Oruro to San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina is about 544 road miles (876 km): roughly 14 h 43 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Bolivia into Argentina at about mile 372, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Argentina. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 544 mi (876 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 14 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | F1 → F30 → F21 → F14 → RN9 → RP79 → RN IV40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 372, Bolivia → Argentina (La Quiaca–Villazón) |
| Regions on the route | Oruro, Potosí, Jujuy, Salta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Crossing from Bolivia into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 372, at La Quiaca–Villazón, from Potosí into Jujuy. 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 Bolivia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Bolivia | You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. |
| 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, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Oruro to San Antonio de los Cobres is like
F30 (122 mi) and F21 (117 mi) carry about 44% of the 544 miles. The first 372 miles are in Bolivia; the last 172 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Oruro, Potosí, Jujuy, Salta. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Oruro and San Antonio de los Cobres
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Oruro |
| F1 | 1–72 | 71 | Oruro |
| F30 | 72–194 | 122 | Oruro, Potosí |
| connecting roads | 194–196 | 2 | Potosí |
| F21 | 196–313 | 117 | Potosí |
| connecting roads | 313–315 | 2 | Potosí |
| F14 | 315–370 | 55 | Potosí |
| connecting roads | 370–372 | 2 | Potosí |
| RN9 | 372–423 | 51 | Jujuy |
| RP79 | 423–504 | 81 | Jujuy |
| RN IV40 | 504–544 | 40 | Jujuy, Salta |
- Mile 117 of this route: Oruro → Potosí (region line)
- Mile 372 of this route: Potosí → Jujuy (international border)
- Mile 505 of this route: Jujuy → Salta (region line)
Stops between Oruro and San Antonio de los Cobres
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 19), Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (mile 362)
- Museums and history: Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 19)
Machacamarca Railway museum
The Machacamarca Railway Museum (Museo Ferroviario de Machacamarca) is a railway museum in the municipality of Machacamarca, in Bolivia's Oruro department.
Ecoparque Encantado Protected Municipal Area
Within the municipality of Tupiza, in Potosí's Sud Chichas province, Ecoparque Encantado is a municipal protected area in southern Bolivia.
Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas
Covering 58,480 hectares of semi-arid puna between 3,200 and 4,700 meters, Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas is a municipal protected area in Villazón, Potosí.
Salinas Grandes
Spread across Jujuy and Salta provinces at about 3,450 meters, the Salinas Grandes salt flat covers 212 square kilometers of white desert.
More drives to San Antonio de los Cobres
- San Salvador de Jujuy to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Tafí Viejo to San Antonio de los Cobres
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Santiago del Estero to San Antonio de los Cobres
- Catamarca to San Antonio de los Cobres
- La Rioja to San Antonio de los Cobres
More drives from Oruro
- Oruro to Chulumani
- Oruro to Rurrenabaque
- Oruro to San Ignacio de Moxos
- Oruro to Villa Tunari
- Oruro to Tarabuco
- Oruro to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Oruro to San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina?
About 14 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 544 miles.
What is the driving distance from Oruro to San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina?
About 544 miles (876 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 Oruro to San Antonio de los Cobres drive cross the border?
At about mile 372, from Bolivia into Argentina, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Oruro 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 Oruro to San Antonio de los Cobres drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Oruro to San Antonio de los Cobres?
In order: F1, F30, F21, F14, RN9, RP79 and RN IV40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Oruro and San Antonio de los Cobres?
Closest to the road: Machacamarca Railway museum (railway museum, mile 19, 0.4 mi from the route); Ecoparque Encantado Protected Municipal Area (nature area, mile 317, 2 mi from the route); Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (protected area, mile 362, 0.9 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.