Plan on about 14 h 9 min of driving for the 531-mile (855 km) trip from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Bolivia into Argentina at about mile 530, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
Full advisory: Bolivia, Argentina. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 531 mi (855 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 14 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | F9 → F11 → F1 → D611 → F14 |
| Border crossing | about mile 530, Bolivia → Argentina (La Quiaca–Villazón) |
| Regions on the route | Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, Tarija, Potosí, Jujuy |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 530, at La Quiaca–Villazón, from Potosí into Jujuy. 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 Bolivia (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for tourism or business if you stay less than 90 days in a year. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Bolivia | You need both an International Driving Permit and your U.S. license. |
| 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, Bolivia (updated May 07, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca is like
F9 (269 mi) and F11 (127 mi) carry about 75% of the 531 miles. The first 530 miles are in Bolivia; the last 1 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, Tarija, Potosí, Jujuy. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Santa Cruz |
| F9 | 9–278 | 269 | Santa Cruz, Chuquisaca, Tarija |
| F11 | 278–405 | 127 | Tarija |
| connecting roads | 405–408 | 3 | Tarija |
| F1 | 408–440 | 32 | Tarija |
| local roads | 440–447 | 7 | Tarija |
| D611 | 447–502 | 55 | Tarija, Potosí |
| local roads | 502–515 | 13 | Potosí |
| F14 | 515–529 | 14 | Potosí |
| local roads | 529–531 | 2 | Potosí, Jujuy |
- Mile 209 of this route: Santa Cruz → Chuquisaca (region line)
- Mile 214 of this route: Chuquisaca → Santa Cruz (region line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Santa Cruz → Chuquisaca (region line)
- Mile 259 of this route: Chuquisaca → Tarija (region line)
- Mile 489 of this route: Tarija → Potosí (region line)
- Mile 530 of this route: Potosí → Jujuy (international border)
Places worth a stop between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and La Quiaca
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de San Bernardo (mile 409), Paleontological, Archaeological and Historical Museum of Tarija (mile 409), Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (mile 521)
- Museums and history: Catedral de San Bernardo (mile 409), Paleontological, Archaeological and Historical Museum of Tarija (mile 409)
Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de Bolivia
Bolivia's national astronomical observatory is a scientific institution working in astronomy, located in the town of Santa Ana in the country's southernmost department.
Catedral de San Bernardo
Also called the Metropolitan Cathedral of Tarija, the Catedral de San Bernardo is the city's main Catholic church, near Plaza Luis de Fuentes in southern Bolivia.
Paleontological, Archaeological and Historical Museum of Tarija
One block from Plaza Luis de Fuentes y Vargas, Tarija's paleontological and archaeological museum opened in 1959 and is run by the Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho.
Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas
Covering 58,480 hectares of semi-arid puna between 3,200 and 4,700 meters, Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas is a municipal protected area in Villazón, Potosí.
More drives to La Quiaca
- Catamarca to La Quiaca
- La Paz, Bolivia to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Cochabamba to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Oruro to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Quillacollo to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Villa Tunari to La Quiaca, Argentina
More drives from Santa Cruz de la Sierra
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Quillacollo
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Oruro
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Llallagua
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Challapata
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Quime
- Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Uyuni
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca, Argentina?
About 14 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 531 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca, Argentina?
About 531 miles (855 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 de la Sierra to La Quiaca drive cross the border?
At about mile 530, from Bolivia into Argentina, at La Quiaca–Villazón.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santa Cruz de la Sierra 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Santa Cruz de la Sierra to La Quiaca, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia 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 de la Sierra to La Quiaca use?
In order: F9, F11, F1, D611 and F14. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and La Quiaca?
Closest to the road: Catedral de San Bernardo (cathedral, mile 409, 0.9 mi from the route); Paleontological, Archaeological and Historical Museum of Tarija (paleontological museum, mile 409, 0.9 mi from the route); Pampa Tholar de las Vicuñas (protected area, mile 521, 0.9 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.