Alejandro Gallinal to Magdalena, Argentina is about 466 road miles (750 km): roughly 10 h 6 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 237, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
Full advisory: Uruguay, Argentina. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance | 466 mi (750 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 237, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Florida, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Uruguay into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 237, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Río Negro into Entre Ríos. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Argentina (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Argentina | A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. |
| Entering Uruguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Uruguay | You can drive on your U.S. license. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Alejandro Gallinal to Magdalena: the shape of the trip
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 19% of the 466 miles. The first 237 miles are in Uruguay; the last 229 are in Argentina. It runs through 9 regions: Florida, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Alejandro Gallinal and Magdalena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–98 | 98 | Florida, Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 98–101 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 101–137 | 36 | San José, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 137–138 | 1 | Colonia |
| local roads | 138–235 | 97 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 235–238 | 3 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 238–257 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 257–263 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 263–300 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 300–347 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 347–352 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 352–392 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 392–394 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 394–400 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 400–403 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 403–434 | 31 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 434–435 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 435–465 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 465–466 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 65 of this route: Florida → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 77 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 121 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 138 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 219 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 237 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 330 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 392 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 409 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Florida (mile 45), Teatro Macció (mile 101), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 217), Galileo Galilei Planetarium (mile 398), Casa Nacional del Bicentenario (mile 401), Broadway Theatre (mile 401), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 405)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 360)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Florida (mile 45), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 217), Casa Nacional del Bicentenario (mile 401), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 405), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 436)
Cathedral of Florida
Florida's cathedral basilica is also Uruguay's national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the country's patroness, and keeps the original image; look for its bronze door by sculptor José Belloni and his son Stelio, stained glass and domes.
Teatro Macció
San José de Mayo's Teatro Bartolomé Macció is a traditional theater, regarded as the city's most important building architecturally and declared a Historic Monument of Uruguay in 1984.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Since 1960, the Diocese of Mercedes has had its seat at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, the main Catholic church in this Uruguayan city.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos) protects about 2,500 hectares of wetlands in Campana, Buenos Aires province, home to the marsh deer that gives it its name and to abundant waterbirds. It is a Ramsar Site.
Galileo Galilei Planetarium
The Galileo Galilei Planetarium, known locally simply as Planetario, sits in Parque Tres de Febrero in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires.
Casa Nacional del Bicentenario
Part cultural center and part museum, the Casa Nacional del Bicentenario is located in the Recoleta section of Buenos Aires.
Broadway Theatre
Designed by architect Jorge Kálnay, the Art Deco Broadway Theatre opened on October 11, 1930, at 1155 Corrientes Avenue in Buenos Aires.
Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken
Established in 1971, Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken in Buenos Aires traces Argentine cinema through about 90,000 film reels plus photos, posters, scripts, costumes and film equipment.
Cathedral of La Plata
Facing Plaza Moreno and City Hall at the geographic center of La Plata, this neo-Gothic cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
More drives to Magdalena
- Necochea to Magdalena
- Adrogué to Magdalena
- Tigre to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Luján to Magdalena
- San Antonio de Areco to Magdalena
More drives from Alejandro Gallinal
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Alejandro Gallinal to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 10 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 466 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Alejandro Gallinal by car?
About 466 miles (750 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Where does the Alejandro Gallinal to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 237, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Alejandro Gallinal into Argentina?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid when you enter; leave a blank page for the entry and exit stamps. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Alejandro Gallinal to Magdalena drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Alejandro Gallinal to Magdalena use?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Alejandro Gallinal and Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Galileo Galilei Planetarium (planetarium, mile 398, 0.4 mi from the route); Broadway Theatre (theater, mile 401, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (film museum, mile 405, 0.2 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.