Plan on about 11 h 12 min of driving for the 555-mile (893 km) trip from Villa Mercedes to Maipú, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 427, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Total distance | 555 mi (893 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | Q-45 → E-57 → E-61 → RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RP60 → RP5 |
| Border crossing | about mile 427, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Chile into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 427, 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.
On the road from Villa Mercedes to Maipú
RN7 (104 mi) and Q-45 (18 mi) carry about 22% of the 555 miles. The first 427 miles are in Chile; the last 128 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Villa Mercedes to Maipú
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Bío-Bío |
| Q-45 | 3–21 | 18 | Bío-Bío |
| local roads | 21–26 | 5 | Bío-Bío |
| connecting roads | 26–27 | 1 | Bío-Bío |
| local roads | 27–342 | 315 | Bío-Bío, Ñuble, Maule, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 342–344 | 2 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 344–380 | 36 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
| E-57 | 380–384 | 4 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 384–386 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| E-61 | 386–392 | 6 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 392–427 | 35 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 427–531 | 104 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 531–536 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 536–540 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 540–545 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP60 | 545–551 | 6 | Mendoza |
| RP5 | 551–554 | 3 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 554–555 | 1 | Mendoza |
- Mile 58 of this route: Bío-Bío → Ñuble (region line)
- Mile 119 of this route: Ñuble → Maule (region line)
- Mile 231 of this route: Maule → Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins (region line)
- Mile 302 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 372 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 427 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Villa Mercedes and Maipú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Laja Falls (mile 39), Santiago Railway Museum (mile 337), Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes (mile 379), Puente del Inca (mile 438), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 546)
- Nature and outdoors: Laja Falls (mile 39)
- Museums and history: Museo San Francisco de Chillán (mile 89), Museo de Bomberos de Talca (mile 180), Pukara of La Compañía (mile 295), Basílica del Salvador (mile 337), Santiago Railway Museum (mile 337), Puente del Inca (mile 438), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 546)
Laja Falls
Beside Ruta 5 about 25 km from Los Ángeles, the Laja River pours over four cascades up to roughly 35 meters high, cut into basalt left by ancient lava flows from the Antuco volcano.
Museo San Francisco de Chillán
Part of the Franciscan heritage complex facing Plaza San Francisco in Chillán, this museum displays religious, historical, archaeological and natural history collections tied to the Franciscan Order.
Museo de Bomberos de Talca
Housed inside the headquarters of the Talca fire corps, the Benito Riquelme Fire Museum in Talca, Maule Region, belongs to the commune's firefighters.
Pukara of La Compañía
On the hill above the village of La Compañía, in Graneros, this site holds remains of a Promaucae fortress later used by the Incas, the southernmost surviving Inca structure.
Basílica del Salvador
At Huérfanos and Almirante Barroso streets in Santiago's Barrio Brasil, the Basílica del Salvador is a neo-Gothic church designed by German architect Teodoro Burchard.
Santiago Railway Museum
Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes
Pilgrims come to the Santuario de Santa Teresa de Los Andes in Rinconada, Valparaíso Region, to venerate the relics of Saint Teresa of the Andes, Chile's first saint. The shrine was built to receive thousands of the faithful.
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.
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
Arriving in Maipú
Mendoza Wine Museum
Run by Bodega La Rural about 16 km from the city of Mendoza, the Mendoza Wine Museum (Museo del Vino) displays objects from the region's winemaking going back to colonial times.
More drives to Maipú
- La Rioja to Maipú
- Catamarca to Maipú
- Valparaíso to Maipú, Argentina
- Talca to Maipú, Argentina
- Rancagua to Maipú, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Maipú, Argentina
More drives from Villa Mercedes
- Villa Mercedes to Pelluhue
- Villa Mercedes to Curicó
- Villa Mercedes to Santa Cruz, Chile
- Villa Mercedes to Pichilemu
- Villa Mercedes to El Colorado
- Villa Mercedes to Valle Nevado
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Villa Mercedes to Maipú, Argentina?
About 11 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 555 miles.
How far is Maipú, Argentina from Villa Mercedes by car?
About 555 miles (893 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 Mercedes to Maipú drive cross the border?
At about mile 427, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Villa Mercedes 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 Villa Mercedes to Maipú, 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 Villa Mercedes to Maipú use?
In order: Q-45, E-57, E-61, RN7, RP84, RP87, RP60 and RP5. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Villa Mercedes and Maipú?
Closest to the road: Santiago Railway Museum (railway museum, mile 337, 0.4 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 438, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Regional Americanista (museum, mile 546, 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.