By road, Mendoza and Curicó, Chile are about 337 miles (543 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 19 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 128, 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 by road | 337 mi (543 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 19 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RP87 → RP84 → RN7 → E-57 |
| Border crossing | about mile 128, 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 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Curicó
The route crosses at about mile 128, 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.
On the road from Mendoza to Curicó
RN7 (103 mi) and RN40 (10 mi) carry about 34% of the 337 miles. The first 128 miles are in Argentina; the last 209 are in Chile. It runs through 5 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Mendoza to Curicó
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 2–12 | 10 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 12–14 | 2 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 14–18 | 4 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 18–24 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RN7 | 24–127 | 103 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 127–167 | 40 | Mendoza, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 167–171 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 171–175 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 175–211 | 36 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 211–213 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 213–337 | 124 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule |
- Mile 128 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 185 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 254 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 325 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Maule (region line)
Places worth a stop between Mendoza and Curicó
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 116), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 127), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 221)
- Nature and outdoors: Colina Thermal Baths (mile 198)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional Americanista (mile 9), Puente del Inca (mile 116), Museo de Arte Sagrado (mile 217), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 221), Pukara of La Compañía (mile 261)
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
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.
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.
Museo de Arte Sagrado
Behind Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral, the Museo de Arte Sagrado is a religious art museum with a courtyard and colonial architecture.
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.
Pukara of La Compañía
On the hill above the village of La Compañía, in Graneros, this site holds remains of a Promaucae fortress later used by the Incas, the southernmost surviving Inca structure.
Teatro Municipal de San Fernando
Teatro Municipal de San Fernando is a public theater in the commune of San Fernando, Colchagua Province, in Chile's Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region.
Once you reach Curicó
Teatro Victoria
More drives to Curicó
- Santiago, Chile to Curicó
- Viña del Mar to Curicó
- Coquimbo to Curicó
- La Serena to Curicó
- Chillán to Curicó
- Los Ángeles to Curicó
More drives from Mendoza
- Mendoza to Capilla del Monte
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Mendoza to Los Ángeles, Chile
- Mendoza to Pichilemu, Chile
- Mendoza to Pelluhue, Chile
- Mendoza to Monte Águila, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Mendoza to Curicó, Chile?
About 7 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 337 miles.
How far is Curicó, Chile from Mendoza by car?
About 337 miles (543 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 Mendoza to Curicó drive cross the border?
At about mile 128, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Mendoza 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 Mendoza to Curicó 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 Mendoza to Curicó?
In order: RN40, RP87, RP84, 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 Mendoza to Curicó?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 116, 0.3 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 127, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (museum, mile 221, 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.