Plan on about 8 h 60 min of driving for the 384-mile (618 km) trip from Valle Nevado to Malargüe, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 297, 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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 384 mi (618 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-251 → G-21 → RN145 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 297, 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 15.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 297, 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.
Driving Valle Nevado to Malargüe: the shape of the trip
RN145 (46 mi) and RN40 (40 mi) carry about 22% of the 384 miles. The first 297 miles are in Chile; the last 87 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.
Road-by-road breakdown: Valle Nevado to Malargüe
| 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 | 28–34 | 6 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 34–36 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 36–44 | 8 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 44–45 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 45–298 | 253 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Maule, Mendoza |
| RN145 | 298–344 | 46 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 344–384 | 40 | Mendoza |
- Mile 77 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 148 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Maule (region line)
- Mile 297 of this route: Maule → Mendoza (international border)
What to see on the way from Valle Nevado to Malargüe
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santuario Cenáculo de Bellavista (mile 42), Museo Interactivo Mirador (mile 43), Parque Safari (mile 96), Teatro Victoria (mile 160)
- Nature and outdoors: Campanario Thermal Baths (mile 277), Médanos Grandes (mile 345)
- Museums and history: Casa Museo Eduardo Frei Montalva (mile 36), Museo Interactivo Mirador (mile 43)
- With kids: Parque Safari (mile 96)
Teatro Nescafé de las Artes
Teatro Nescafé de las Artes is a theater in the Providencia commune of Santiago de Chile.
Casa Museo Eduardo Frei Montalva
For the last four decades of his life, Eduardo Frei Montalva lived in this house on Hindenburg Street in Providencia, Santiago, which is now a museum in his memory.
Santuario Cenáculo de Bellavista
In La Florida, Santiago, the Santuario Cenáculo de Bellavista is a Schoenstatt Catholic shrine offered as a quiet space for meditation and prayer open to visitors of any faith.
Museo Interactivo Mirador
Opened in 2000 in Santiago's La Granja district, the Museo Interactivo Mirador is a hands-on museum of art, science and nature designed for children.
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
Teatro Regional del Maule
Known as the TRM, the Teatro Regional del Maule in Talca opened on September 5, 2005, and its main hall seats 1,028 people.
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
- Santiago, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
- Valparaíso to Malargüe, Argentina
- Temuco to Malargüe, Argentina
- Rancagua to Malargüe, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Malargüe, 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 San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina
- Valle Nevado to La Punta, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Valle Nevado to Malargüe, Argentina?
About 8 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 384 miles.
How far is Malargüe, Argentina from Valle Nevado by car?
About 384 miles (618 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 Malargüe drive cross the border?
At about mile 297, from Chile into Argentina, at Paso Pehuenche.
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 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.
Which highways go from Valle Nevado to Malargüe?
In order: G-251, G-21, RN145 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Valle Nevado to Malargüe?
Closest to the road: Santuario Cenáculo de Bellavista (shrine, mile 42, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque Safari (zoo, mile 96, 0.7 mi from the route); Teatro Victoria (theater, mile 160, 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.