Route 40 in Patagonia: The Complete Road Trip Guide (Road Conditions, Stops & Best Time to Go)

Route 40 in Patagonia: Complete Guide (Road Conditions, Best Stops, and When to Go)

The Route 40 in Patagonia is one of the most legendary road trips in the world: over 1,400 km running parallel to the Andes, featuring glaciers, Mount Fitz Roy, the Perito Moreno Glacier, the Cueva de las Manos, and some of the least-traveled roads on the planet. National Route 40—officially named “Libertador General Don José de San Martín”—is the longest in Argentina: 5,194 km spanning 11 provinces from south to north, from Cabo Vírgenes in Santa Cruz to La Quiaca on the border with Bolivia, reaching an altitude of nearly 5,000 meters at the Acay Pass in Salta. In this guide, we focus on the Patagonian section, which is also the most breathtaking.

Is Route 40 in Patagonia Paved or a Gravel Road?

This is the question every traveler asks before planning their trip. The honest answer is: it depends on the section. Traffic on this road is very light—less than 1,000 vehicles per day on average outside of the tourist sections— and paving has advanced significantly since the 2000s, especially in Santa Cruz. Even so, there are still significant unpaved sections in the center of the province.

Important for winter: in vast areas of Patagonia, the road is blocked by snow from July through September. Rivers in the north can also swell in summer and block the route where there are no bridges. Always check road conditions at local police stations or at National Highway Administration before tackling gravel sections.

How Many Days Do You Need to Travel Route 40 in Patagonia?

The Patagonian stretch (Bariloche to El Calafate, ~1,400 km) can be driven in 4–5 days of pure driving. But that would be a waste of the trip. A realistic estimate:

• Minimum (only the essentials): 7 days
• Recommended (with hikes and detours): 10 to 14 days
• If you combine it with Torres del Paine in Chile: 14 to 21 days

The main time-consuming stops are: El Chaltén (at least 2–3 days for hikes to Fitz Roy), El Calafate (1–2 days for the Perito Moreno Glacier), and the detour to the Cueva de las Manos (half a day, but worth every kilometer). In addition, the gravel sections in Santa Cruz significantly reduce the average travel speed.

Route 40 and Tourism

The Argentine National Secretariat of Tourism promoted the development of this route to encourage domestic and international tourism in western Argentina. As a result of that decision, the National Highway Administration changed the route’s designation and kilometer markers to unify what were previously known as Route 40 North and Route 40 South in the city of Mendoza. The official Route 40 website publishes tourist information about the regions through which this route passes. The Ministry of Tourism presented an interactive CD titled National Route 40: Argentina Invites You, 5,000 km to Discover, and in 2008, a seminar on National Route 40 was held in the city of San Rafael, Mendoza, featuring various presentations on the roadworks to be carried out and the tourist attractions along the route.

Traffic

Traffic on this highway is very light, with an average of fewer than 1,000 vehicles per day, except on two sections: the scenic route between El Bolsón and San Carlos de Bariloche in the province of Río Negro, and between Pareditas in the province of Mendoza and the city of San Juan. The town of Pareditas is a mandatory stop for vehicles traveling between the cities of Mendoza and San Rafael.

With the exception of the aforementioned sections, traffic is seasonal, as in vast areas of Patagonia the highway is blocked by snow during the winter season, from July through September. The rivers that cross the route in the north of the country experience major flooding during the summer months, blocking the highway in areas where no bridges have been built.

The Patagonian Route: Province by Province

Since construction began in 1935, the route has changed course several times, with little paving work until it received a boost in the 2000s, positioning itself as a national tourist attraction—following, in a way, the example of Route 66 in the United States. Below we describe the most important tourist areas from south to north, including the towns in each province and their reference maps.

Province of Santa Cruz

The route begins at the lighthouse located at Cabo Vírgenes, on the coast of Santa Cruz, from where the Strait of Magellan can be seen. It is the southeasternmost point of the continental Atlantic coast of the Americas. After passing through the provincial capital, Río Gallegos (overlapping with National Route 3 for 35 km), it heads west through the Gallegos River valley to Río Turbio and from there northward.

Upon reaching Lago Argentino, the route passes within 32 km of El Calafate, the gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park, which includes the Perito Moreno Glacier. Further north, it runs along Lake Viedma and Lake Cardiel until reaching Bajo Caracoles, where a 42-km dirt road (RP 97) leads to the Cueva de las Manos —cave paintings nearly 10,000 years old, a UNESCO World Heritage Site—. Finally, it crosses the town of Perito Moreno to the border with Chubut.

Towns along the Santa Cruz section: Güer Aike Department: Punta Loyola (km 100), Río Gallegos (km 134–135), Rospentek Aike (km 376), Veintiocho de Noviembre (km 390), and Esperanza. Lago Argentino Department: access to El Calafate (km 594). Río Chico Department: access to Gobernador Gregores (km 891). Lago Buenos Aires Department: Perito Moreno (km 1251).

