By road, Valdivia and Esquel, Argentina are about 386 miles (622 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 28 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 131, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
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: “There are minefields on Chile's borders with Peru and Bolivia, and Argentina in Patagonia. Stay on marked roads and trails in these areas.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 386 mi (622 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | T-87 → T-981-U → RN231 → RN40 → RN259 |
| Border crossing | about mile 131, Chile → Argentina (Paso Cardenal Samoré) |
| Regions on the route | Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Esquel
The route crosses at about mile 131, at Paso Cardenal Samoré, from Los Lagos into Neuquén. 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.
Driving Valdivia to Esquel: the shape of the trip
RN40 (229 mi) and T-981-U (22 mi) carry about 65% of the 386 miles. The first 131 miles are in Chile; the last 255 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Valdivia to Esquel, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–50 | 50 | Los Ríos |
| T-87 | 50–65 | 15 | Los Ríos |
| T-981-U | 65–87 | 22 | Los Ríos, Los Lagos |
| connecting roads | 87–88 | 1 | Los Lagos |
| local roads | 88–131 | 43 | Los Lagos, Los Ríos |
| RN231 | 131–151 | 20 | Neuquén |
| RN40 | 151–380 | 229 | Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut |
| RN259 | 380–386 | 6 | Chubut |
- Mile 85 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 109 of this route: Los Lagos → Los Ríos (region line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Los Ríos → Los Lagos (region line)
- Mile 131 of this route: Los Lagos → Neuquén (international border)
- Mile 198 of this route: Neuquén → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 288 of this route: Río Negro → Chubut (region line)
What to see on the way from Valdivia to Esquel
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente Chirre (mile 78), Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 104), Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (mile 109), Lago Guillelmo (mile 234)
- Nature and outdoors: Puyehue Hot Springs (mile 104), Aguas calientes Thermal Baths (mile 109), Puyehue National Park (mile 120), Los Arrayanes National Park (mile 164), Nahuel Huapi National Park (mile 175), Lago Guillelmo (mile 234), Lago Puelo National Park (mile 292)
- Museums and history: Puente Chirre (mile 78), Museo Leleque (mile 334)
Puente Chirre
Built in reinforced concrete between 1940 and 1945 as a railroad bridge, Puente Chirre in Río Bueno now carries road traffic and was declared a National Monument in 2017.
Puyehue Hot Springs
A series of hot springs about 76 km east of Osorno along Route 215-CH, Puyehue Hot Springs sit in the Los Lagos Region of southern Chile.
Aguas calientes Thermal Baths
In Chile's Los Lagos Region, the Aguas Calientes thermal baths (Termas de Aguas Calientes) are hot springs used for both medicinal and tourism purposes.
Puyehue National Park
In the Andes across the Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions, Puyehue National Park takes in hot springs, volcanoes and evergreen forests. It was expanded in 1950 and 1981.
Los Arrayanes National Park
Covering the Quetrihué Peninsula on Nahuel Huapi Lake, 3 km from Villa La Angostura in Neuquén, Los Arrayanes National Park protects 17.53 square kilometers.
Nahuel Huapi National Park
Established in 1922 and reconfigured in 1934, Nahuel Huapi National Park surrounds Nahuel Huapi Lake in the foothills of the Patagonian Andes.
Lago Guillelmo
Inside Nahuel Huapi National Park in Río Negro's Bariloche department, Lago Guillelmo is a glacial lake ringed by Andean Patagonian forest that drains into Lake Mascardi.
Lago Puelo National Park
Covering 276.74 square kilometers in northwestern Chubut, Lago Puelo National Park is an Argentine national park in Patagonia.
Museo Leleque
Near kilometer 1440 of Ruta Nacional 40 in Leleque, Chubut, this history museum opened in 1998 in the steppe at the foot of the Andes, about 100 m from the tracks of La Trochita.
More drives to Esquel
- Rawson to Esquel
- Puerto Madryn to Esquel
- Neuquén to Esquel
- Temuco to Esquel, Argentina
- Puerto Montt to Esquel, Argentina
- Puerto Varas to Esquel, Argentina
More drives from Valdivia
- Valdivia to Curacautín
- Valdivia to Los Ángeles
- Valdivia to Villa Mercedes
- Valdivia to Monte Águila
- Valdivia to Pelluhue
- Valdivia to Curicó
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Valdivia to Esquel, Argentina?
About 8 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 386 miles.
What is the driving distance from Valdivia to Esquel, Argentina?
About 386 miles (622 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 Valdivia to Esquel drive cross the border?
At about mile 131, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Cardenal Samoré.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Valdivia 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 Valdivia to Esquel, 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 Valdivia to Esquel use?
In order: T-87, T-981-U, RN231, RN40 and RN259. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Valdivia and Esquel?
Closest to the road: Puente Chirre (historic bridge, mile 78, 0.1 mi from the route); Puyehue Hot Springs (hot spring, mile 104, 0.4 mi from the route); Lago Guillelmo (lake, mile 234, 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.