9 min read · Updated
Quick answer
Is Argentina good for a road trip?
Yes, if you plan for distance. Ruta 40 and the Andean north are the classic drives, but legs routinely run 300–600 km between towns. Book rentals with parking, carry cash for fuel in remote stretches, and avoid trying to cover Patagonia and the north in one trip.
Argentina is the eighth-largest country in the world, and its best landscapes are strung along roads rather than clustered around cities. Planning a trip here is mostly an exercise in resisting the urge to cover too much ground.
The four routes worth building a trip around
Each of these can stand alone as a one- to two-week itinerary.
- Route of the Seven Lakes: Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes, forest and water the whole way
- The Northwest loop: Salta, Cachi, Cafayate and the Quebrada de Humahuaca
- Ruta 40 South: El Calafate to El Chaltén and on toward the Perito Moreno region
- Atlantic coast: Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata, Pinamar and Cariló
Realistic distances
Assume 70–80 km/h average on Patagonian routes once you account for wind, gravel sections and photo stops. Anything over 400km in a day stops being enjoyable. In the northwest, mountain passes cut average speeds further.
Fuel, gravel and paperwork
A few practicalities separate a smooth trip from a stressful one.
- Fill up whenever the tank drops below half in Patagonia and on Ruta 40
- Confirm your rental agreement permits ripio (gravel) roads
- Carry cash for rural fuel stations and small-town tolls
- Border crossings into Chile require extra paperwork arranged in advance
Sequencing your rentals
Book two or three multi-night bases rather than a new property every night. Vacation rentals reward staying put — you get a kitchen, laundry and a sense of where you are, none of which pays off in a single night.
