The distance between Puerto Natales and Ushuaia is 477 miles (769 km). The fastest way to make the trip is to combine driving and air travel: you'll first drive (or hire a private transfer or bus) to El Calafate and from here, get on a direct, one-hour flight to Ushuaia. Total travel time is between 6-9 hours, with the option for an overnight in El Calafate—the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.
You can also make the entire journey by car (10-13 hours) or bus (11-13 hours), crossing borders from Chile to Argentina along the way. Buses run from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas, where you'll take another bus directly to Ushuaia and arrive 9 hours later.
By Rental Car/Private Transfer (or Bus) & Plane
Duration: 6-9 hours (more with an overnight in El Calafate)
Begin your journey in Puerto Natales, and drive (or hire a private transfer) to El Calafate Airport (FTE), a 3.5-hour journey. You'll be crossing the border from Chile to Argentina, so have your passport handy. Another option on this leg is taking the bus, which takes about six hours from the central station in Puerto Natales and dropping off in El Calafate. You can take a taxi from there to the airport, which takes about one hour. From the airport, it's only a 1-hour flight to Ushuaia.
You can also opt to spend the night in El Calafate before you continue. If you want to explore further, you can visit Los Glaciares from here—a highlight in Argentina.
By Rental Car or Private Transfer
Duration: 10-13 hours
A drive from Puerto Natales to Ushuaia will take you approximately 10-13 hours, depending on the route. Both routes, however, will take you across the Chilean border to Argentina, and include a ferry ride.
The first option is to begin your journey by driving on Route 9 and then onto Route 255 to Bahia Azul and Punta Delgada. From here, you'll board a ferry, and then continue toward Ushuaia. Along the way, make a stop at the Rio Grande to get some food, walk around, or rest.
The second—and longer option—is to drive through Punta Arenas, and make a stop at the scenic Laguna Blanca. Drive down to Punta Arenas and take a 2.5-hour ferry. Then, continue driving for about 5.5 hours until you get to Ushuaia.
By Bus
Duration: 11-13 hours, more with a stop in Punta Arenas
To take the bus, you'll first need to travel to Punta Arenas and then get on a second bus to Ushuaia. The bus between Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas takes about three hours and the rest of the journey will take 8-10 hours.
If you'd like, you can stay in Punta Arenas for a few hours and rent a car to visit places like the Reserva Nacional Laguna Parrillar, which is only a one-hour drive away. You can then head back to Punta Arenas and spend the night, or get on the next bus to continue your journey toward Ushuaia.
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