San Luis to Valle Nevado, Chile is about 401 road miles (646 km): roughly 8 h 51 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Distance | 401 mi (646 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN7 → E-57 → G-21 → G-251 |
| Border crossing | about mile 277, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | San Luis, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Chile
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.
How the San Luis to Valle Nevado drive plays out
RN7 (271 mi) and G-21 (20 mi) carry about 73% of the 401 miles. The first 277 miles are in Argentina; the last 124 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: San Luis, Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: San Luis to Valle Nevado
| 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 |
| G-21 | 373–393 | 20 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-251 | 393–401 | 8 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
- 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)
What to see on the way from San Luis to Valle Nevado
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 265), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 276), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 325)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 182)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 265), Museo de Artes Decorativas (Santiago de Chile) (mile 365), Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 371)
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.
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.
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.
Museo de Artes Decorativas (Santiago de Chile)
The Museum of Decorative Arts is housed in the Recoleta Dominica Heritage Center, on the grounds of the Recoleta Dominica church and convent.
Teatro San Ginés
Also known as Espacio San Ginés, Teatro San Ginés is a theater in Santiago run by the San Ginés Cultural Corporation.
National Astronomical Observatory
On Cerro Calán in Las Condes, Chile's National Astronomical Observatory is owned and operated by the University of Chile's Department of Astronomy.
Museo de Cera de Las Condes
Wax figures fill the Museo de Cera de Las Condes, a public museum that opened in July 2019 inside Parque Los Dominicos in the Las Condes district of Santiago.
Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán
El Arrayán Nature Sanctuary (Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán) is a privately owned protected area open to the public in the Lo Barnechea commune of Santiago.
More drives to Valle Nevado
- Santiago, Chile to Valle Nevado
- Algarrobo to Valle Nevado
- Valparaíso to Valle Nevado
- Viña del Mar to Valle Nevado
- Reñaca to Valle Nevado
- Coquimbo to Valle Nevado
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
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Luis to Valle Nevado, Chile?
About 8 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 401 miles.
How far is Valle Nevado, Chile from San Luis by car?
About 401 miles (646 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 Valle Nevado 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the San Luis to Valle Nevado 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 Luis to Valle Nevado?
In order: RN7, E-57, G-21 and G-251. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Luis and Valle Nevado?
Closest to the road: Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 265, 0.2 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 276, 1 mi from the route); Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 325, 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.