By road, Puerto Madryn and Chaitén, Chile are about 516 miles (830 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 34 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 420.
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 | 516 mi (830 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | RPA04 → RN3 → RN25 → RN40 → RP17 → RP44 |
| Border crossing | about mile 420, Argentina → Chile |
| Regions on the route | Chubut, Los Lagos |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
The border on the way to Chaitén
The route crosses at about mile 420, from Chubut 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.
On the road from Puerto Madryn to Chaitén
RN25 (315 mi) and RP17 (46 mi) carry about 70% of the 516 miles. The first 420 miles are in Argentina; the last 96 are in Chile. It runs through 2 regions: Chubut, Los Lagos. Of the 2 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Puerto Madryn to Chaitén
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chubut |
| RPA04 | 1–5 | 4 | Chubut |
| RN3 | 5–39 | 34 | Chubut |
| RN25 | 39–354 | 315 | Chubut |
| RN40 | 354–357 | 3 | Chubut |
| RP17 | 357–403 | 46 | Chubut |
| RP44 | 403–419 | 16 | Chubut |
| local roads | 419–516 | 97 | Chubut, Los Lagos |
- Mile 420 of this route: Chubut → Los Lagos (international border)
What to see on the way from Puerto Madryn to Chaitén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio (mile 39), Gaiman Regional Historical Museum (mile 49)
- Museums and history: Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio (mile 39), Gaiman Regional Historical Museum (mile 49)
Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio
Fossils of Patagonia's ancient animals and plants fill the Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio in Trelew, a research and exhibition center tracing how the region changed over geological time.
Gaiman Regional Historical Museum
Housed in Gaiman's former train station, the Gaiman Regional Historical Museum is run by the municipality with support from the Welsh association Asociación Galesa de Educación y Cultura Camwy.
More drives to Chaitén
- Coyhaique to Chaitén
- San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén, Chile
- Rawson to Chaitén, Chile
- San Martín de los Andes to Chaitén, Chile
- El Bolsón to Chaitén, Chile
More drives from Puerto Madryn
- Puerto Madryn to Puerto San Julián
- Puerto Madryn to Sierra de La Ventana
- Puerto Madryn to El Bolsón
- Puerto Madryn to Esquel
- Puerto Madryn to Coyhaique, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Puerto Madryn to Chaitén, Chile?
About 11 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
How far is Chaitén, Chile from Puerto Madryn by car?
About 516 miles (830 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 Puerto Madryn to Chaitén drive cross the border?
At about mile 420, from Argentina into Chile.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Puerto Madryn 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Puerto Madryn to Chaitén, Chile?
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.
What roads does the drive from Puerto Madryn to Chaitén use?
In order: RPA04, RN3, RN25, RN40, RP17 and RP44. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Madryn and Chaitén?
Closest to the road: Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio (paleontological museum, mile 39, 0.8 mi from the route); Gaiman Regional Historical Museum (museum, mile 49, 0.6 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.