The Wayro route from Mendoza to Pelluhue, Chile is 460 miles (741 km), about 10 h 12 min of driving without stops. 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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Total distance | 460 mi (741 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RP87 → RP84 → RN7 → E-57 → L-30-K → 126 N → M-50-K |
| 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 18.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
How the Mendoza to Pelluhue drive plays out
RN7 (103 mi) and 126 N (37 mi) carry about 30% of the 460 miles. The first 128 miles are in Argentina; the last 332 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.
Mendoza to Pelluhue: the road sequence
| 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 | 213–390 | 177 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule |
| L-30-K | 390–395 | 5 | Maule |
| 126 N | 395–432 | 37 | Maule |
| local roads | 432–437 | 5 | Maule |
| connecting roads | 437–439 | 2 | Maule |
| M-50-K | 439–457 | 18 | Maule |
| local roads | 457–460 | 3 | 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)
What to see on the way from Mendoza to Pelluhue
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 127), Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral (mile 218), Teatro Victoria (mile 337)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 204)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional Americanista (mile 9), Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral (mile 218), Open Air Museum San Miguel (mile 222), Pukara of La Compañía (mile 261), O'Higginiano Historical Museum (mile 375)
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
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.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral
Founded in 1941, Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral occupies the west wing of the former women's teachers' school at Chacabuco and Compañía de Jesús streets in Santiago's Barrio Yungay.
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.
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 Victoria
O'Higginiano Historical Museum
Housed in the Casa de la Independencia in Talca, the O'Higginiano Historical Museum is an art museum that has operated under its current name since August 20, 1964.
In Pelluhue itself
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 Mendoza
- Mendoza to Capilla del Monte
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Mendoza to Los Ángeles, Chile
- Mendoza to Curicó, Chile
- Mendoza to Pichilemu, Chile
- Mendoza to Monte Águila, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mendoza to Pelluhue, Chile?
About 10 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 460 miles.
How far is Pelluhue, Chile from Mendoza by car?
About 460 miles (741 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 Pelluhue 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 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 Mendoza to Pelluhue use?
In order: RN40, RP87, RP84, 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.
Where can you stop on the way from Mendoza to Pelluhue?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 127, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo de la Educación Gabriela Mistral (museum, mile 218, 0.8 mi from the route); Teatro Victoria (theater, mile 337, 0.8 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.