By road, Valle Nevado and San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina are about 485 miles (781 km) apart, or roughly 12 h 13 min of driving. 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 485 mi (781 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-251 → G-21 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RN40 → RP162 → RP246 → RP270 → RP203 → RN141 → RP510 |
| Border crossing | about mile 125, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 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.
How the Valle Nevado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil drive plays out
RN7 (103 mi) and RN40 (80 mi) carry about 38% of the 485 miles. The first 125 miles are in Chile; the last 360 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Valle Nevado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
| 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 | 125–228 | 103 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 228–234 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 234–238 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 238–240 | 2 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 240–320 | 80 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| connecting roads | 320–321 | 1 | San Juan |
| RP162 | 321–327 | 6 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 327–329 | 2 | San Juan |
| RP246 | 329–342 | 13 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 342–343 | 1 | San Juan |
| RP270 | 343–349 | 6 | San Juan |
| RP203 | 349–354 | 5 | San Juan |
| connecting roads | 354–356 | 2 | San Juan |
| RN141 | 356–414 | 58 | San Juan |
| RP510 | 414–485 | 71 | San Juan |
- Mile 68 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 125 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 303 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
Where to stop on the way to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 125), Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 251), Oratorio de la Difunta Correa (mile 370)
- Nature and outdoors: Colina Thermal Baths (mile 55)
- Museums and history: Museo de Cera de Las Condes (mile 31), Iglesia del Buen Pastor, Santiago de Chile (mile 37), Museo del Área Fundacional (mile 251)
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 Cera de Las Condes
Wax figures fill the Museo de Cera de Las Condes, a public museum that opened in July 2019 inside Parque Los Dominicos in the Las Condes district of Santiago.
Teatro del Puente
Built over the Vicente Huidobro bridge across the Mapocho River in Santiago, the Teatro del Puente sits between the Purísima and Pío Nono bridges.
Iglesia del Buen Pastor, Santiago de Chile
On Rivera Street in Santiago's Independencia commune, the Iglesia del Buen Pastor is a Catholic church complex.
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.
Museo del Área Fundacional
Founded in 1993, this museum in the city of Mendoza displays items of historical and archaeological value from the surrounding region.
Oratorio de la Difunta Correa
Pilgrims travel to this shrine in Vallecito, in San Juan Province, to venerate Deolinda Correa, known as the Difunta Correa, at the spot where her first miracle is believed to have taken place.
Santuario de San Expedito
Pilgrims come to this shrine in Bermejo, about 74 km northeast of the city of Caucete in San Juan Province, to venerate Saint Expeditus.
More drives to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Maipú to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Rafael to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Santa Fe to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Paraná to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- San Miguel de Tucumán to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
- Amaicha del Valle to San Agustín de Valle Fértil
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 La Punta, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Valle Nevado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina?
About 12 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 485 miles.
How far is San Agustín de Valle Fértil, Argentina from Valle Nevado by car?
About 485 miles (781 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 San Agustín de Valle Fértil 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Valle Nevado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil 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.
What roads does the drive from Valle Nevado to San Agustín de Valle Fértil use?
In order: G-251, G-21, E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RN40, RP162, RP246, RP270, RP203, RN141 and RP510. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Valle Nevado and San Agustín de Valle Fértil?
Closest to the road: Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 125, 0.9 mi from the route); Museo del Área Fundacional (museum, mile 251, 0.9 mi from the route); Oratorio de la Difunta Correa (sanctuary, mile 370, 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.