The Wayro route from Santiago, Chile to La Rioja, Argentina is 552 miles (888 km), about 13 h 16 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 92, 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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 552 mi (888 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 13 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN149 → RP12 → RP414 → RP436 → RN40 → RN150 → RN38 |
| Border crossing | about mile 92, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to La Rioja
The route crosses at about mile 92, 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 Santiago–La Rioja drive in a few lines
RN150 (118 mi) and RN149 (93 mi) carry about 38% of the 552 miles. The first 92 miles are in Chile; the last 460 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Santiago to La Rioja
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 7–9 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 9–45 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 45–49 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 49–51 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 51–57 | 6 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 57–93 | 36 | Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| RN7 | 93–147 | 54 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 147–240 | 93 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| RP12 | 240–267 | 27 | San Juan |
| RP414 | 267–298 | 31 | San Juan |
| RP436 | 298–313 | 15 | San Juan |
| RN40 | 313–389 | 76 | San Juan |
| RN150 | 389–507 | 118 | San Juan, La Rioja |
| RN38 | 507–549 | 42 | La Rioja |
| local roads | 549–552 | 3 | La Rioja |
- Mile 36 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 92 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 186 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
- Mile 453 of this route: San Juan → La Rioja (region line)
Places worth a stop between Santiago and La Rioja
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 44), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 92), Puente del Inca (mile 104), El Chiflón (mile 462)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 16), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 22), Lobo Thermal Baths (mile 58), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 70), El Leoncito National Park (mile 203), El Chiflón (mile 462)
- Museums and history: Puente del Inca (mile 104)
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
Colina Thermal Baths
In the north of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region, the Colina Thermal Baths (Baños de Colina) are hot springs on the Colina River used for both medicinal and tourist purposes.
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.
Lobo Thermal Baths
Thermal springs in Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Lobo Thermal Baths (Baños de Lobo) are used for both therapeutic soaking and tourism.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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.
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.
El Chiflón
On National Route 150, about 70 km west of Patquía, El Chiflón Provincial Park belongs to the Talampaya–Ischigualasto geological basin and shares its landscape, geology and cultural features with those parks.
In La Rioja itself
Museo Arqueológico Regional Inca Huasi
The Inca Huasi Regional Archaeological Museum, in the city of La Rioja, is devoted to the archaeology of northwestern Argentina.
More drives to La Rioja
More drives from Santiago
- Santiago, Chile to Valparaíso
- Santiago, Chile to Quintay
- Santiago, Chile to Reñaca
- Santiago, Chile to La Serena
- Santiago, Chile to Vicuña
- Santiago, Chile to Pisco Elqui
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santiago, Chile to La Rioja, Argentina?
About 13 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 552 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santiago, Chile to La Rioja, Argentina?
About 552 miles (888 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 Santiago to La Rioja drive cross the border?
At about mile 92, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santiago 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 Santiago, Chile to La Rioja, Argentina?
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.
Which highways go from Santiago to La Rioja?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7, RN149, RP12, RP414, RP436, RN40, RN150 and RN38. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santiago and La Rioja?
Closest to the road: Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (convent of discalced carmelite nuns, mile 44, 0.6 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 104, 0.2 mi from the route); El Chiflón (park, mile 462, 0.3 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.