By road, Valparaíso and Barreal, Argentina are about 253 miles (407 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 7 min of driving. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 128, 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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 253 mi (407 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN7 → RN149 |
| Border crossing | about mile 128, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Barreal
The route crosses at about mile 128, 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.
The Valparaíso–Barreal drive in a few lines
RN149 (70 mi) and RN7 (54 mi) carry about 49% of the 253 miles. The first 128 miles are in Chile; the last 125 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Valparaíso and Barreal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–129 | 129 | Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| RN7 | 129–183 | 54 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 183–253 | 70 | Mendoza, San Juan |
- Mile 128 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 222 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
What to see on the way from Valparaíso to Barreal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín Botánico Nacional de Viña del Mar (mile 9), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 75), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 128), Puente del Inca (mile 140)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico Nacional de Viña del Mar (mile 9), La Campana National Park (mile 50), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 106), El Leoncito National Park (mile 239)
- Museums and history: Museo Palmira Romano (mile 28), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 75), Puente del Inca (mile 140)
Jardín Botánico Nacional de Viña del Mar
Covering 395 hectares in Viña del Mar, the National Botanical Garden takes in hills of scrubland and sclerophyll forest.
Teatro Municipal Juan Bustos Ramírez
Quilpué's municipal theater opened on December 7, 1940, as Teatro Velarde; the city bought it in 2012 for reconstruction, and it reopened as Teatro Municipal Juan Bustos Ramírez in 2017.
Museo Palmira Romano
Run by the municipality of Limache in the Valparaíso Region, the Museo Palmira Romano is a museum listed in Chile's museum registry.
La Campana National Park
In Chile's coastal range northwest of Santiago, La Campana National Park protects the Chilean palm that Charles Darwin studied on his 1834 visit. Trails climb toward Cerro La Campana, and the park also holds petroglyphs and the Salto La Cortadera waterfall.
St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe
San Felipe Cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip, is a Catholic parish in San Felipe, Valparaíso Region, and serves as the cathedral of the Diocese of San Felipe de Aconcagua.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
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.
Puente del Inca
Puente del Inca is a natural rock arch spanning the Las Cuevas River, a tributary of the Mendoza River. It stands beside the village of the same name in Las Heras Department, Mendoza Province.
El Leoncito National Park
Created in 2002 in San Juan Province, El Leoncito National Park protects Central Andean Puna and Southern Andean steppe habitats along with historical and paleontological sites.
More drives to Barreal
- Mendoza to Barreal
- Capilla del Monte to Barreal
- Villa Carlos Paz to Barreal
- Córdoba, Argentina to Barreal
- Viña del Mar to Barreal, Argentina
- Talca to Barreal, Argentina
More drives from Valparaíso
- Valparaíso to Coquimbo
- Valparaíso to Vicuña
- Valparaíso to Pisco Elqui
- Valparaíso to Punta de Choros
- Valparaíso to Copiapó
- Valparaíso to Caldera
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Valparaíso to Barreal, Argentina?
About 6 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 253 miles.
How far is Barreal, Argentina from Valparaíso by car?
About 253 miles (407 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 Valparaíso to Barreal drive cross the border?
At about mile 128, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Valparaíso 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 Valparaíso to Barreal 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.
Which highways go from Valparaíso to Barreal?
In order: RN7 and RN149. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Valparaíso to Barreal?
Closest to the road: Jardín Botánico Nacional de Viña del Mar (botanical garden, mile 9, 0.5 mi from the route); St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (cathedral, mile 75, 0.9 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 140, 0.2 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.