Plan on about 10 h 26 min of driving for the 496-mile (798 km) trip from San Luis to Pichilemu, Chile, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 277, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
| Total distance | 496 mi (798 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN7 → E-57 → G-60 → G-62-I → I-62-G → I-80-G |
| Border crossing | about mile 277, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | San Luis, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Pichilemu
The route crosses at about mile 277, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Mendoza into Valparaíso. 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.
Driving San Luis to Pichilemu: the shape of the trip
RN7 (271 mi) and G-60 (18 mi) carry about 58% of the 496 miles. The first 277 miles are in Argentina; the last 219 are in Chile. It runs through 5 regions: San Luis, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Luis to Pichilemu
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | San Luis |
| RN7 | 6–277 | 271 | San Luis, Mendoza |
| local roads | 277–316 | 39 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 316–321 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 321–324 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 324–360 | 36 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 360–361 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 361–373 | 12 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 373–374 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 374–411 | 37 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-60 | 411–429 | 18 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 429–432 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-62-I | 432–442 | 10 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| I-62-G | 442–458 | 16 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| I-80-G | 458–474 | 16 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| local roads | 474–496 | 22 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
- Mile 51 of this route: San Luis → Mendoza (region line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 334 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 444 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
Places worth a stop between San Luis and Pichilemu
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 265), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 325)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 182), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 354), Laguna Carén (mile 369)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 265), Votive Temple of Maipú (mile 375), Museo del Carmen de Maipú (mile 375), St. Joseph's Cathedral, Melipilla (mile 410)
Cacheuta Spa
At Cacheuta, on the Mendoza River in the Andes foothills, Cacheuta Spa is a bathing complex built around natural hot springs, along the old road from Mendoza toward the Uspallata Pass and Chile.
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.
Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes
Pilgrims come to the Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes in Rinconada, Valparaíso Region, to venerate the relics of Saint Teresa of the Andes, Chile's first saint. The shrine was built to receive thousands of the faithful.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Laguna Carén
Laguna Carén is a man-made freshwater lagoon and wetland in Pudahuel, west of central Santiago, forming part of Parque Carén, a University of Chile property of about 2,525 acres.
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.
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Melipilla
St. Joseph's Cathedral in Melipilla, Chile, is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Melipilla.
Arriving in Pichilemu
Laguna Petrel
Facing the old Pichilemu railway station, Petrel Lagoon is a coastal lagoon on Pichilemu beach whose water is largely seawater; it was once one of the town's main attractions.
Laguna El Ancho
On the outskirts of Pichilemu in the O'Higgins Region, Laguna El Ancho (also called Tranque El Ancho) is a body of water created by building a wall to store drinking water for the town.
Laguna El Perro
Laguna El Perro (Laguna del Perro) sits on the southern edge of Pichilemu in the O'Higgins Region, covering roughly 28 hectares with a maximum depth of about 11 meters.
More drives to Pichilemu
- Santiago, Chile to Pichilemu
- Los Andes to Pichilemu
- Coquimbo to Pichilemu
- La Serena to Pichilemu
- Chillán to Pichilemu
- Los Ángeles to Pichilemu
More drives from San Luis
- San Luis to Villa Carlos Paz
- San Luis to Capilla del Monte
- San Luis to Luján
- San Luis to Adrogué
- San Luis to Berisso
- San Luis to Magdalena
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Luis to Pichilemu, Chile?
About 10 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 496 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Luis to Pichilemu, Chile?
About 496 miles (798 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 Luis to Pichilemu drive cross the border?
At about mile 277, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from San Luis 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.)
Is it safe to drive from San Luis to Pichilemu, Chile?
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.
What roads does the drive from San Luis to Pichilemu use?
In order: RN7, E-57, G-60, G-62-I, I-62-G and I-80-G. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Luis to Pichilemu?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 265, 0.2 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 325, 0.4 mi from the route); Votive Temple of Maipú (monument, mile 375, 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.