Plan on about 12 h 44 min of driving for the 497-mile (800 km) trip from Viña del Mar to Villa Unión, Argentina, before any stops. 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: “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 | 497 mi (800 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN7 → RN149 → RP12 → RP414 → RP436 → RN40 |
| Border crossing | about mile 122, Chile → Argentina (the Cristo Redentor crossing) |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 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.
What the drive from Viña del Mar to Villa Unión is like
RN40 (150 mi) and RN149 (94 mi) carry about 49% of the 497 miles. The first 122 miles are in Chile; the last 375 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Valparaíso, Mendoza, San Juan, La Rioja. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Viña del Mar and Villa Unión
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–122 | 122 | Valparaíso |
| RN7 | 122–177 | 55 | Mendoza |
| RN149 | 177–271 | 94 | Mendoza, San Juan |
| RP12 | 271–297 | 26 | San Juan |
| RP414 | 297–328 | 31 | San Juan |
| RP436 | 328–342 | 14 | San Juan |
| RN40 | 342–492 | 150 | San Juan, La Rioja |
| local roads | 492–497 | 5 | La Rioja |
- Mile 122 of this route: Valparaíso → Mendoza (international border)
- Mile 217 of this route: Mendoza → San Juan (region line)
- Mile 460 of this route: San Juan → La Rioja (region line)
Places worth a stop between Viña del Mar and Villa Unión
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 70), Christ the Redeemer of the Andes (mile 122), Puente del Inca (mile 134)
- Nature and outdoors: La Campana National Park (mile 44), Río Blanco National Reserve (mile 100), El Leoncito National Park (mile 233)
- Museums and history: Museo Palmira Romano (mile 22), St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 70), Puente del Inca (mile 134)
- 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.
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 Villa Unión
- Capilla del Monte to Villa Unión
- Maipú to Villa Unión
- Córdoba, Argentina to Villa Unión
- Río Cuarto to Villa Unión
- Catamarca to Villa Unión
- San Miguel de Tucumán to Villa Unión
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 is the drive from Viña del Mar to Villa Unión, Argentina?
About 12 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 497 miles.
What is the driving distance from Viña del Mar to Villa Unión, Argentina?
About 497 miles (800 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 Villa Unión 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Viña del Mar to Villa Unión 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 Viña del Mar to Villa Unión?
In order: RN7, RN149, RP12, RP414, RP436 and RN40. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Viña del Mar to Villa Unión?
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.