The Wayro route from Santiago, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina is 344 miles (553 km), about 7 h 36 min of driving without stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 256, at Paso Pehuenche.
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.”
| Total distance | 344 mi (553 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN145 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 256, Chile → Argentina (Paso Pehuenche) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 256, at Paso Pehuenche, from Maule 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.
How the Santiago to Malargüe drive plays out
RN145 (46 mi) and RN40 (41 mi) carry about 25% of the 344 miles. The first 256 miles are in Chile; the last 88 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Santiago to Malargüe: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–257 | 257 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Mendoza |
| RN145 | 257–303 | 46 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 303–344 | 41 | Mendoza |
- 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 256 of this route: Maule → Mendoza (international border)
Stops between Santiago and Malargüe
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 11), Buin Zoo (mile 20), Parque Safari (mile 55), Teatro Victoria (mile 119)
- Nature and outdoors: Campanario Thermal Baths (mile 237), Médanos Grandes (mile 304)
- Museums and history: St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 11), Paine Memorial (mile 25), Pukara of La Compañía (mile 43), O'Higginiano Historical Museum (mile 158)
- With kids: Buin Zoo (mile 20), 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.
Buin Zoo
Buin Zoo is a bioparque in the commune of Buin, Santiago Metropolitan Region, and a member of the Latin American Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Paine Memorial
About twenty miles south of Santiago, the Paine Memorial in the rural community of Paine honors local residents who were abducted or unlawfully arrested and then killed under the Pinochet dictatorship.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Malargüe
- Villa Carlos Paz to Malargüe
- Valparaíso to Malargüe, Argentina
- Temuco to Malargüe, Argentina
- Rancagua to Malargüe, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
- Valdivia to Malargüe, Argentina
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 Malargüe, Argentina?
About 7 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 344 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santiago, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina?
About 344 miles (553 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 Malargüe drive cross the border?
At about mile 256, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Pehuenche.
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 Malargüe, 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.
What roads does the drive from Santiago to Malargüe use?
In order: RN145 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Santiago to Malargüe?
Closest to the road: St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (cathedral, mile 11, 0.7 mi from the route); Buin Zoo (zoo, mile 20, 0.3 mi from the route); Parque Safari (zoo, mile 55, 0.8 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.