Plan on about 10 h 24 min of driving for the 458-mile (737 km) trip from Pelluhue to Barreal, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 334, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Total distance | 458 mi (737 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | M-50-K → 126 N → L-30-K → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 334, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Barreal
The route crosses at about mile 334, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Valparaíso into Mendoza. 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 Pelluhue to Barreal
RN149 (70 mi) and RN7 (54 mi) carry about 27% of the 458 miles. The first 334 miles are in Chile; the last 124 are in Argentina. It runs through 6 regions: Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Pelluhue to Barreal: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Maule |
| M-50-K | 4–22 | 18 | Maule |
| local roads | 22–29 | 7 | Maule |
| 126 N | 29–66 | 37 | Maule |
| L-30-K | 66–71 | 5 | Maule |
| local roads | 71–248 | 177 | Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 248–250 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 250–286 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 286–290 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 290–292 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 292–298 | 6 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 298–334 | 36 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 334–388 | 54 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 388–458 | 70 | Mendoza, San Juan |
- Mile 137 of this route: Maule → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 208 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 278 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 428 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Stops between Pelluhue and Barreal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Victoria (mile 125), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 240), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 285), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 334)
- Nature and outdoors: El Leoncito National Park (mile 444)
- Museums and history: St. Augustine Cathedral, Talca (mile 86), Pukara of La Compañía (mile 201), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 240), Basílica del Salvador (mile 244), Museo Colonial (mile 244)
St. Augustine Cathedral, Talca
Also known as Talca Cathedral, St. Augustine Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Talca, Chile, dedicated to Saint Augustine.
Teatro Victoria
Pukara of La Compañía
On the hill above the village of La Compañía, in Graneros, this site holds remains of a Promaucae fortress later used by the Incas, the southernmost surviving Inca structure.
Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio
Chile's Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio is a national museum dedicated to sharing the country's aviation heritage with visitors.
Basílica del Salvador
At Huérfanos and Almirante Barroso streets in Santiago's Barrio Brasil, the Basílica del Salvador is a neo-Gothic church designed by German architect Teodoro Burchard.
Museo Colonial
Paintings, sculpture and furniture from the colonial period fill Museo Colonial, a historical and religious museum in Santiago devoted to colonial Chile and South America.
Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes
Pilgrims come to the Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes in Rinconada, Valparaíso Region, to venerate the relics of Saint Teresa of the Andes, Chile's first saint. The shrine was built to receive thousands of the faithful.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
High in the Andes at 3,832 meters on the Argentina–Chile border, Christ the Redeemer of the Andes was unveiled on March 13, 1904, to mark the peaceful settlement of a border dispute between the two countries.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to Barreal
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Capilla del Monte to Barreal
- Villa Carlos Paz to Barreal
- Córdoba, Argentina to Barreal
- Viña del Mar to Barreal, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Barreal, Argentina
More drives from Pelluhue
- Pelluhue to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Pelluhue to El Colorado
- Pelluhue to Valle Nevado
- Pelluhue to Algarrobo
- Pelluhue to Quintay
- Pelluhue to Reñaca
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Pelluhue to Barreal, Argentina?
About 10 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 458 miles.
How far is Barreal, Argentina from Pelluhue by car?
About 458 miles (737 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 Pelluhue to Barreal drive cross the border?
At about mile 334, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Pelluhue 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 Pelluhue to Barreal 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 Pelluhue to Barreal?
In order: M-50-K, 126 N, L-30-K, E-57, E-61, RN7 and RN149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Pelluhue to Barreal?
Closest to the road: Teatro Victoria (theater, mile 125, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (museum, mile 240, 0.6 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 285, 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.