Plan on about 5 h 48 min of driving for the 318-mile (512 km) trip from Santiago, Chile to Los Ángeles, before any stops.
Full advisory: Chile. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 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.”
| Distance by road | 318 mi (512 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 48 min |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Santiago to Los Ángeles drive plays out
It runs through 5 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Santiago and Los Ángeles
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–318 | 318 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Ñuble, Bío-Bío |
- Mile 37 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Maule (region line)
- Mile 219 of this route: Maule → Ñuble (region line)
- Mile 279 of this route: Ñuble → Bío-Bío (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Santiago and Los Ángeles
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 11), Parque Safari (mile 55), Teatro Victoria (mile 119), Laja Falls (mile 298)
- Nature and outdoors: Laja Falls (mile 298)
- Museums and history: St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 11), St. Augustine Cathedral, Talca (mile 158), O'Higginiano Historical Museum (mile 158), St. Ambrose Cathedral, Linares (mile 188), Centro Cultural Casa Gonzalo Rojas (mile 249)
- With kids: Parque Safari (mile 55)
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.
Parque Safari
On the road from Rancagua to Doñihue, Parque Safari is a zoo that began as a personal project of local businessman and animal lover Iván Sánchez Lobos.
Teatro Victoria
St. Augustine Cathedral, Talca
Also known as Talca Cathedral, St. Augustine Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Talca, Chile, dedicated to Saint Augustine.
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.
St. Ambrose Cathedral, Linares
Linares Cathedral, dedicated to St. Ambrose, is the Catholic cathedral and seat of the Diocese of Linares in Chile's Maule Region.
Centro Cultural Casa Gonzalo Rojas
Centro Cultural Casa Gonzalo Rojas is a cultural center in the Las Cuatro Avenidas area of Chillán, in Chile's Ñuble Region.
Laja Falls
Beside Ruta 5 about 25 km from Los Ángeles, the Laja River pours over four cascades up to roughly 35 meters high, cut into basalt left by ancient lava flows from the Antuco volcano.
Once you reach Los Ángeles
St. Mary of the Angels Cathedral
Los Ángeles Cathedral, formally the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Angels, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Santa María de Los Ángeles in Chile.
More drives to Los Ángeles
- Talca to Los Ángeles
- Rancagua to Los Ángeles
- Valparaíso to Los Ángeles
- Viña del Mar to Los Ángeles
- Valdivia to Los Ángeles
- Osorno to Los Ángeles
From Santiago to other places in Chile
- 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 does it take to drive from Santiago, Chile to Los Ángeles?
About 5 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 318 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santiago, Chile to Los Ángeles?
About 318 miles (512 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santiago to Los Ángeles drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Santiago and Los Ángeles?
Closest to the road: St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (cathedral, mile 11, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Safari (zoo, mile 55, 0.8 mi from the route); Laja Falls (waterfall, mile 298, 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.