The Wayro route from San Rafael to Pichilemu, Chile is 406 miles (654 km), about 9 h 13 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 206, at Paso Pehuenche.
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.”
| Distance | 406 mi (654 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN143 → RN144 → RN40 → RN145 → K-40-J → J-60 → J-70-I → I-70-J → I-72 → I-502 |
| Border crossing | about mile 206, Argentina → Chile (Paso Pehuenche) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The border on the way to Pichilemu
The route crosses at about mile 206, at Paso Pehuenche, from Mendoza into Maule. 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.
On the road from San Rafael to Pichilemu
RN40 (78 mi) and RN144 (70 mi) carry about 36% of the 406 miles. The first 206 miles are in Argentina; the last 200 are in Chile. It runs through 3 regions: Mendoza, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect San Rafael and Pichilemu
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Mendoza |
| RN143 | 2–6 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 6–11 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RN144 | 11–81 | 70 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 81–159 | 78 | Mendoza |
| RN145 | 159–205 | 46 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 205–316 | 111 | Mendoza, Maule |
| K-40-J | 316–336 | 20 | Maule |
| J-60 | 336–341 | 5 | Maule |
| J-70-I | 341–353 | 12 | Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| I-70-J | 353–365 | 12 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| I-72 | 365–383 | 18 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| connecting roads | 383–389 | 6 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| I-502 | 389–406 | 17 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
- Mile 206 of this route: Mendoza → Maule (international border)
- Mile 350 of this route: Maule → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
Stops between San Rafael and Pichilemu
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Campanario Thermal Baths (mile 226), Cáhuil Lagoon (mile 397)
- Nature and outdoors: Médanos Grandes (mile 158), Campanario Thermal Baths (mile 226), Cáhuil Lagoon (mile 397), Museum of the Rural Child (mile 400)
- Museums and history: O'Higginiano Historical Museum (mile 304), Museum of the Rural Child (mile 400)
Médanos Grandes
Médanos Grandes is a dune field in west-central Argentina, a sandy landscape that covers an area of roughly 2,000 square kilometers.
Campanario Thermal Baths
Campanario Thermal Baths (Baños Campanario) are hot springs in Chile's Maule Region, used both for medicinal purposes and by visitors looking for a soak.
O'Higginiano Historical Museum
Housed in the Casa de la Independencia in Talca, the O'Higginiano Historical Museum is an art museum that has operated under its current name since August 20, 1964.
Cáhuil Lagoon
Cáhuil Lagoon (Laguna Cáhuil) is a body of water just south of Cáhuil in Chile's O'Higgins Region, at the mouth of the Nilahue estuary.
Museum of the Rural Child
The Museum of the Rural Child (Museo del Niño Rural) is a museum in the village of Ciruelos, in the Pichilemu commune of the O'Higgins region.
In Pichilemu itself
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 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.
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.
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 Rafael
- San Rafael to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Rafael to Coquimbo, Chile
- San Rafael to Chillán, Chile
- San Rafael to Villa Mercedes, Chile
- San Rafael to Curicó, Chile
- San Rafael to Los Andes, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Rafael to Pichilemu, Chile?
About 9 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 406 miles.
How far is Pichilemu, Chile from San Rafael by car?
About 406 miles (654 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 Rafael to Pichilemu drive cross the border?
At about mile 206, from Argentina into Chile, at Paso Pehuenche.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from San Rafael 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 Rafael to Pichilemu 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.
What roads does the drive from San Rafael to Pichilemu use?
In order: RN143, RN144, RN40, RN145, K-40-J, J-60, J-70-I, I-70-J, I-72 and I-502. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Rafael to Pichilemu?
Closest to the road: Campanario Thermal Baths (hot spring, mile 226, 1 mi from the route); O'Higginiano Historical Museum (museum, mile 304, 2 mi from the route); Cáhuil Lagoon (river, mile 397, 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.