Valle Nevado to Las Leñas, Argentina is about 432 road miles (696 km): roughly 9 h 58 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 125, 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: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 432 mi (696 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-251 → G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RN40 → RP222 |
| Border crossing | about mile 125, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 125, 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.
Driving Valle Nevado to Las Leñas: the shape of the trip
RN40 (166 mi) and RN7 (112 mi) carry about 64% of the 432 miles. The first 125 miles are in Chile; the last 307 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Valle Nevado to Las Leñas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-251 | 0–9 | 9 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 9–28 | 19 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 28–78 | 50 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 78–81 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 81–84 | 3 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 84–89 | 5 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 89–125 | 36 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 125–237 | 112 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 237–403 | 166 | Mendoza |
| RP222 | 403–432 | 29 | Mendoza |
- Mile 68 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 125 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
What to see on the way from Valle Nevado to Las Leñas
- Nature and outdoors: Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (mile 25), Laguna Piedra Roja (mile 48), Colina Thermal Baths (mile 55), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 103), Cacheuta Spa (mile 219)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 31), Museum of Local Traditional Housing (mile 34)
- With kids: Chilean National Zoo (mile 36)
Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo
On the east side of Las Condes, Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo offers mountain bike trails and hiking routes up to summits such as Alto Las Vizcachas, Morro del Guayacán and Cerro Provincia.
Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán
El Arrayán Nature Sanctuary (Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán) is a privately owned protected area open to the public in the Lo Barnechea commune of Santiago.
Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa
Housed in La Llavería at the Santa Rosa de Apoquindo estate in Las Condes, Santiago, this museum's three galleries explore how the horse, the land and its people shaped Chilean identity.
Museum of Local Traditional Housing
Also known as the Museum of Chilean Housing, the Museum of Local Traditional Housing sits in the Bosque Santiago area of Santiago's Parque Metropolitano.
Chilean National Zoo
Founded in 1925 at the foot of San Cristóbal Hill inside Santiago Metropolitan Park, the Chilean National Zoo covers 12 acres and keeps animals from 158 species.
Laguna Piedra Roja
Laguna Piedra Roja is an artificial lagoon in Chicureo, in the Colina commune of Chile's Santiago Metropolitan Region.
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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.
More drives to Las Leñas
- Temuco to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Rancagua to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Curicó to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Villarrica to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Pucón to Las Leñas, Argentina
- Curacautín to Las Leñas, Argentina
More drives from Valle Nevado
- Valle Nevado to Quintay
- Valle Nevado to Pisco Elqui
- Valle Nevado to Punta de Choros
- Valle Nevado to Villa Unión, Argentina
- Valle Nevado to Malargüe, Argentina
- Valle Nevado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Valle Nevado to Las Leñas, Argentina?
About 9 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 432 miles.
What is the driving distance from Valle Nevado to Las Leñas, Argentina?
About 432 miles (696 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 Valle Nevado to Las Leñas drive cross the border?
At about mile 125, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Valle Nevado 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 Valle Nevado to Las Leñas, 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 Valle Nevado to Las Leñas use?
In order: G-251, G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7, RN40 and RP222. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Valle Nevado and Las Leñas?
Closest to the road: Parque natural San Carlos de Apoquindo (nature park, mile 25, 2 mi from the route); Museum of Local Traditional Housing (museum, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Chilean National Zoo (zoo, mile 36, 2 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.