Plan on about 9 h 32 min of driving for the 422-mile (679 km) trip from Neuquén to Puerto Montt, Chile, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 300, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- 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.”
| Distance | 422 mi (679 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN22 → RN237 → RP65 → RN40 → RN231 → U-981-T → U-55-V → U-551-V |
| Border crossing | about mile 300, Argentina → Chile (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Neuquén, Río Negro, Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Chile border
The route crosses at about mile 300, at Paso Cardenal Samoré, from Neuquén into Los Lagos. 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 Neuquén–Puerto Montt drive in a few lines
RN237 (195 mi) and RP65 (37 mi) carry about 55% of the 422 miles. The first 300 miles are in Argentina; the last 122 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: Neuquén, Río Negro, Los Lagos, Los Ríos. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Neuquén and Puerto Montt
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Neuquén |
| RN22 | 3–36 | 33 | Neuquén |
| RN237 | 36–231 | 195 | Neuquén, Río Negro |
| RP65 | 231–268 | 37 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 268–280 | 12 | Neuquén |
| RN231 | 280–300 | 20 | Neuquén |
| local roads | 300–344 | 44 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| U-981-T | 344–368 | 24 | Los Lagos |
| U-55-V | 368–374 | 6 | Los Lagos |
| U-551-V | 374–393 | 19 | Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 393–395 | 2 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 395–422 | 27 | Los Lagos |
- Mile 227 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 231 of this route: Río Negro → Neuquén (region line)
- Mile 300 of this route: Neuquén → Los Lagos (international border)
- Mile 312 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 322 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Neuquén and Puerto Montt
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cañadón Escondido (mile 55), Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (mile 322), Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 327)
- Nature and outdoors: Cañadón Escondido (mile 55), Los Arrayanes National Park (mile 280), Puyehue National Park (mile 312), Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (mile 322), Aguas Calientes Hot Springs (mile 326), Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 327), Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument (mile 415)
- Museums and history: Ernesto Bachmann Paleontological Museum (mile 52), Puente Chirre (mile 344)
Ernesto Bachmann Paleontological Museum
A municipal museum in Villa El Chocón, the Ernesto Bachmann Paleontological Museum covers the paleontology, archaeology and history of the town and its surroundings.
Cañadón Escondido
Cañadón Escondido is a small canyon in Villa El Chocón, in Argentina's Neuquén Province.
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.
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.
Aguas calientes Thermal Baths
In Chile's Los Lagos Region, the Aguas Calientes thermal baths (Termas de Aguas Calientes) are hot springs used for both medicinal and tourism purposes.
Aguas Calientes Hot Springs
About 76 kilometers east of Osorno near Route 215-CH, Aguas Calientes Hot Springs is a series of hot springs in Chile's Los Lagos Region.
Puyehue Hot Springs
A series of hot springs about 76 km east of Osorno along Route 215-CH, Puyehue Hot Springs sit in the Los Lagos Region of southern Chile.
Puente Chirre
Built in reinforced concrete between 1940 and 1945 as a railroad bridge, Puente Chirre in Río Bueno now carries road traffic and was declared a National Monument in 2017.
Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument
Between Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas in Chile's Los Lagos Region, Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument protects about 2 square kilometers of ñadi.
Arriving in Puerto Montt
Casa del Arte Diego Rivera
Puerto Montt's main cultural center, Casa del Arte Diego Rivera has a theater hall and several rooms for temporary exhibitions.
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.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, Puerto Montt
Puerto Montt Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, stands on the city's Plaza de Armas and is the seat of the Archdiocese of Puerto Montt.
More drives to Puerto Montt
More drives from Neuquén
- Neuquén to San Antonio Oeste
- Neuquén to Santa Rosa
- Neuquén to Balneario El Cóndor
- Neuquén to Sierra de La Ventana
- Neuquén to Puerto Madryn
- Neuquén to Rawson
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Neuquén to Puerto Montt, Chile?
About 9 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 422 miles.
How far is Puerto Montt, Chile from Neuquén by car?
About 422 miles (679 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 Neuquén to Puerto Montt drive cross the border?
At about mile 300, from Argentina into Chile, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Neuquén 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 Neuquén to Puerto Montt 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 Neuquén to Puerto Montt?
In order: RN22, RN237, RP65, RN40, RN231, U-981-T, U-55-V and U-551-V. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Neuquén to Puerto Montt?
Closest to the road: Cañadón Escondido (canyon, mile 55, 0.3 mi from the route); Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (hot spring, mile 322, 1 mi from the route); Puyehue Hot Springs (hot spring, mile 327, 0.3 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.