Discover the 8 most breathtaking road trips through Patagonia.

Patagonia's stunning landscapes, renowned for their vastness and isolation, stretch across southern Argentina and Chile.

Since many of the most picturesque spots are hidden away from the main routes, a road trip offers the perfect way to navigate this region at your own pace. Most main roads between towns are paved, but be prepared for challenging driving conditions, including occasional landslides, muddy paths, and bumpy roads filled with potholes.

While a 4WD isn’t a strict necessity, renting a vehicle with higher clearance is advisable—especially for less-traveled side roads. The ideal time for a road trip in Patagonia is from October to April, as many side routes are often inaccessible during the southern hemisphere's winter due to snow.

Keep in mind that certain routes cross the border from Chile to Argentina, requiring special permission from your rental company. Additionally, one-way drop-off fees can be quite high, so it’s wise to plan your route carefully. Here are nine of the top road trips in Patagonia (and Tierra del Fuego), ranging from three hours to several weeks in duration.

1. Carretera Austral

Ultimate road trip experience Puerto Montt to Villa O'Higgins; 1223 km (760 miles); plan for 10 days

This is the grand adventure. Known as the 'Southern Highway,' this route is Chile's most famous drive, winding south from the Lake District through a breathtaking landscape of lush forests, towering snow-capped mountains, active volcanoes, glacial rivers, and enchanting fjords.

Originally commissioned by Pinochet in the 1970s, this road aimed to conquer the wild and promote settlement in the remote Aysén region. Much of the southern stretch remains unpaved, presenting a more demanding drive. Be ready for unpredictable weather and possible hold-ups (like landslides and waiting for ferries).

Begin your journey in Puerto Montt, the port city of the Lake District, where you'll catch the first of four ferries. After passing through the salmon-farming town of Hornopirén, you'll take two connecting ferries through the fjords, with a stretch of land in between, to arrive at the southern part of Parque Nacional Pumalín Douglas Tompkins—a sprawling area of native forest generously donated to the state by the Tompkins family.

Just south lies Chaitén, partially buried by the volcanic eruption in 2008 but now restored, followed by the crossroads town of Villa Santa Lucía; from here, you can take a detour to Futaleufú, known as Chile's capital of whitewater rafting. As you pass through dense forests, you’ll reach the market town of La Junta before arriving at the charming, fjordside village of Puyuhuapi, renowned for its hot springs.

The road hugs the fjord and passes luxurious fly-fishing lodges before the highest point of the Carretera Austral takes you over Queulat Pass, with mist-covered mountains ahead. Take a moment to stretch your legs in Parque Nacional Queulat before continuing along the winding road to Coyhaique, the largest town situated midway along the Carretera Austral.

The southern part of your journey is even more remote, leading you through the pioneer town of Villa Cerro Castillo, alongside the glacial Lago General Carrera, and past the tiny Puerto Río Tranquilo— the gateway for glacier hikes and boat excursions to the stunning Capilla de Mármol.

Further south, the ranching town of Cochrane serves as a perfect overnight stop and a convenient base for exploring Parque Nacional Patagonia (another conservation initiative by the Tompkins family) before taking a detour off the main path to Caleta Tortel—a unique village with cypress boardwalks instead of traditional streets.

A final ferry crossing from Puerto Yungay, along with narrow hairpin turns of a particularly steep stretch of road—offering views of forest-covered mountains and a roaring glacial river below—leads you to Villa O'Higgins, a small pioneer settlement at the end of the road. From here, you can either retrace your journey or catch a weekly ferry from Puerto Yungay to Puerto Natales for further adventures in the south.

2. Ruta 40

Ultimate road trip for discovering the grasslands El Calafate to Bariloche; 1637 km (1017 miles); plan for two weeks

This is another major route, even more extensive in fact. Affectionately known as La Cuarenta (The Forty) by Argentinians, Ruta 40 holds a legendary status similar to that of Route 66 in the USA. Spanning approximately 5194 km (3227 miles), it runs the entire length of Argentina, from Cabo Vírgenes in southeastern Patagonia to the border with Bolivia.

