Argentina's road trip credentials are extraordinary. The legendary Ruta 40 runs 5,224 km from La Quiaca on the Bolivian border to Cabo Vírgenes at the tip of Patagonia — one of the world's great highway adventures. The Lake District around Bariloche resembles Switzerland through a Patagonian lens. And the Carretera Austral, shared with Chile, passes through some of the most remote and beautiful scenery on the planet.
Best airports & pick-up locations
- Buenos Aires (EZE/AEP) — Ezeiza and Aeroparque. Wine country of Mendoza within a day's drive.
- Mendoza (MDZ) — Andes foothills, the high-altitude Ruta 7 to Chile, winery roads.
- Bariloche (BRC) — Patagonian Lake District, Ruta de los Siete Lagos.
- Ushuaia (USH) — 'End of the World' — Tierra del Fuego, the Beagle Channel.
Driving in Argentina
- Drive on the right. Speed limits: 130 km/h motorways, 110 km/h national routes, 60 km/h urban.
- Argentine roads vary dramatically — Buenos Aires ring roads are fast and modern; Patagonian ruta 40 sections are unpaved gravel (ripio) requiring 4WD.
- Petrol prices are subsidised but fuel stations can be very widely spaced in Patagonia; carry extra fuel.
- Check road conditions before driving in Patagonia — wind and flooding can close routes.
Local tips & best routes
The Ruta de los Siete Lagos (Seven Lakes Route) from Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes is 110 km of stunning alpine lake scenery. The Mendoza winery circuit — cycling or driving the back roads between bodegas at the foot of the Andes — is one of South America's great leisurely drives. For the adventurous, the Carretera Austral crossing into Chilean Patagonia via the Los Glaciares park is a once-in-a-lifetime road journey.