Viña del Mar to Mendoza, Argentina is about 250 road miles (402 km): roughly 5 h 40 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Chile into Argentina at about mile 122, 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 by road | 250 mi (402 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN7 → RP84 → RP87 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 122, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Mendoza |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Chile–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 122, 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.
Driving Viña del Mar to Mendoza: the shape of the trip
RN7 (104 mi) and RN40 (10 mi) carry about 46% of the 250 miles. The first 122 miles are in Chile; the last 128 are in Argentina. It runs through 2 regions: Valparaíso, Mendoza. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Viña del Mar to Mendoza, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–122 | 122 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 122–226 | 104 | Mendoza |
| RP84 | 226–231 | 5 | Mendoza |
| RP87 | 231–235 | 4 | Mendoza |
| connecting roads | 235–238 | 3 | Mendoza |
| RN40 | 238–248 | 10 | Mendoza |
| local roads | 248–250 | 2 | Mendoza |
- Mile 122 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Mendoza
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota (mile 30), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 70), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 122), Puente del Inca (mile 134)
- Nature and outdoors: Cacheuta Spa (mile 216)
- Museums and history: Museo Palmira Romano (mile 22), Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota (mile 30), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 70), Puente del Inca (mile 134), Museo Regional Americanista (mile 240)
- With kids: Zoológico de Quilpué (mile 7)
Zoológico de Quilpué
Maintained by the municipality, the Zoológico de Quilpué was set up on land donated to the city to create a recreation park for the community.
Teatro Pompeya
Teatro Pompeya is a theater on Paseo Latorre in the city of Villa Alemana, in Chile's Valparaíso Region.
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.
Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota
Quillota's history and archaeology museum occupies the Casa Colonial, a building declared a National Monument, in the city of Quillota.
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.
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.
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.
Museo Regional Americanista
You'll find the Museo Regional Americanista on Sáenz Peña street in the Luján de Cuyo department of Mendoza Province, Argentina.
When you get to Mendoza
Reserva natural Divisadero Largo
About 8 km from the city of Mendoza, Divisadero Largo Nature Reserve sits in the foothills of the first Andean ranges west of town.
Teatro Independencia
For live performances in Mendoza, Argentina, Teatro Independencia is the city's premier performing arts venue.
Mendoza Cathedral
Dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto, Mendoza Cathedral began as a 19th-century chapel and was built as an interim cathedral in 1934.
More drives to Mendoza
- La Rioja to Mendoza
- Catamarca to Mendoza
- Valparaíso to Mendoza, Argentina
- Talca to Mendoza, Argentina
- Rancagua to Mendoza, Argentina
- Concepción, Chile to Mendoza, Argentina
More drives from Viña del Mar
- Viña del Mar to Coquimbo
- Viña del Mar to Vicuña
- Viña del Mar to Pisco Elqui
- Viña del Mar to Punta de Choros
- Viña del Mar to Caldera
- Viña del Mar to El Colorado
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Viña del Mar to Mendoza, Argentina?
About 5 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 250 miles.
What is the driving distance from Viña del Mar to Mendoza, Argentina?
About 250 miles (402 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 Viña del Mar to Mendoza drive cross the border?
At about mile 122, from Chile into Argentina, at the Cristo Redentor crossing.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Viña del Mar 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 Viña del Mar to Mendoza, 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 Viña del Mar to Mendoza?
In order: RN7, RP84, RP87 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Viña del Mar and Mendoza?
Closest to the road: St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (cathedral, mile 70, 0.8 mi from the route); Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (statue, mile 122, 0.9 mi from the route); Puente del Inca (historic bridge, mile 134, 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.