles (411 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 Valle Nevado 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 Valle Nevado 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 Valle Nevado?
In order: RP5, RN7, E-57, G-21 and G-251. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Maipú and Valle Nevado?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 119, 0.3 mi from the route); Teatro Oriente (theater, mile 220, 2 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.