By road, Mendoza and Los Ángeles, Chile are about 536 miles (862 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 53 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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Total distance | 536 mi (862 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 53 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, Ñuble, Bío-Bío |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Argentina into Chile
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.
The Mendoza–Los Ángeles drive in a few lines
RN7 (103 mi) and RN40 (10 mi) carry about 21% of the 536 miles. The first 128 miles are in Argentina; the last 408 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 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Mendoza to Los Ángeles
| 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 | 213–528 | 315 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío |
| connecting roads | 528–529 | 1 | Bío-Bío |
| local roads | 529–536 | 7 | Bío-Bío |
- 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)
- Mile 436 of this route: Maule → Ñuble (region line)
- Mile 497 of this route: Ñuble → Bío-Bío (region line)
What to see on the way from Mendoza to Los Ángeles
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 116), Basilica of Lourdes, Santiago (mile 217), Museo Artequin (mile 218), Laja Falls (mile 515)
- Nature and outdoors: Laja Falls (mile 515)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional Americanista (mile 9), Puente del Inca (mile 116), Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda (mile 173), Basilica of Lourdes, Santiago (mile 217), Museo Artequin (mile 218), Paine Memorial (mile 244), St. Augustine Cathedral, Talca (mile 375), Museo Marta Colvin (mile 466)
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.
Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda
In Pocuro, in the commune of Calle Larga, this museum and cultural center occupies the house where President Pedro Aguirre Cerda was born, plus a former agricultural school. Both buildings became national monuments in 1972.
Basilica of Lourdes, Santiago
The Basilica of Lourdes is a church in Santiago, standing across from Quinta Normal Park.
Museo Artequin
Opened in 1992 in the Pabellón París in Estación Central, Santiago, Museo Artequin is an interactive museum that uses reproductions of Western paintings from the 15th to 20th centuries.
Paine Memorial
About twenty miles south of Santiago, the Paine Memorial in the rural community of Paine honors local residents who were abducted or unlawfully arrested and then killed under the Pinochet dictatorship.
St. Augustine Cathedral, Talca
Also known as Talca Cathedral, St. Augustine Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Talca, Chile, dedicated to Saint Augustine.
Museo Marta Colvin
On the Fernando May campus of the Universidad del Bío-Bío in Chillán, Museo Marta Colvin presents the life and work of local sculptor Marta Colvin. It opened on July 15, 2011.
Laja Falls
Beside Ruta 5 about 25 km from Los Ángeles, the Laja River pours over four cascades up to roughly 35 meters high, cut into basalt left by ancient lava flows from the Antuco volcano.
Arriving in Los Ángeles
St. Mary of the Angels Cathedral
Los Ángeles Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Angels, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Santa María de Los Ángeles in Chile.
More drives to Los Ángeles
- Talca to Los Ángeles
- Rancagua to Los Ángeles
- Santiago, Chile to Los Ángeles
- Valparaíso to Los Ángeles
- Viña del Mar to Los Ángeles
- Valdivia to Los Ángeles
More drives from Mendoza
- Mendoza to Capilla del Monte
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Mendoza to Curicó, 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 Los Ángeles, Chile?
About 10 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 536 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mendoza to Los Ángeles, Chile?
About 536 miles (862 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 Los Ángeles 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 Los Ángeles 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 Los Ángeles?
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 Los Ángeles?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 116, 0.3 mi from the route); Basilica of Lourdes, Santiago (basilica, mile 217, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Artequin (private museum, mile 218, 0.4 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.