The Wayro route from Rancagua to Maipú, Argentina is 270 miles (435 km), about 6 h 14 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 143, at the Cristo Redentor 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 270 mi (435 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RP60 → RP5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 143, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 143, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Valparaíso 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.
The Rancagua–Maipú drive in a few lines
RN7 (103 mi) and RP60 (6 mi) carry about 40% of the 270 miles. The first 143 miles are in Chile; the last 127 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Rancagua to Maipú: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| connecting roads | 10–11 | 1 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| local roads | 11–58 | 47 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 58–59 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 59–96 | 37 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 96–99 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 99–102 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 102–107 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 107–143 | 36 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 143–246 | 103 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 246–247 | 1 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 247–252 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 252–256 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 256–260 | 4 | Mendoza |
| RP60 | 260–266 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RP5 | 266–270 | 4 | Mendoza |
- Mile 17 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 87 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 143 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
Places worth a stop between Rancagua and Maipú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 42), Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (mile 49), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (mile 52), Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 101), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 143), Puente del Inca (mile 155), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 262)
- Nature and outdoors: Colina Thermal Baths (mile 73)
- Museums and history: St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 42), Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (mile 49), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (mile 52), Museo de Arte Sagrado (mile 53), Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes (mile 101), Puente del Inca (mile 155), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 262)
St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo
Beside the Plaza de Armas of San Bernardo in metropolitan Santiago, St. Bernard Cathedral is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of San Bernardo.
Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos
Housed in the old modernist terminal of Los Cerrillos airport in Santiago, this contemporary art center opened in 2016 for temporary exhibitions and Chilean art from 1967 onward.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Designed in Gothic Revival style by Brother Gerardo (Gustave Knockaert) and Huberto Boulangeot, this basilica stands in the Santiago commune.
Museo de Arte Sagrado
Behind Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral, the Museo de Arte Sagrado is a religious art museum with a courtyard and colonial architecture.
Colina Thermal Baths
In the north of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region, the Colina Thermal Baths (Baños de Colina) are hot springs on the Colina River used for both medicinal and tourist purposes.
Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes
Opened in 1969 by Carlos Coros, the Los Andes Archaeological Museum occupies a 19th-century house and holds a collection tied to the Aconcagua culture and the Inca civilization.
Christ the Redeemer of the Andes
High in the Andes at 3,832 meters on the Argentina–Chile border, Christ the Redeemer of the Andes was unveiled on March 13, 1904, to mark the peaceful settlement of a border dispute between the two countries.
Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca is a natural rock arch spanning the Las Cuevas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River. It stands beside the village of the same name in Las Heras Department, Mendoza Province.
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
When you get to Maipú
Mendoza Wine Museum
Run by Bodega La Rural about 16 km from the city of Mendoza, the Mendoza Wine Museum (Museo del Vino) displays objects from the region's winemaking going back to colonial times.
More drives to Maipú
- La Rioja to Maipú
- Catamarca to Maipú
- Valparaíso to Maipú, Argentina
- Talca to Maipú, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Maipú, Argentina
- La Serena to Maipú, Argentina
More drives from Rancagua
- Rancagua to El Colorado
- Rancagua to Valle Nevado
- Rancagua to Los Andes
- Rancagua to Algarrobo
- Rancagua to Quintay
- Rancagua to Portillo
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rancagua to Maipú, Argentina?
About 6 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 270 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rancagua to Maipú, Argentina?
About 270 miles (435 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 Rancagua to Maipú drive cross the border?
At about mile 143, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Rancagua 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 Rancagua to Maipú, 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 Rancagua to Maipú use?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RP60 and RP5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rancagua and Maipú?
Closest to the road: St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (cathedral, mile 42, 0.6 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 155, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Regional Americanista (museum, mile 262, 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.