By road, Punta Arenas and Puerto San Julián, Argentina are about 382 miles (614 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 22 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 122, at the Integración Austral 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: “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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 382 mi (614 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | 9 N → RN3 |
| Border crossing | about mile 122, Chile → Argentina (the Integración Austral crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Santa Cruz |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 122, at the Integración Austral crossing, from Magallanes y Antártica Chilena into Santa Cruz. 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 Punta Arenas to Puerto San Julián: the shape of the trip
RN3 (258 mi) and 9 N (29 mi) carry about 75% of the 382 miles. The first 122 miles are in Chile; the last 260 are in Argentina. It runs through 2 regions: Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Santa Cruz. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
The route from Punta Arenas to Puerto San Julián, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Magallanes y Antártica Chilena |
| 9 N | 4–33 | 29 | Magallanes y Antártica Chilena |
| local roads | 33–121 | 88 | Magallanes y Antártica Chilena |
| RN3 | 121–379 | 258 | Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Santa Cruz |
| local roads | 379–382 | 3 | Santa Cruz |
- Mile 122 of this route: Magallanes y Antártica Chilena → Santa Cruz (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Puerto San Julián
Laguna Baja
West of Pecket Bay in the Punta Arenas commune of Chile's Magallanes Region, Laguna Baja is a body of surface water.
Pali-Aike National Park
Pali-Aike National Park sits in the Magallanes Region of Chilean Patagonia; its name comes from the Tehuelche language and means "desolate place."
Laguna Azul
About 62 km south of Río Gallegos, Laguna Azul fills the crater of an inactive volcano in the Pali Aike volcanic field, out on the Patagonian steppe.
Monte León National Park
Established in 2004 in Santa Cruz Province, Monte León National Park protects Patagonian steppe and coastline along with several valuable paleontological sites.
More drives to Puerto San Julián
More drives from Punta Arenas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Punta Arenas to Puerto San Julián, Argentina?
About 7 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 382 miles.
What is the driving distance from Punta Arenas to Puerto San Julián, Argentina?
About 382 miles (614 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 Punta Arenas to Puerto San Julián drive cross the border?
At about mile 122, from Chile into Argentina, at the Integración Austral crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Punta Arenas 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 Punta Arenas to Puerto San Julián 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.
What roads does the drive from Punta Arenas to Puerto San Julián use?
In order: 9 N and RN3. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Punta Arenas to Puerto San Julián?
Closest to the road: Laguna Baja (lagoon, mile 39, 3 mi from the route); Laguna Azul (nature area, mile 126, 2 mi from the route); Monte León National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 285, 2 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.