By road, Tunuyán and Santa Cruz, Chile are about 350 miles (563 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 39 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 149, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Argentina, Chile. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Chile: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Distance | 350 mi (563 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN40 → RN7 → E-57 |
| Border crossing | about mile 149, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Chile border
The route crosses at about mile 149, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Mendoza into Valparaíso. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Chile | Foreign-plated cars entering Chile need SOAPEX, Chile's mandatory accident insurance for foreign vehicles, unless an international agreement covers the car. Keep the certificate with the car's papers. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Tunuyán–Santa Cruz drive in a few lines
RN7 (112 mi) and RN40 (35 mi) carry about 42% of the 350 miles. The first 149 miles are in Argentina; the last 201 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: Mendoza, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tunuyán and Santa Cruz
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN40 | 0–35 | 35 | Mendoza |
| RN7 | 35–147 | 112 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 147–188 | 41 | Mendoza, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 188–191 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 191–195 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 195–196 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 196–232 | 36 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 232–234 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 234–325 | 91 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| connecting roads | 325–326 | 1 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
| local roads | 326–350 | 24 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins |
- Mile 149 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
- Mile 205 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 275 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Santa Cruz
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 148), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 242), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 309)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 54), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 218)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional de Medicina Dr Enrique Laval (mile 237), Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (mile 242), Paine Memorial (mile 264), Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 309)
Cacheuta Spa
At Cacheuta, on the Mendoza River in the Andes foothills, Cacheuta Spa is a bathing complex built around natural hot springs, along the old road from Mendoza toward the Uspallata Pass and Chile.
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.
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.
Museo Nacional de Medicina Dr Enrique Laval
The Museo Nacional de Medicina Dr. Enrique Laval is a museum in the Independencia commune of Santiago, Chile.
Teatro Teletón
Owned by the Teletón Chile Foundation, Teatro Teletón is a theater on Mario Kreutzberger Street in Santiago, near Santa Ana Metro station and beside the Autopista Central.
Centro Cultural Teatro Huemul
Built between 1914 and 1917 for the centennial of the republic, Teatro Huemul in Santiago's Barrio Huemul was declared a National Historic Monument in 2016.
Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio
Chile's Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio is a national museum dedicated to sharing the country's aviation heritage with visitors.
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.
Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo
A Catholic church in the city of Rengo, the Basílica de Santa Ana is one of Chile's nine minor basilicas, with roots going back to the colonial period.
Once you reach Santa Cruz
Museo de Colchagua
In Santa Cruz, in Chile's O'Higgins Region, Museo de Colchagua is a private museum managed by the Fundación Cardoen, led by businessman Carlos Cardoen.
More drives to Santa Cruz
- Algarrobo to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Santiago, Chile to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Viña del Mar to Santa Cruz, Chile
- El Colorado to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Los Andes to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Coquimbo to Santa Cruz, Chile
More drives from Tunuyán
- Tunuyán to Capilla del Monte
- Tunuyán to San José de Jáchal
- Tunuyán to Monte Águila, Chile
- Tunuyán to El Colorado, Chile
- Tunuyán to Vicuña, Chile
- Tunuyán to Valle Nevado, Chile
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tunuyán to Santa Cruz, Chile?
About 7 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 350 miles.
How far is Santa Cruz, Chile from Tunuyán by car?
About 350 miles (563 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 Tunuyán to Santa Cruz drive cross the border?
At about mile 149, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Tunuyán into Chile?
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. A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated July 02, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Tunuyán to Santa Cruz, Chile?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Tunuyán to Santa Cruz?
In order: RN40, RN7 and E-57. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tunuyán to Santa Cruz?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 148, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (museum, mile 242, 0.5 mi from the route); Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (basilica, mile 309, 0.7 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.