Puerto Madryn to Coyhaique, Chile is about 537 road miles (864 km): roughly 11 h 31 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 500, at Paso Huemules.
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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- 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 | 537 mi (864 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | RPA04 → RN3 → RP37 → RN26 → RN40 → RN260 |
| Border crossing | about mile 500, Argentina → Chile (Paso Huemules) |
| Regions on the route | Chubut, Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Crossing from Argentina into Chile
The route crosses at about mile 500, at Paso Huemules, from Chubut into Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo. 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.
The Puerto Madryn–Coyhaique drive in a few lines
RN3 (245 mi) and RN26 (104 mi) carry about 65% of the 537 miles. The first 500 miles are in Argentina; the last 37 are in Chile. It runs through 2 regions: Chubut, Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Puerto Madryn to Coyhaique: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chubut |
| RPA04 | 1–5 | 4 | Chubut |
| RN3 | 5–250 | 245 | Chubut |
| RP37 | 250–278 | 28 | Chubut |
| RN26 | 278–382 | 104 | Chubut |
| RN40 | 382–434 | 52 | Chubut |
| RN260 | 434–500 | 66 | Chubut |
| local roads | 500–537 | 37 | Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo |
- Mile 500 of this route: Chubut → Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo (international border)
Stops between Puerto Madryn and Coyhaique
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Desiderio Torres Regional Museum (mile 337)
- Museums and history: Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio (mile 39), María Auxiliadora Church (mile 39), Desiderio Torres Regional Museum (mile 337)
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.
María Auxiliadora Church
Facing the main plaza on San Martín Street in Trelew, Chubut, the Catedral de María Auxiliadora has been the cathedral of the Diocese of Rawson since 2023.
Desiderio Torres Regional Museum
Run by the Municipality of Sarmiento, this regional museum honors Desiderio Torres, a respected Indigenous resident of the area.
When you get to Coyhaique
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores
In the city of Coyhaique, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Sorrows (Catedral de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores) is the Catholic seat of the Apostolic Vicariate of Aysén.
Museo Regional de Aysén
Part of Chile's National Cultural Heritage Service, the Museo Regional de Aysén is a public museum in Coyhaique, in the Aysén Region of Chilean Patagonia.
More drives to Coyhaique
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 Chaitén, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puerto Madryn to Coyhaique, Chile?
About 11 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 537 miles.
What is the driving distance from Puerto Madryn to Coyhaique, Chile?
About 537 miles (864 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 Coyhaique drive cross the border?
At about mile 500, from Argentina into Chile, at Paso Huemules.
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 Coyhaique, 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 Coyhaique use?
In order: RPA04, RN3, RP37, RN26, RN40 and RN260. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Madryn and Coyhaique?
Closest to the road: Museum of Paleontology Egidio Feruglio (paleontological museum, mile 39, 1 mi from the route); María Auxiliadora Church (cathedral, mile 39, 1 mi from the route); Desiderio Torres Regional Museum (museum, mile 337, 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.