Driving in Patagonia

[NailedOn]

I have a holiday to Patagonia booked for early next year. One leg of the trip is by hire car from Rio Gallegos to El Calafate. As far as I can tell Routes 5 and 7 are metalled. But there does not appear to be any where to stay overnight on the route.
Has anyone any experience of this drive? I am planning to do it in one day, and the most I can find is a petrol station at Esperanza!
All practical advice appreciated.

[NailedOn]

To broaden the question in the hope of a response: Does anyone have any experience of driving in Patagonia or Argentina?

[Bluebarge]

I think you would get a better response to this type of question on Tripadvisor

[NailedOn]

Bluebarge said:

I think you would get a better response to this type of question on Tripadvisor

Thanks, worth a try.

[cheerfulcharlie]

It is very sparsely populated down there - the airport at Rio Gallegos feels like its in the middle of nowhere. We didn't go direct from Rio to El Calefatte but went to Torres Del Paine in Chile first - from what I remember (it was nearly 10 years ago) all the roads were fine until we got near the park. We had to stay overnight near the Chilean border as our flight was delayed so we had to find a motel at short notice - there was no way I would have found it if I hadn't been on an organised trip with a guide.

Its worth the effort though, Patagonia is fantastic and the Morino glacier is worth the trip alone - its everything you have heard about and more.

[NailedOn]

cheerfulcharlie said:

It is very sparsely populated down there - the airport at Rio Gallegos feels like its in the middle of nowhere. We didn't go direct from Rio to El Calefatte but went to Torres Del Paine in Chile first - from what I remember (it was nearly 10 years ago) all the roads were fine until we got near the park. We had to stay overnight near the Chilean border as our flight was delayed so we had to find a motel at short notice - there was no way I would have found it if I hadn't been on an organised trip with a guide.

Its worth the effort though, Patagonia is fantastic and the Morino glacier is worth the trip alone - its everything you have heard about and more.

Thanks for the post. Good to hear that the roads are OK. Our trip is under our own steam, but all booked in advance.
We're planning Rio Gallegos - El Calafete, then the glacier then Torres del Paine. I'll report back once home. Not going until February. All the reviews are positive so traveling in expectation.

[Amateurish]

I did El Calafate - Torres del Paine - Peurto Natales - Punta Arenas on various bus trips and all the roads were fine, good standard.