By road, Monte Verde and La Hoya, Argentina are about 401 miles (646 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 48 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 139, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
Full advisory: Chile, Argentina. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 401 mi (646 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | V-830 → U-551-V → U-55-V → U-981-T → RN231 → RN40 → RN259 |
| Border crossing | about mile 139, Chile → Argentina (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 139, at Paso Cardenal Samoré, from Los Lagos into Neuquén. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from Monte Verde to La Hoya
RN40 (229 mi) and U-981-T (23 mi) carry about 63% of the 401 miles. The first 139 miles are in Chile; the last 262 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Monte Verde to La Hoya, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-830 | 0–6 | 6 | Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 6–8 | 2 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 8–45 | 37 | Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 45–47 | 2 | Los Lagos |
| U-551-V | 47–66 | 19 | Los Lagos |
| U-55-V | 66–72 | 6 | Los Lagos |
| U-981-T | 72–95 | 23 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 95–140 | 45 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén |
| RN231 | 140–159 | 19 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 159–388 | 229 | Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut |
| RN259 | 388–393 | 5 | Chubut |
| local roads | 393–401 | 8 | Chubut |
- Mile 117 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Los Lagos → Neuquén (international border)
- Mile 206 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 296 of this route: Río Negro → Chubut (region line)
Where to stop on the way to La Hoya
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago Guillelmo (mile 242)
- Nature and outdoors: Puyehue National Park (mile 127), Los Arrayanes National Park (mile 172), Nahuel Huapi National Park (mile 184), Lago Guillelmo (mile 242), Lago Puelo National Park (mile 300)
- Museums and history: Historical Museum of Puerto Montt (mile 19), Museo de Piedras de Monte Verde (mile 21), Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar (mile 46), Museo Leleque (mile 343)
Historical Museum of Puerto Montt
Founded in 1967 as a municipal museum, the Historical Museum of Puerto Montt (Museo Histórico Juan Pablo II) has been on the city's waterfront since 1988.
Museo de Piedras de Monte Verde
Opened in late 2000, Museo de Piedras de Monte Verde displays and conserves archaeological pieces recovered from the Monte Verde excavation site.
Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar
Opened to the public in January 1984, the Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar is an architectural and ethnographic museum devoted mainly to German immigration to the Llanquihue area of the Los Lagos Region.
Puyehue National Park
In the Andes across the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions, Puyehue National Park takes in hot springs, volcanoes and evergreen forests. It was expanded in 1950 and 1981.
Los Arrayanes National Park
Covering the Quetrihué Peninsula on Nahuel Huapi Lake, 3 km from Villa La Angostura in Neuquén, Los Arrayanes National Park protects 17.53 square kilometers.
Nahuel Huapi National Park
Established in 1922 and reconfigured in 1934, Nahuel Huapi National Park surrounds Nahuel Huapi Lake in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes.
Lago Guillelmo
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park in Río Negro's Bariloche department, Lago Guillelmo is a glacial lake ringed by Andean Patagonian forest that drains into Lake Mascardi.
Lago Puelo National Park
Covering 276.74 square kilometers in northwestern Chubut, Lago Puelo National Park is an Argentine national park in Patagonia.
Museo Leleque
Near kilometer 1440 of Ruta Nacional 40 in Leleque, Chubut, this history museum opened in 1998 in the steppe at the foot of the Andes, about 100 m from the tracks of La Trochita.
More drives to La Hoya
More drives from Monte Verde
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Monte Verde to La Hoya, Argentina?
About 8 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 401 miles.
What is the driving distance from Monte Verde to La Hoya, Argentina?
About 401 miles (646 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 Monte Verde to La Hoya drive cross the border?
At about mile 139, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Monte Verde into Argentina?
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. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Monte Verde to La Hoya drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Monte Verde to La Hoya?
In order: V-830, U-551-V, U-55-V, U-981-T, RN231, RN40 and RN259. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Monte Verde and La Hoya?
Closest to the road: Museo Colonial Alemán de Frutillar (private museum, mile 46, 2 mi from the route); Puyehue National Park (national park, mile 127, 1 mi from the route); Lago Guillelmo (lake, mile 242, 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.