Santiago del Estero is one of Argentina's oldest cities, a provincial capital in the country's dry northern interior, and a rental car is the most practical way to explore both the city and the surrounding chaco countryside, since public transport thins out quickly beyond the urban center. Most visitors arrive at Vicecomodoro Angel de la Paz Araoz Airport, a short drive from the city, with rental counters from international and local companies, and pickup is generally straightforward given the airport's modest passenger volumes.
From the airport, downtown Santiago del Estero is only a short ten-to-fifteen-minute drive, while Ruta Nacional 9, Argentina's main north-south highway, runs directly through the province connecting the city south toward Cordoba, roughly four to five hours away, and north toward Tucuman, a shorter trip of around two hours through increasingly hilly terrain as the flat chaco plain gives way to the foothills of the northwest. La Banda, effectively a twin city across the Rio Dulce, is only minutes from the center and worth including in any short local drive.
Driving is on the right throughout Argentina, and Ruta 9 is generally paved and well maintained, a fast if visually monotonous route across the flat chaco landscape, with long straight stretches that can encourage speeding and warrant regular breaks to stay alert. Tolls appear at intervals along some sections of the national route network in this part of Argentina, typically collected in cash at staffed booths, so keep pesos on hand for longer trips. Summer heat here is intense, often exceeding forty degrees Celsius between December and February, making air conditioning and hydration more important considerations than road conditions themselves. Fuel stations are frequent in the city and along Ruta 9's main towns but sparser on quieter provincial roads, so it is worth filling up before heading into the surrounding countryside.