Plan on about 12 h 27 min of driving for the 542-mile (872 km) trip from Salta to San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Bolivia at about mile 250, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
Full advisory: Argentina, Bolivia. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Bolivia August 18, 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.”
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Total distance | 542 mi (872 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN9 → RN34 → RN1V66 → F14 → F21 → F5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 250, Argentina → Bolivia (La Quiaca–Villazón) |
| Regions on the route | Salta, Jujuy, Potosí |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Bolivia border
The route crosses at about mile 250, at La Quiaca–Villazón, from Jujuy into Potosí. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Bolivia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Bolivia | You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. |
| 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. |
| 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, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from Salta to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
RN9 (204 mi) and F21 (118 mi) carry about 59% of the 542 miles. The first 250 miles are in Argentina; the last 292 are in Bolivia. It runs through 3 regions: Salta, Jujuy, Potosí. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Salta to San Pedro de Quemes Canton: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Salta |
| RN9 | 2–29 | 27 | Salta |
| RN34 | 29–48 | 19 | Salta, Jujuy |
| RN1V66 | 48–72 | 24 | Jujuy |
| RN9 | 72–249 | 177 | Jujuy |
| connecting roads | 249–251 | 2 | Jujuy, Potosí |
| F14 | 251–306 | 55 | Potosí |
| connecting roads | 306–308 | 2 | Potosí |
| F21 | 308–426 | 118 | Potosí |
| F5 | 426–542 | 116 | Potosí |
- Mile 43 of this route: Salta → Jujuy (region line)
- Mile 250 of this route: Jujuy → Potosí (international border)
Places worth a stop between Salta and San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Posta de Hornillos (mile 119), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 124), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 126), Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (mile 258), Museum Necropolis Kausay Wasi (mile 518)
- Museums and history: Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy (mile 75), Museo Juan Galo Lavalle (mile 75), Posta de Hornillos (mile 119), Pucará de Tilcara (mile 124), José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (mile 126), Laqaya (mile 512), Museum Necropolis Kausay Wasi (mile 518)
Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour, San Salvador de Jujuy
The Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is the seat of the Catholic bishopric of San Salvador de Jujuy and is counted among Argentina's historic buildings.
Museo Juan Galo Lavalle
Inside a mid-18th-century house declared a National Historic Monument, this provincial history museum marks the place where independence-era leader Juan Galo Lavalle was killed.
Posta de Hornillos
Dating from the colonial era, the Posta de Hornillos is a former relay post in the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Tilcara department, that has worked as a history museum since 1979.
Pucará de Tilcara
On a hill just outside Tilcara in Jujuy, the Pucará de Tilcara is a pre-Inca fortification placed for easy defense and good views over a long stretch of the Quebrada de Humahuaca.
José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting
On Rivadavia street in Tilcara, Jujuy, the Museo Nacional Terry occupies the colonial-style house where painter José Antonio Terry lived and focuses on his paintings.
Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas
Covering 58,480 hectares of semi-arid puna between 3,200 and 4,700 meters, Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas is a municipal protected area in Villazón, Potosí.
Ecoparque Encantado Protected Municipal Area
Within the municipality of Tupiza, in Potosí's Sud Chichas province, Ecoparque Encantado is a municipal protected area in southern Bolivia.
Laqaya
Laqaya is an archaeological site on Bolivia's Altiplano, in the Colcha "K" Municipality of Nor Lípez Province in the Potosí Department.
Museum Necropolis Kausay Wasi
The Museum Necropolis Kausay Wasi (Museo Necrópolis Kausay Wasi) is both an archaeological museum and a necropolis in Bolivia's Altiplano region.
More drives to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Oruro to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Sucre to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Tarabuco to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Quime to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Quillacollo to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
- Cochabamba to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
More drives from Salta
- Salta to Amaicha del Valle
- Salta to La Rioja
- Salta to Villa Unión
- Salta to Capilla del Monte
- Salta to Villa Carlos Paz
- Salta to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salta to San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia?
About 12 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 542 miles.
How far is San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia from Salta by car?
About 542 miles (872 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 Salta to San Pedro de Quemes Canton drive cross the border?
At about mile 250, from Argentina into Bolivia, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Salta into Bolivia?
No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated May 07, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Salta to San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Salta to San Pedro de Quemes Canton?
In order: RN9, RN34, RN1V66, F14, F21 and F5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salta to San Pedro de Quemes Canton?
Closest to the road: Posta de Hornillos (museum, mile 119, 0.2 mi from the route); Pucará de Tilcara (fortress, mile 124, 0.4 mi from the route); José Antonio Terry Regional Museum of Painting (historic house museum, mile 126, 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.