Province of Chubut

In Chubut, Route 40 runs through the western part of the province, passing through towns such as Río Mayo, Gobernador Costa, and Tecka. The star destination of this stretch is Esquel: a tourist town, the terminus of the La Trochita railway (the Old Patagonian Express), and the gateway to Los Alerces National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017), home to larch trees up to 2,600 years old. Further north, near the border with Río Negro, the route passes 5 km from Lago Puelo, next to Lago Puelo National Park.

Towns along the Chubut section: Río Senguer Department: Río Mayo (km 1362). Tehuelches Department: access to José de San Martín (km 1590) and Gobernador Costa (km 1594). Languiñeo Department: Tecka (km 1676). Futaleufú Department: access to Esquel (km 1763). Cushamen Department: access to Epuyén (km 1866), El Hoyo (km 1901), and access to Lago Puelo (km 1907).

Río Negro Province

With the Andes mountain range always in view, Route 40 continues northward through El Bolsón and then through San Carlos de Bariloche, the most visited city in Argentine Patagonia. In the town of Río Villegas is the entrance to Nahuel Huapi National Park; in Villa Mascardi, the access to Cerro Tronador. To be precise: the route does not enter the center of Bariloche, but rather runs along an outer bypass built in the 2000s. The last town it passes through in this province is Dina Huapi, on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi.

Towns along the Río Negro section: Bariloche Department: El Bolsón (km 1914–1916) and San Carlos de Bariloche (km 2031–2046). Pilcaniyeu Department: Dina Huapi (km 2054).

Province of Neuquén

In Neuquén, after crossing the Limay River, the route continues toward Villa La Angostura and reaches the famous Seven Lakes Road (now the Nine Lakes Drive), within Lanín National Park. It continues north through the beautiful city of San Martín de los Andes and then Junín de los Andes, Zapala, and Chos Malal. In the town of Barrancas lies the Colorado River, the natural border with Mendoza, the point where the Patagonian section ends.

Route 40 and Tourism in Argentina

The National Secretariat of Tourism promoted the development of this route to boost domestic and international tourism in western Argentina. As a result of that decision, the National Highway Administration changed the route’s designation and kilometer markers to unify what were previously known as Route 40 North and Route 40 South in the city of Mendoza. In 2008, a national seminar was held in San Rafael featuring presentations on the planned construction projects and tourist attractions along the route.

Via Route 40, you can reach destinations as diverse as El Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier, Esquel, El Hoyo, Lago Puelo, El Bolsón, Bariloche, Villa La Angostura, San Martín de los Andes, Junín de los Andes, the Wine Route in Mendoza and San Juan, dinosaur fossil sites, hot springs in Catamarca, the Ruins of Quilmes, the Calchaquí Valleys, the highest vineyards in the world in Cafayate, the La Polvorilla Viaduct of the Train to the Clouds, and the Puna.

History, Culture, and Feats on Route 40

Sports Milestone: The Route 40 Ultramarathon Runner

From August 17 to December 2, 2015, 40-year-old ultramarathon runner Rodolfo Rossi ran the entire length of Route 40—from La Quiaca to Cabo Vírgenes—in 107 days, averaging 50 km per day. He continued along Route 3 until reaching Ushuaia on December 8, successfully running the length of Argentina from north to south. He was the first man in history to do so. He was accompanied by a seven-person support team, and thousands of people joined him to run sections along the route.

Since 2010, the Ruta 40 Challenge—part of the FIA Cross-Country Rally World Championship—has been held annually along the route, establishing it as one of the most demanding rally competitions on the continent.

Route 40 in Argentine Culture

In 1998, Catalan writer Enric Soler i Raspall published Along Route 40: Through Bruce Chatwin’s Patagonia, recounting his journey in the footsteps of Bruce Chatwin 22 years later. In 2004, the film The Motorcycle Diaries, based on the diaries of Che Guevara and Alberto Granado, covers several sections of this route. In 2006, the Argentine band La Renga composed the song “Ruta 40,” included on the album Truenotierra. In 2011, the documentary series “La 40,” directed by Pepe Tobal, premiered; it travels the entire route in a 1961 Mercedes-Benz 1114 bus with a group of traveling musicians.

Related articles on Patagonia+

• → The Impressive Perito Moreno Glacier
• → Los Glaciares National Park
• → Cueva de las Manos: UNESCO World Heritage Site
• → Route of the Seven Lakes: now the Nine Lakes Trail
• → Bariloche Guide
• → San Martín de los Andes
• → The Patagonian Continental Ice Fields

Frequently Asked Questions about Route 40 in Patagonia

In Conclusion

Traveling Route 40 is much more than a trip: it’s a journey through the soul of Argentina, passing through unforgettable landscapes, historic towns, and unique spots waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re planning the entire stretch through Patagonia or just a segment, this route guarantees an authentic and transformative experience. Have you traveled it yet? Share your experience in the comments and keep exploring our articles on tourism in Patagonia to plan your next getaway.