Plan on about 11 h 42 min of driving for the 540-mile (869 km) trip from Osorno to San Antonio Oeste, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 75, 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.”
| Total distance | 540 mi (869 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN231 → RN40 → RN23 → RN3 → RNA026 |
| Border crossing | about mile 75, Chile → Argentina (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 75, 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.
What the drive from Osorno to San Antonio Oeste is like
RN23 (371 mi) and RN40 (48 mi) carry about 78% of the 540 miles. The first 75 miles are in Chile; the last 465 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Osorno to San Antonio Oeste
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–75 | 75 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| RN231 | 75–94 | 19 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 94–142 | 48 | Neuquén, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 142–143 | 1 | Río Negro |
| RN23 | 143–514 | 371 | Río Negro |
| RN3 | 514–528 | 14 | Río Negro |
| local roads | 528–536 | 8 | Río Negro |
| RNA026 | 536–540 | 4 | Río Negro |
- Mile 52 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 63 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 75 of this route: Los Lagos → Neuquén (international border)
- Mile 141 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
What to see on the way from Osorno to San Antonio Oeste
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 48), Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (mile 52)
- Nature and outdoors: Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 48), Aguas Calientes Hot Springs (mile 48), Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (mile 52), Puyehue National Park (mile 63), Los Arrayanes National Park (mile 107), Nahuel Huapi National Park (mile 119), Área natural protegida Bahía de San Antonio (mile 532)
- Museums and history: Puente Chirre (mile 24)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Área natural protegida Bahía de San Antonio
On the San Matías Gulf in Argentina's Río Negro province, the Bahía de San Antonio protected area was set up in 1993 to safeguard a seabird breeding zone and a stopover for migratory birds.
More drives to San Antonio Oeste
More drives from Osorno
- Osorno to Curacautín
- Osorno to Los Ángeles
- Osorno to Monte Águila
- Osorno to Pelluhue
- Osorno to Curicó
- Osorno to Santa Cruz, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Osorno to San Antonio Oeste, Argentina?
About 11 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 540 miles.
How far is San Antonio Oeste, Argentina from Osorno by car?
About 540 miles (869 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 Osorno to San Antonio Oeste drive cross the border?
At about mile 75, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Osorno 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 Osorno to San Antonio Oeste 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.
What roads does the drive from Osorno to San Antonio Oeste use?
In order: RN231, RN40, RN23, RN3 and RNA026. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Osorno to San Antonio Oeste?
Closest to the road: Puyehue Hot Springs (hot spring, mile 48, 0.4 mi from the route); Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (hot spring, mile 52, 0.9 mi from the route); Puyehue National Park (national park, mile 63, 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.