Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile is about 450 road miles (725 km): roughly 10 h 34 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Bolivia into Chile at about mile 268.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Chile. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Many drivers ignore traffic signs and rules.”
- 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 by road | 450 mi (725 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | F5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 268, Bolivia → Chile |
| Regions on the route | Potosí, Antofagasta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to San Pedro de Atacama
The route crosses at about mile 268, from Potosí into Antofagasta. 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 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 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, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama is like
F5 (165 mi) carries about 37% of the 450 miles. The first 268 miles are in Bolivia; the last 182 are in Chile. It runs through 2 regions: Potosí, Antofagasta. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Potosí |
| F5 | 1–166 | 165 | Potosí |
| local roads | 166–389 | 223 | Potosí, Antofagasta |
| connecting roads | 389–391 | 2 | Antofagasta |
| local roads | 391–450 | 59 | Antofagasta |
- Mile 268 of this route: Potosí → Antofagasta (international border)
Stops between Potosí and San Pedro de Atacama
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Salar de Chiguana (mile 259), Salar de Ollagüe (mile 267), Pucará de Lasana (mile 366)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Verde (mile 288), Baños de Ascotán (mile 311)
- Museums and history: Pucará de Lasana (mile 366), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Calama (mile 391)
Salar de Chiguana
Near the Chilean border in Bolivia's Potosí department, the Salar de Chiguana is a salt flat in a depression fed by small streams from the mountains.
Salar de Ollagüe
Straddling the border between Bolivia and Chile, Salar de Ollagüe is a salt flat at the western edge of Potosí department, next to Chile's Antofagasta Region.
Salar de Carcote
Also known as Salar de San Martín, Salar de Carcote is a salt flat in northern Chile, lying southwest of the town of Ollagüe.
Laguna Verde
Laguna Verde is a shallow saltwater lagoon in the Antofagasta Region, within the drainage basin of the Salar de Carcote.
Baños de Ascotán
South of the Ascotán salt flat, the Baños de Ascotán are a group of three hot springs.
Pucará de Lasana
Built in the 12th century, the Pucará de Lasana is a pre-Columbian fortress in the village of Lasana, El Loa Province, roughly 900 years old.
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Calama
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, also called Calama Cathedral, is the main Catholic church of the Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama in Chile.
Arriving in San Pedro de Atacama
Museo del Meteorito
San Pedro de Atacama's Museo del Meteorito keeps a permanent exhibit of meteorites found in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
Pukará de Quitor
About 3 km northwest of San Pedro de Atacama, Pukará de Quitor is a pre-Columbian stone fortress overlooking the valley of the San Pedro River.
Tulor
Near San Pedro de Atacama, Tulor is an archaeological site with the remains of a former village complex covering 5,200 square meters, plus 22 outlying structures.
More drives to San Pedro de Atacama
- Copiapó to San Pedro de Atacama
- Tacna to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Sucre to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- Oruro to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
- San Salvador de Jujuy to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
More drives from Potosí
- Potosí to Tarata
- Potosí to Quime
- Potosí to Quillacollo
- Potosí to Tiwanaku
- Potosí to Coroico
- Potosí to Chulumani
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile?
About 10 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
What is the driving distance from Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile?
About 450 miles (725 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 Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama drive cross the border?
At about mile 268, from Bolivia into Chile.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Potosí 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 Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Potosí to San Pedro de Atacama?
Closest to the road: Salar de Chiguana (salt flat, mile 259, 0.4 mi from the route); Salar de Ollagüe (salt flat, mile 267, 0.2 mi from the route); Pucará de Lasana (archaeological site, mile 366, 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.