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Argentina
Ruta 40, Andean passes and Patagonian emptiness.
Why drive here
Driving in Argentina
Argentina's Ruta 40 is one of the world's legendary road trip routes, running the length of the country along the base of the Andes. In the north west, the road climbs through Mendoza's wine country before crossing to Chile via the Cristo Redentor pass, while further south it becomes a long, empty ribbon across Patagonian steppe.
The Cuesta de Lipan near Salta climbs through a dramatic multi coloured desert landscape en route to the high Andean plateau, a completely different character from the glacial scenery of Patagonian Ruta 40 further south near El Chalten and El Calafate.
Distances are vast and fuel stops can be far apart, particularly in Patagonia, so careful planning and a reliable vehicle matter more here than almost anywhere else on this list.
Regions
Where to drive in Argentina
Editors' picks
Top 5 roads in Argentina
Mendoza
Ruta 40, Mendoza Wine Roads
Vineyard straights and gentle curves with the Andes as a permanent backdrop.
Mendoza to San Rafael · 235 km · RN40
Driving
8.4
Scenery
9.2
Mendoza
Los Caracoles
A stack of Andean snail bends beneath Aconcagua on the road to Chile.
Uspallata to Paso Los Libertadores · 100 km · RN7
Driving
9.4
Scenery
9.6
Jujuy
Cuesta de Lipan
A dizzying climb from painted desert hills to a blinding white salt flat.
Purmamarca to Salinas Grandes · 65 km · RN52
Driving
9.1
Scenery
9.7
Santa Cruz
Ruta 40, Patagonia
Endless steppe straights ending with the Fitz Roy massif filling the windscreen.
El Calafate to El Chalten · 215 km · RN40
Driving
8.6
Scenery
9.5
Quick facts
Planning your trip
When to go
November to March for Patagonia's southern stretches, and April to October for Mendoza and the northern desert routes.
What to drive
A robust SUV with long range fuel capacity is the sensible choice given the distances between towns on the Patagonian sections.
Sample itinerary
Mendoza to the Andes
4 days
Explore Mendoza's wine roads, then follow Ruta 40 and the Caracoles switchbacks up to the Cristo Redentor border crossing.
The library
Every great road we have mapped in Argentina
1 roads, scored for driving quality and scenery, with seasonal notes where they matter. Any of these can be threaded into a journey in the planner.