Plan on about 11 h 8 min of driving for the 508-mile (817 km) trip from Mendoza to Punta de Choros, Chile, before any 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Distance by road | 508 mi (817 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RP87 → RP84 → RN7 → D-110-C |
| Border crossing | about mile 128, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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.
The Mendoza–Punta de Choros drive in a few lines
RN7 (103 mi) and D-110-C (25 mi) carry about 25% of the 508 miles. The first 128 miles are in Argentina; the last 380 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mendoza to Punta de Choros, road by road
| 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 | 127–482 | 355 | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| D-110-C | 482–507 | 25 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 507–508 | 1 | Coquimbo |
- Mile 128 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 266 of this route: Valparaíso → Coquimbo (region line)
Places worth a stop between Mendoza and Punta de Choros
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 180), Lighthouse of La Serena (mile 435), Parque Japonés de La Serena (mile 436)
- Nature and outdoors: Corazon Thermal Baths (mile 168), La Campana National Park (mile 206), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 377), Parque Japonés de La Serena (mile 436)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional Americanista (mile 9), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 180), Faro Punta Tortuga (mile 429), Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (mile 431), Lighthouse of La Serena (mile 435)
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
Corazon Thermal Baths
In Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Corazón Thermal Baths (Baños Corazón) are hot springs whose waters have been used for medicinal purposes.
St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe
San Felipe Cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip, is a Catholic parish in San Felipe, Valparaíso Region, and serves as the cathedral of the Diocese of San Felipe de Aconcagua.
La Campana National Park
In Chile's coastal range northwest of Santiago, La Campana National Park protects the Chilean palm that Charles Darwin studied on his 1834 visit. Trails climb toward Cerro La Campana, and the park also holds petroglyphs and the Salto La Cortadera waterfall.
Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park
Near Ovalle in Chile's semi-arid north, Fray Jorge National Park shelters a fog-fed forest of species typical of southern Chile, such as olivillo and canelo. A short marked loop trail winds through it, and the park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Faro Punta Tortuga
Punta Tortuga Lighthouse in Coquimbo was inaugurated on June 1, 1886, and is named for the point's turtle-like shape seen when entering Coquimbo Bay from the sea. It is still staffed.
Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez
Set behind the main altar of the Third Millennium Cross on El Vigía hill in Coquimbo, this museum is named for the Chilean cardinal Jorge Medina Estévez.
Lighthouse of La Serena
The Monumental Lighthouse of La Serena stands on the Avenida del Mar and is one of the most recognizable structures in the city.
Parque Japonés de La Serena
Opened in 1994, La Serena's Japanese Park (Parque Jardín del Corazón) is a Japan-themed garden with plant and animal species from that country.
More drives to Punta de Choros
- Vicuña to Punta de Choros
- Reñaca to Punta de Choros
- Valparaíso to Punta de Choros
- Viña del Mar to Punta de Choros
- Santiago, Chile to Punta de Choros
- El Colorado to Punta de Choros
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 Pelluhue, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mendoza to Punta de Choros, Chile?
About 11 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 508 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mendoza to Punta de Choros, Chile?
About 508 miles (817 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 Punta de Choros 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 Punta de Choros 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 Punta de Choros?
In order: RN40, RP87, RP84, RN7 and D-110-C. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Mendoza to Punta de Choros?
Closest to the road: St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (cathedral, mile 180, 0.8 mi from the route); Lighthouse of La Serena (lighthouse, mile 435, 1 mi from the route); Parque Japonés de La Serena (park, mile 436, 0.1 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.