Plan on about 11 h 8 min of driving for the 489-mile (787 km) trip from Rawson to Chaitén, Chile, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 394.
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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- 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 | 489 mi (787 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP7 → RN25 → RN40 → RP17 → RP44 |
| Border crossing | about mile 394, Argentina → Chile |
| Regions on the route | Chubut, Los Lagos |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The border on the way to Chaitén
The route crosses at about mile 394, from Chubut into Los Lagos. 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 Rawson–Chaitén drive in a few lines
RN25 (315 mi) and RP17 (46 mi) carry about 74% of the 489 miles. The first 394 miles are in Argentina; the last 95 are in Chile. It runs through 2 regions: Chubut, Los Lagos. Of the 3 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Rawson to Chaitén
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Chubut |
| RP7 | 1–9 | 8 | Chubut |
| connecting roads | 9–12 | 3 | Chubut |
| RN25 | 12–327 | 315 | Chubut |
| RN40 | 327–331 | 4 | Chubut |
| RP17 | 331–377 | 46 | Chubut |
| RP44 | 377–393 | 16 | Chubut |
| local roads | 393–489 | 96 | Chubut, Los Lagos |
- Mile 394 of this route: Chubut → Los Lagos (international border)
Stops between Rawson and Chaitén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pueblo de Luis Regional Museum (mile 11), María Auxiliadora Church (mile 14), Gaiman Regional Historical Museum (mile 23)
- Museums and history: Pueblo de Luis Regional Museum (mile 11), María Auxiliadora Church (mile 14), Gaiman Regional Historical Museum (mile 23)
Pueblo de Luis Regional Museum
Seven exhibition rooms at the Pueblo de Luis Regional Museum in central Trelew cover the history of the lower Chubut valley, including Tehuelche and Mapuche peoples and Welsh settlement.
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.
Gaiman Regional Historical Museum
Housed in Gaiman's former train station, the Gaiman Regional Historical Museum is run by the municipality with support from the Welsh association Asociación Galesa de Educación y Cultura Camwy.
More drives to Chaitén
- Coyhaique to Chaitén
- San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén, Chile
- Puerto Madryn to Chaitén, Chile
- San Martín de los Andes to Chaitén, Chile
- El Bolsón to Chaitén, Chile
More drives from Rawson
- Rawson to Puerto San Julián
- Rawson to San Antonio Oeste
- Rawson to Balneario El Cóndor
- Rawson to Sierra de La Ventana
- Rawson to Villa El Chocón
- Rawson to El Bolsón
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rawson to Chaitén, Chile?
About 11 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 489 miles.
How far is Chaitén, Chile from Rawson by car?
About 489 miles (787 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 Rawson to Chaitén drive cross the border?
At about mile 394, from Argentina into Chile.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Rawson 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Rawson to Chaitén drive?
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.
Which highways go from Rawson to Chaitén?
In order: RP7, RN25, RN40, RP17 and RP44. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rawson and Chaitén?
Closest to the road: Pueblo de Luis Regional Museum (museum, mile 11, 1 mi from the route); María Auxiliadora Church (cathedral, mile 14, 0.9 mi from the route); Gaiman Regional Historical Museum (museum, mile 23, 0.6 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.