By road, Villa Carlos Paz and Los Andes, Chile are about 544 miles (876 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 22 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Chile at about mile 501, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
Full advisory: Argentina, Chile. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Chile: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Distance by road | 544 mi (876 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP14 → RPS271 → RP34 → RPE88 → RPE91 → RN20 → RN146 → RNV146 → RN7 |
| Border crossing | about mile 501, Argentina → Chile (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Córdoba, San Luis, Mendoza, Valparaíso |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Chile border
The route crosses at about mile 501, at the Cristo Redentor crossing, from Mendoza into Valparaíso. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Chile | Foreign-plated cars entering Chile need SOAPEX, Chile's mandatory accident insurance for foreign vehicles, unless an international agreement covers the car. Keep the certificate with the car's papers. |
| 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, Chile (updated July 02, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); CMF Chile (financial regulator). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Villa Carlos Paz to Los Andes: the shape of the trip
RN7 (271 mi) and RN146 (68 mi) carry about 62% of the 544 miles. The first 501 miles are in Argentina; the last 43 are in Chile. It runs through 4 regions: Córdoba, San Luis, Mendoza, Valparaíso. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Villa Carlos Paz to Los Andes: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP14 | 0–5 | 5 | Córdoba |
| RPS271 | 5–10 | 5 | Córdoba |
| connecting roads | 10–11 | 1 | Córdoba |
| RP34 | 11–68 | 57 | Córdoba |
| RP14 | 68–89 | 21 | Córdoba |
| RPE88 | 89–94 | 5 | Córdoba |
| connecting roads | 94–96 | 2 | Córdoba |
| RPE91 | 96–101 | 5 | Córdoba |
| RN20 | 101–152 | 51 | Córdoba, San Luis |
| RN146 | 152–220 | 68 | San Luis |
| RNV146 | 220–230 | 10 | San Luis |
| RN7 | 230–501 | 271 | San Luis, Mendoza |
| local roads | 501–544 | 43 | Valparaíso |
- Mile 109 of this route: Córdoba → San Luis (region line)
- Mile 276 of this route: San Luis → Mendoza (region line)
- Mile 501 of this route: Mendoza → Valparaíso (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Villa Carlos Paz and Los Andes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Puente del Inca (mile 490), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 501)
- Nature and outdoors: Quebrada del Condorito National Park (mile 24), Reserva Quebrada de las Higueritas (mile 153), Cacheuta Spa (mile 407), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 524), Lobo Thermal Baths (mile 535)
- Museums and history: Museo Rocsen (mile 65), Puente del Inca (mile 490)
Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba
Named a World Heritage Site in 2000, the Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba are a group of buildings and sites once used by the Jesuits across Córdoba province.
Quebrada del Condorito National Park
Established in 1996 in Córdoba Province, Quebrada del Condorito National Park protects a representative sample of the Sierras Pampeanas' biodiversity.
Museo Rocsen
Established in 1969 in Nono, 8 km from Mina Clavero in Córdoba Province, Museo Rocsen shows over 18,000 natural history, archaeological and decorative objects from around the world.
Reserva Quebrada de las Higueritas
Quebrada de las Higueritas is a protected area near the town of Luján, in the Ayacucho department of San Luis Province.
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.
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.
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.
Río Blanco National Reserve
Río Blanco National Reserve is a protected area in Chile's Valparaíso Region, about 60 kilometers northeast of Santiago.
Lobo Thermal Baths
Thermal springs in Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Lobo Thermal Baths (Baños de Lobo) are used for both therapeutic soaking and tourism.
Once you reach Los Andes
Museo Arqueológico de Los Andes
Opened in 1969 by Carlos Coros, the Los Andes Archaeological Museum occupies a 19th-century house and holds a collection tied to the Aconcagua culture and the Inca civilization.
Museo y Centro Cultural Presidente Pedro Aguirre Cerda
In Pocuro, in the commune of Calle Larga, this museum and cultural center occupies the house where President Pedro Aguirre Cerda was born, plus a former agricultural school. Both buildings became national monuments in 1972.
Corazon Thermal Baths
In Chile's Valparaíso Region, the Corazón Thermal Baths (Baños Corazón) are hot springs whose waters have been used for medicinal purposes.
More drives to Los Andes
- Santiago, Chile to Los Andes
- Viña del Mar to Los Andes
- Coquimbo to Los Andes
- La Serena to Los Andes
- Copiapó to Los Andes
- Rancagua to Los Andes
More drives from Villa Carlos Paz
- Villa Carlos Paz to Capilla del Monte
- Villa Carlos Paz to Arrecifes
- Villa Carlos Paz to San Antonio de Areco
- Villa Carlos Paz to Tigre
- Villa Carlos Paz to Martínez
- Villa Carlos Paz to Colón, Argentina
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Villa Carlos Paz to Los Andes, Chile?
About 11 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 544 miles.
How far is Los Andes, Chile from Villa Carlos Paz by car?
About 544 miles (876 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 Villa Carlos Paz to Los Andes drive cross the border?
At about mile 501, from Argentina into Chile, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Villa Carlos Paz into Chile?
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. A valid U.S. license works for the length of your tourist permit, usually 90 days. (U.S. State Department, updated July 02, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Villa Carlos Paz to Los Andes drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Villa Carlos Paz to Los Andes?
In order: RP14, RPS271, RP34, RPE88, RPE91, RN20, RN146, RNV146 and RN7. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Villa Carlos Paz and Los Andes?
Closest to the road: Quebrada del Condorito National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 24, 2 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 490, 0.1 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 501, 0.9 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.