Plan on about 7 h 33 min of driving for the 316-mile (508 km) trip from San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén, Chile, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 216, at Paso Futaleufú.
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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- 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 | 316 mi (508 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RN259 |
| Border crossing | about mile 216, Argentina → Chile (Paso Futaleufú) |
| Regions on the route | Río Negro, Chubut, Los Lagos |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Chaitén
The route crosses at about mile 216, at Paso Futaleufú, 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.
What the drive from San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén is like
RN40 (167 mi) and RN259 (47 mi) carry about 68% of the 316 miles. The first 216 miles are in Argentina; the last 100 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Río Negro, Chubut, Los Lagos. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Río Negro |
| RN40 | 2–169 | 167 | Río Negro, Chubut |
| RN259 | 169–216 | 47 | Chubut |
| local roads | 216–316 | 100 | Los Lagos |
- Mile 78 of this route: Río Negro → Chubut (region line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Chubut → Los Lagos (international border)
Places worth a stop between San Carlos de Bariloche and Chaitén
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Lago Guillelmo (mile 23), Parque Serrano (mile 75)
- Nature and outdoors: Lago Guillelmo (mile 23), Área natural protegida Cipresal de las Guaitecas (mile 52), Área natural protegida Río Azul - Lago Escondido (mile 54), Reserva El Guadal (mile 68), Parque Serrano (mile 75), Lago Puelo National Park (mile 82), Futaleufú National Reserve (mile 221)
- Museums and history: Museo Leleque (mile 124)
Lago Guillelmo
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park in Río Negro's Bariloche department, Lago Guillelmo is a glacial lake ringed by Andean Patagonian forest that drains into Lake Mascardi.
Área natural protegida Cipresal de las Guaitecas
About 30 km north of El Bolsón, east of Route 40, the Cipresal de las Guaitecas protected area lies within Patagonia's Andean forest ecoregion in the Bariloche department.
Área natural protegida Río Azul - Lago Escondido
Near El Bolsón, in the Bariloche department of Patagonia, the Río Azul - Lago Escondido protected natural area covers Andean Patagonian forest.
Reserva El Guadal
Near Mallín Ahogado and El Bolsón, Reserva El Guadal is a protected forest reserve created to preserve native woodland and support research on sustainable resource management.
Parque Serrano
Parque Serrano is a municipal protected natural area in El Bolsón, in Argentine Patagonia, covered by the Andean Patagonian forest ecoregion.
Lago Puelo National Park
Covering 276.74 square kilometers in northwestern Chubut, Lago Puelo National Park is an Argentine national park in Patagonia.
Museo Leleque
Near kilometer 1440 of Ruta Nacional 40 in Leleque, Chubut, this history museum opened in 1998 in the steppe at the foot of the Andes, about 100 m from the tracks of La Trochita.
Futaleufú National Reserve
Managed by CONAF, Futaleufú National Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Patagonia section of southern Chile.
More drives to Chaitén
- Coyhaique to Chaitén
- Puerto Madryn to Chaitén, Chile
- Rawson to Chaitén, Chile
- San Martín de los Andes to Chaitén, Chile
- El Bolsón to Chaitén, Chile
More drives from San Carlos de Bariloche
- San Carlos de Bariloche to Trelew
- San Carlos de Bariloche to El Bolsón
- San Carlos de Bariloche to Los Ángeles, Chile
- San Carlos de Bariloche to Coyhaique, Chile
- San Carlos de Bariloche to Monte Verde, Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén, Chile?
About 7 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 316 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén, Chile?
About 316 miles (508 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 San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén drive cross the border?
At about mile 216, from Argentina into Chile, at Paso Futaleufú.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche 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 San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén?
In order: RN40 and RN259. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Carlos de Bariloche to Chaitén?
Closest to the road: Lago Guillelmo (lake, mile 23, 0.4 mi from the route); Reserva El Guadal (park, mile 68, 1 mi from the route); Parque Serrano (park, mile 75, 0.7 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.