Mendoza to Pichilemu, Chile is about 346 road miles (557 km): roughly 7 h 56 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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.”
| Distance | 346 mi (557 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RP87 → RP84 → RN7 → E-57 → G-60 → G-62-I → I-62-G → I-80-G |
| 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Getting across the Argentina–Chile border
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.
What the drive from Mendoza to Pichilemu is like
RN7 (103 mi) and G-60 (18 mi) carry about 35% of the 346 miles. The first 128 miles are in Argentina; the last 218 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Mendoza to Pichilemu
| 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 | 211–212 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 212–224 | 12 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 224–225 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 225–262 | 37 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-60 | 262–280 | 18 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 280–283 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-62-I | 283–293 | 10 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| I-62-G | 293–309 | 16 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| I-80-G | 309–324 | 15 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| local roads | 324–346 | 22 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
- Mile 128 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 185 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Mendoza and Pichilemu
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 150), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 198), Laguna Carén (mile 220)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional Americanista (mile 9), Votive Temple of Maipú (mile 226), Museo del Carmen de Maipú (mile 226), St. Joseph's Cathedral, Melipilla (mile 262)
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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.
Laguna Carén
Laguna Carén is a man-made freshwater lagoon and wetland in Pudahuel, west of central Santiago, forming part of Parque Carén, a University of Chile property of about 2,525 acres.
Votive Temple of Maipú
Also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Votive Temple of Maipú is a Catholic church in the Chilean commune of Maipú.
Museo del Carmen de Maipú
In the Maipú district of Santiago, Museo del Carmen de Maipú is a private museum of history, religion and art that preserves and exhibits pieces of Chile's cultural heritage.
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Melipilla
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Melipilla, Chile, is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Melipilla.
Arriving in Pichilemu
Laguna Petrel
Facing the old Pichilemu railway station, Petrel Lagoon is a coastal lagoon on Pichilemu beach whose water is largely seawater; it was once one of the town's main attractions.
Laguna El Ancho
On the outskirts of Pichilemu in the O'Higgins Region, Laguna El Ancho (also called Tranque El Ancho) is a body of water created by building a wall to store drinking water for the town.
Laguna El Perro
Laguna El Perro (Laguna del Perro) sits on the southern edge of Pichilemu in the O'Higgins Region, covering roughly 28 hectares with a maximum depth of about 11 meters.
More drives to Pichilemu
- Santiago, Chile to Pichilemu
- Los Andes to Pichilemu
- Coquimbo to Pichilemu
- La Serena to Pichilemu
- Chillán to Pichilemu
- Los Ángeles to Pichilemu
More drives from Mendoza
- Mendoza to Capilla del Monte
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Mendoza to Los Ángeles, Chile
- Mendoza to Curicó, Chile
- Mendoza to Pelluhue, Chile
- Mendoza to Monte Águila, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Mendoza to Pichilemu, Chile?
About 7 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 346 miles.
How far is Pichilemu, Chile from Mendoza by car?
About 346 miles (557 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 Pichilemu 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Mendoza to Pichilemu, Chile?
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 Pichilemu?
In order: RN40, RP87, RP84, RN7, E-57, G-60, G-62-I, I-62-G and I-80-G. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mendoza and Pichilemu?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 127, 0.9 mi from the route); Votive Temple of Maipú (monument, mile 226, 1 mi from the route); Museo del Carmen de Maipú (private museum, mile 226, 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.