By road, Quintay and Malargüe, Argentina are about 413 miles (665 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 7 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 326, at Paso Pehuenche.
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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Total distance | 413 mi (665 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | F-800 → RN145 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 326, Chile → Argentina (Paso Pehuenche) |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 326, at Paso Pehuenche, from Maule into Mendoza. 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 Quintay to Malargüe: the shape of the trip
RN145 (47 mi) and RN40 (40 mi) carry about 21% of the 413 miles. The first 326 miles are in Chile; the last 87 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Quintay and Malargüe
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| F-800 | 1–15 | 14 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 15–16 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 16–68 | 52 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 68–69 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 69–75 | 6 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 75–78 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 78–326 | 248 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule |
| RN145 | 326–373 | 47 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 373–413 | 40 | Mendoza |
- Mile 29 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 106 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 177 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Maule (region line)
- Mile 326 of this route: Maule → Mendoza (international border)
What to see on the way from Quintay to Malargüe
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 141), Jardín botánico de la Universidad de Talca (mile 226)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago Peñuelas National Reserve (mile 17), Jardín botánico de la Universidad de Talca (mile 226), Campanario Thermal Baths (mile 306), Médanos Grandes (mile 373)
- Museums and history: Votive Temple of Maipú (mile 73), Museo del Carmen de Maipú (mile 73), Paine Memorial (mile 95), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 141)
Lago Peñuelas National Reserve
Chile's Lago Peñuelas National Reserve surrounds Peñuelas Lake, a freshwater reservoir that supplies drinking water to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar.
Viña Casas del Bosque
Founded in 1993 in the Casablanca Valley, Viña Casas del Bosque is a winery growing cool-climate grapes like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, with restaurants Tanino and Casa Mirador on site.
Votive Temple of Maipú
Also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Votive Temple of Maipú is a Catholic church in the Chilean commune of Maipú.
Museo del Carmen de Maipú
In the Maipú district of Santiago, Museo del Carmen de Maipú is a private museum of history, religion and art that preserves and exhibits pieces of Chile's cultural heritage.
Paine Memorial
About twenty miles south of Santiago, the Paine Memorial in the rural community of Paine honors local residents who were abducted or unlawfully arrested and then killed under the Pinochet dictatorship.
Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo
A Catholic church in the city of Rengo, the Basílica de Santa Ana is one of Chile's nine minor basilicas, with roots going back to the colonial period.
Jardín botánico de la Universidad de Talca
Opened to the public in 2001, the University of Talca's 10-hectare botanical garden showcases plants from the Maule Region, Chile and around the world, including rare and threatened species.
Campanario Thermal Baths
Campanario Thermal Baths (Baños Campanario) are hot springs in Chile's Maule Region, used both for medicinal purposes and by visitors looking for a soak.
Médanos Grandes
Médanos Grandes is a dune field in west-central Argentina, a sandy landscape that covers an area of roughly 2,000 square kilometers.
More drives to Malargüe
- Villa Carlos Paz to Malargüe
- Santiago, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Malargüe, Argentina
- Temuco to Malargüe, Argentina
- Rancagua to Malargüe, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
More drives from Quintay
- Quintay to Pisco Elqui
- Quintay to Villa Unión, Argentina
- Quintay to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina
- Quintay to La Punta, Argentina
- Quintay to San José de Jáchal, Argentina
- Quintay to Barreal, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Quintay to Malargüe, Argentina?
About 9 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 413 miles.
What is the driving distance from Quintay to Malargüe, Argentina?
About 413 miles (665 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 Quintay to Malargüe drive cross the border?
At about mile 326, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Pehuenche.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Quintay 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 Quintay to Malargüe 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 Quintay to Malargüe use?
In order: F-800, RN145 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Quintay and Malargüe?
Closest to the road: Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (basilica, mile 141, 0.7 mi from the route); Jardín botánico de la Universidad de Talca (botanical garden, mile 226, 0.2 mi from the route); Campanario Thermal Baths (hot spring, mile 306, 1 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.