Even if you don't traverse the entire route, you can still explore the most remote and arguably the most breathtaking stretch known for Ruta 40's rugged allure—the expansive pampas (steppe) that seem to extend endlessly. Here, you’ll not only find vast grasslands dotted with flocks of sheep and swift ñandú (rhea) but also remain close to the majestic Andes mountain range, which forms the natural border between Chile and Argentina. Take your time, especially since parts of the southern section of Ruta 40 are still unpaved.

Begin your adventure in El Calafate, the gateway to Argentina's most accessible and stunning glaciers, including Perito Moreno. Travel north along the shores of the impossibly blue Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma. Consider a detour along Lago Viedma towards the Fitz Roy mountain range, near the tiny trekking hub of El Chaltén, before continuing your journey northward. Accommodations are sparse as you pass through small, often dreary service towns—Gobernador Gregores, Bajo Caracoles, and Perito Moreno (not to be confused with the glacier)—and isolated estancias.

Before reaching the final town, take a detour through a picturesque valley to visit the Cueva de Las Manos—home to some of Argentina's most impressive cave art. After a day's drive beyond Perito Moreno, spend some time in the outdoor-centric town of Esquel for hiking and kayaking, then conclude your trip in Bariloche (technically part of the Lake District rather than Patagonia), nestled on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi and surrounded by towering mountain peaks.

3. Ruta 25

Ultimate road trip for experiencing Welsh culture Esquel to Puerto Madryn; 671 km (417 miles); allow 3–4 days

This journey kicks off in the quaint town of Esquel, a hub for hikers heading to the nearby Parque Nacional Los Alerces and for kayakers eager for adventures on Río Percey and Laguna Terraplén in Chubut province. It concludes in Puerto Madryn, the gateway to the Valdés Peninsula, famous for its abundant marine life and seasonal whale watching opportunities.

Along the way, you’ll visit the small towns of Dolavon and Gaiman, where most residents proudly claim Welsh ancestry tracing back to the 1860s, when brave Welsh immigrants came to Argentina to preserve their culture and language, which they felt were under threat back home.

Before hitting Route 25, it’s worthwhile to take a detour west from Esquel to Trevelin, another village with Welsh heritage—26 km (16 miles) round trip. All three towns celebrate the tradition of Welsh high tea, featuring tea houses that serve cream tea alongside a variety of cakes; Gaiman's residents especially cherish Princess Diana's visit related to tea in 1995.

Welsh is still commonly spoken (with a distinct Patagonian twist) and has seen a recent resurgence. Route 25 leads you through vast stretches of pampas and into the breathtaking Valle de los Altares, showcasing striking red rock formations reminiscent of Utah or Arizona.

4. The Valle Chacabuco drive

Ultimate road trip for wildlife and natural beauty Start and finish at Miradór Río Baker; 146 km (91 miles); allow 1–3 days

Located near a scenic overlook of Río Baker, about 18 km (11 miles) north of the ranching town of Cochrane, the X-83 winds through Parque Nacional Patagonia all the way to the Argentine border. This area is part of a large rewilding effort led by philanthropists Doug and Kris Tompkins, transforming the previously overgrazed Estancia Chacabuco into a stunning national park, now home to guanacos, flamingos, foxes, endangered huemul deer, and the occasional puma.

Take your time. The road is not only narrow and bumpy with blind corners, but the views of scrubland hills, cypress thickets, the snow-capped Jeinimeni mountain range, and the striking blue meltwater lagoons and Río Áviles are simply incredible. Wildlife encounters are frequent (keep an eye out for flamingos near the roadside lagoons), and it’s advisable to spend a couple of days exploring the area, hiking the trails from various trailheads that are spaced apart. If you have a sturdy vehicle, you can cross Paso Roballos into Argentina to connect with Ruta 40.

5. Valle de Río Palena

Ideal road trip for observing marine life La Junta to Raúl Marin Balmaceda; 75 km (47 miles); plan for 3–4 hours

Connecting the small service town of La Junta, located between Puyuhuapi and the Futaleufú Valley along the Carretera Austral, to white-sand beaches and a bay rich in marine life, this narrow gravel road winds alongside the vibrant teal waters of Río Palena through open fields and thickets of southern beech trees.

