The Wayro route from Mendoza to Valle Nevado, Chile is 252 miles (406 km), about 6 h 21 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
| Distance | 252 mi (406 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RP87 → RP84 → RN7 → E-57 → G-21 → G-251 |
| Border crossing | about mile 128, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for 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.
What the drive from Mendoza to Valle Nevado is like
RN7 (103 mi) and G-21 (20 mi) carry about 49% of the 252 miles. The first 128 miles are in Argentina; the last 124 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Mendoza to Valle Nevado
| 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 |
| G-21 | 224–244 | 20 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-251 | 244–252 | 8 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
- Mile 128 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 185 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
Stops between Mendoza and Valle Nevado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 116), Jardín Japonés de Santiago (mile 217)
- Nature and outdoors: Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 150), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 204), Jardín Japonés de Santiago (mile 217)
- Museums and history: Museo Regional Americanista (mile 9), Puente del Inca (mile 116), Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 222)
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Jardín Japonés de Santiago
The Jardín Japonés de Santiago is a traditional Japanese garden in the Providencia commune of Santiago.
Teatro Municipal de Las Condes
Below the Las Condes Civic Center in Santiago's El Golf district, the Teatro Municipal de Las Condes has a raked hall seating 646, plus 108 seats over the orchestra pit.
National Astronomical Observatory
On Cerro Calán in Las Condes, Chile's National Astronomical Observatory is owned and operated by the University of Chile's Department of Astronomy.
Museo de Cera de Las Condes
Wax figures fill the Museo de Cera de Las Condes, a public museum that opened in July 2019 inside Parque Los Dominicos in the Las Condes district of Santiago.
Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán
El Arrayán Nature Sanctuary (Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán) is a privately owned protected area open to the public in the Lo Barnechea commune of Santiago.
More drives to Valle Nevado
- Santiago, Chile to Valle Nevado
- Algarrobo to Valle Nevado
- Valparaíso to Valle Nevado
- Viña del Mar to Valle Nevado
- Reñaca to Valle Nevado
- Coquimbo to Valle Nevado
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 Valle Nevado, Chile?
About 6 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is Valle Nevado, Chile from Mendoza by car?
About 252 miles (406 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 Valle Nevado 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 Valle Nevado, 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 Valle Nevado?
In order: RN40, RP87, RP84, RN7, E-57, G-21 and G-251. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mendoza and Valle Nevado?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 116, 0.3 mi from the route); Jardín Japonés de Santiago (japanese garden, mile 217, 1 mi from the route); National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 222, 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.