By road, Talca and Maipú, Argentina are about 376 miles (605 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 58 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 249, 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 | 376 mi (605 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RP60 → RP5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 249, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Maipú
The route crosses at about mile 249, 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.
On the road from Talca to Maipú
RN7 (103 mi) and E-61 (6 mi) carry about 29% of the 376 miles. The first 249 miles are in Chile; the last 127 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Talca to Maipú, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–163 | 163 | Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 163–165 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 165–201 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 201–205 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 205–207 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 207–213 | 6 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 213–249 | 36 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 249–352 | 103 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 352–357 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 357–361 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 361–366 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP60 | 366–372 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RP5 | 372–375 | 3 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 375–376 | 1 | Mendoza |
- Mile 52 of this route: Maule → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 122 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 249 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
Places worth a stop between Talca and Maipú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Victoria (mile 40), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 249), Puente del Inca (mile 260), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 367)
- Nature and outdoors: Colina Thermal Baths (mile 179)
- Museums and history: Pukara of La Compañía (mile 116), Estudio Mural (mile 158), Puente del Inca (mile 260), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 367)
- With kids: Fantasilandia (mile 157)
Teatro Victoria
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.
Fantasilandia
Opened in 1978, Fantasilandia is an amusement park set in a corner of O'Higgins Park in Santiago.
Estudio Mural
In Santiago's Barrio Brasil, Estudio Mural is an art center that also hosts artist residencies.
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.
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.
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
In Maipú itself
Mendoza Wine Museum
Run by Bodega La Rural about 16 km from the city of Mendoza, the Mendoza Wine Museum (Museo del Vino) displays objects from the region's winemaking going back to colonial times.
More drives to Maipú
- La Rioja to Maipú
- Catamarca to Maipú
- Valparaíso to Maipú, Argentina
- Rancagua to Maipú, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Maipú, Argentina
- La Serena to Maipú, Argentina
More drives from Talca
- Talca to Rancagua
- Talca to El Colorado
- Talca to Valle Nevado
- Talca to Los Andes
- Talca to Quintay
- Talca to Reñaca
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Talca to Maipú, Argentina?
About 7 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 376 miles.
How far is Maipú, Argentina from Talca by car?
About 376 miles (605 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 Talca to Maipú drive cross the border?
At about mile 249, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Talca 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 Talca to Maipú 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.
Which highways go from Talca to Maipú?
In order: E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RP60 and RP5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Talca to Maipú?
Closest to the road: Teatro Victoria (theater, mile 40, 0.8 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 260, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional Americanista (museum, mile 367, 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.