Make a stop at the rustic Termas del Sauce, just 17 km (10 miles) into your drive, for a relaxing soak in the natural hot springs. Before you reach the wide sandy streets of Raúl Marin Balmaceda—the Aysén region's oldest village, established in 1889—you’ll need to take a car ferry across the river.

Prior to the construction of this new road, the village was one of the most isolated in Chile. Local guides offer boat trips for dolphin and sea bird watching, or you can search for seals and cormorants while kayaking. If you prefer not to retrace your route, you can take one of the two weekly car ferries—one heading south to Puerto Chacabuco (for Coyhaique) and the other going to Quellón, at the southern tip of Chiloé.

6. Lago General Carrera Route

Ultimate side trip off the Carretera Austral Cruce el Maitén to Chile Chico; 115 km (71 miles); plan for 3 hours

If you’re navigating the southern section of the Carretera Austral, this scenic detour takes you from the fork in the road along the southern shore of the expansive Lago General Carrera—a glacial lake whose waters shift from sunlit turquoise to deep sapphire, influenced by the weather conditions.

About 13 km (8 miles) in, you pass through Puerto Guadál, a quiet village offering unique accommodations that serve as a great base for water-related adventures. The road then narrows and becomes increasingly steep as it ascends above the lake, winding around blind curves. Stunning lake views unfold at every turn, but exercise caution: there are no guardrails, and in some areas, the road is too narrow for two vehicles to pass each other.

Consider spending a few days in Chile Chico, an agricultural town blessed with a sunny microclimate; from November to January, indulge in the local cherries. From here, you can discover ancient rock art and arid landscapes in Reserva Nacional Lago Jeinimeni, or continue into Argentina to explore its famed Ruta 40. To quickly return to the Carretera Austral, take the car ferry across the lake to Puerto Ibañez.

7. The End of the World

Ideal one-day drive Punta Arenas to Ushuaia; 624 km (388 miles); plan for 10–12 hours

This breathtaking drive, completed in a single day, showcases the navy-blue, wind-swept Magellan Strait and the expansive, gusty landscapes of Chilean Patagonia before crossing the strait and traversing the vast island of Tierra del Fuego to reach Argentina's southernmost city.

The route begins by hugging the strait, passing the elegant stone mansions of Punta Arenas, Chile's historic port. You enter a landscape covered in scrubland, interspersed with occasional estancias, before crossing the narrowest section of the strait via a regular car ferry (keep an eye out for the black-and-white Peale's dolphins!) to Tierra del Fuego, named for the smoke from the campfires of its indigenous people.

A mostly paved gravel road leads you through a stark landscape of bare hills and more scrubland, breezing past the tiny mining town of Cerro Sombrero before crossing into the Argentine part of the island. Here, expansive views of the Atlantic open up as you pass through Rio Grande and Tolhuín, finally skirting the long, narrow glacial Lago Fagnano.

As you approach your destination, the scenery becomes dramatically mountainous, revealing Ushuaia against the backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera Darwin. Its steep streets form an amphitheater overlooking the deep blue waters of the Beagle Channel. From here, you can only head back—unless you're embarking on a cruise to Antarctica.

8. From Valle Exploradores to an Ice Field

Best road trip to view a glacier Starting and ending at Puerto Río Tranquilo; 172km (107 miles); allow 4–6 hours

This fantastic side trip from the southern section of the Carretera Austral has made Laguna San Rafael far more accessible. Previously, the only way to reach this aquamarine lagoon filled with massive ice chunks and sail past the diminishing, 30,000-year-old San Valentín glacier was through an expensive catamaran ride from Puerto Chacabuco, near Coyhaique.

Traveling along this narrow, winding gravel road leads you through the aptly named Valley of Explorers to a boat landing, where you can continue your journey to the glacier via inflatable Zodiac boats operated from Puerto Río Tranquilo. However, even if you skip visiting the San Valentín glacier, the drive itself is stunning: it traces the curves of Río Exploradores through a temperate rainforest of southern beech, ferns, and nalca (giant wild rhubarb), passing by waterfalls and glacial melt lakes.

It's highly recommended to stop at Km 52 and pay a small entrance fee to ascend to the Miradór Glaciar Exploradores for breathtaking views of the northernmost ice tongue extending from the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. For an up-close experience with the glacier using crampons and an ice pick, make arrangements with El Puesto Expediciones.