Puerto Montt to Esquel, Argentina is about 377 road miles (606 km): roughly 8 h 6 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 121, 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.”
| Distance by road | 377 mi (606 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | U-551-V → U-55-V → U-981-T → RN231 → RN40 → RN259 |
| Border crossing | about mile 121, Chile → Argentina (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 121, 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.
Driving Puerto Montt to Esquel: the shape of the trip
RN40 (230 mi) and U-981-T (24 mi) carry about 67% of the 377 miles. The first 121 miles are in Chile; the last 256 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Los Lagos, Los Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Puerto Montt to Esquel
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–27 | 27 | Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 27–28 | 1 | Los Lagos |
| U-551-V | 28–47 | 19 | Los Lagos |
| U-55-V | 47–53 | 6 | Los Lagos |
| U-981-T | 53–77 | 24 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 77–121 | 44 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| RN231 | 121–140 | 19 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 140–370 | 230 | Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut |
| RN259 | 370–377 | 7 | Chubut |
- Mile 99 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 109 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Los Lagos → Neuquén (international border)
- Mile 188 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 278 of this route: Río Negro → Chubut (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Esquel
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 94), Lago Guillelmo (mile 223)
- Nature and outdoors: Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument (mile 7), Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 94), Puyehue National Park (mile 109), Nahuel Huapi National Park (mile 165), Lago Guillelmo (mile 223), Lago Puelo National Park (mile 282)
- Museums and history: Puente Chirre (mile 77), Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi (mile 199), Museo Leleque (mile 324)
Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument
Between Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas in Chile's Los Lagos Region, Lahuen Ñadi Natural Monument protects about 2 square kilometers of ñadi.
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.
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.
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.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi
Close to Nahuel Huapi Lake, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Nahuel Huapi is the main Catholic cathedral of San Carlos de Bariloche, set amid gardens on a large plot.
Lago Guillelmo
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park in Río Negro's Bariloche department, Lago Guillelmo is a glacial lake ringed by Andean Patagonian forest that drains into Lake Mascardi.
Lago Puelo National Park
Covering 276.74 square kilometers in northwestern Chubut, Lago Puelo National Park is an Argentine national park in Patagonia.
Museo Leleque
Near kilometer 1440 of Ruta Nacional 40 in Leleque, Chubut, this history museum opened in 1998 in the steppe at the foot of the Andes, about 100 m from the tracks of La Trochita.
More drives to Esquel
- Rawson to Esquel
- Puerto Madryn to Esquel
- Neuquén to Esquel
- Temuco to Esquel, Argentina
- Valdivia to Esquel, Argentina
- Puerto Varas to Esquel, Argentina
More drives from Puerto Montt
- Puerto Montt to Osorno
- Puerto Montt to Valdivia
- Puerto Montt to Villarrica
- Puerto Montt to Pucón
- Puerto Montt to Curacautín
- Puerto Montt to Los Ángeles
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Puerto Montt to Esquel, Argentina?
About 8 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 377 miles.
How far is Esquel, Argentina from Puerto Montt by car?
About 377 miles (606 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 Montt to Esquel drive cross the border?
At about mile 121, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Puerto Montt 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Puerto Montt to Esquel, Argentina?
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 Puerto Montt to Esquel use?
In order: U-551-V, U-55-V, U-981-T, RN231, RN40 and RN259. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Puerto Montt and Esquel?
Closest to the road: Puyehue Hot Springs (hot spring, mile 94, 0.5 mi from the route); Puyehue National Park (national park, mile 109, 1 mi from the route); Lago Guillelmo (lake, mile 223, 0.5 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.