Santa Cruz, Chile to Barreal, Argentina is about 326 road miles (525 km): roughly 7 h 35 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 201, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Chile, Argentina. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 326 mi (525 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 201, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 201, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Valparaíso into Mendoza. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Santa Cruz–Barreal drive in a few lines
RN149 (70 mi) and RN7 (55 mi) carry about 38% of the 326 miles. The first 201 miles are in Chile; the last 125 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Santa Cruz to Barreal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–116 | 116 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 116–118 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 118–154 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 154–155 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 155–158 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 158–160 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 160–167 | 7 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 167–201 | 34 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 201–256 | 55 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 256–326 | 70 | Mendoza, San Juan |
- Mile 76 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 145 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 296 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Places worth a stop between Santa Cruz and Barreal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 101), Catedral Evangélica de Chile (mile 111), Puente del Inca (mile 213)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 125), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 180), El Leoncito National Park (mile 313)
- Museums and history: Pukara of La Compañía (mile 69), St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 101), Catedral Evangélica de Chile (mile 111), Puente del Inca (mile 213)
Teatro Municipal de San Fernando
Teatro Municipal de San Fernando is a public theater in the commune of San Fernando, Colchagua Province, in Chile's Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Region.
Pukara of La Compañía
On the hill above the village of La Compañía, in Graneros, this site holds remains of a Promaucae fortress later used by the Incas, the southernmost surviving Inca structure.
St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo
Beside the Plaza de Armas of San Bernardo in metropolitan Santiago, St. Bernard Cathedral is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of San Bernardo.
Teatro Caupolicán
Opened in 1936 on San Diego street in Santiago, Teatro Caupolicán is a theater and music venue.
Catedral Evangélica de Chile
Also called the Jotabeche Cathedral, the Evangelical Cathedral of Chile in Estación Central, Santiago, is the country's largest-capacity evangelical church and home to its oldest Pentecostal community.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to Barreal
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Capilla del Monte to Barreal
- Villa Carlos Paz to Barreal
- Córdoba, Argentina to Barreal
- Viña del Mar to Barreal, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Barreal, Argentina
More drives from Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Valle Nevado
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Vicuña
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Pisco Elqui
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Punta de Choros
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
- Santa Cruz, Chile to La Punta, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Cruz, Chile to Barreal, Argentina?
About 7 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 326 miles.
How far is Barreal, Argentina from Santa Cruz, Chile by car?
About 326 miles (525 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 Santa Cruz to Barreal drive cross the border?
At about mile 201, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santa Cruz into Argentina?
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. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santa Cruz to Barreal drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Santa Cruz to Barreal use?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7 and RN149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Cruz and Barreal?
Closest to the road: St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (cathedral, mile 101, 0.6 mi from the route); Catedral Evangélica de Chile (cathedral, mile 111, 0.3 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 213, 0.2 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.