By road, Alejandro Gallinal and Martínez, Argentina are about 390 miles (628 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 31 min of driving. 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 390 mi (628 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 |
| 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for 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.
What the drive from Alejandro Gallinal to Martínez is like
RN12 (47 mi) and RN14 (37 mi) carry about 22% of the 390 miles. The first 237 miles are in Uruguay; the last 153 are in Argentina. It runs through 8 regions: Florida, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Alejandro Gallinal to Martínez, road by road
| 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 | 352–387 | 35 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 387–390 | 3 | 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)
Stops between Alejandro Gallinal and Martínez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Florida (mile 45), Piedra Alta (mile 45), Teatro Macció (mile 101), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 101), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 217), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 369), Temaikèn (mile 369)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 360), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 369)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Florida (mile 45), Piedra Alta (mile 45), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 101), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 217), Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 221)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 369)
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.
Piedra Alta
On the banks of the Santa Lucía Chico River outside the city of Florida, Piedra Alta is a rock formation of historic importance that appears on the department's coat of arms and flag.
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.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum
In a 19th-century building in Mercedes' Parque Castillo Mauá, this paleontology museum opened in 1946 around the collection of naturalist Alejandro Berro; a well-preserved glyptodon shell found on a nearby riverbank is a highlight.
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.
Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar
Landscape engineer Yasuo Inomata designed this Japanese garden in Belén de Escobar in 1969, and the local Japanese community donated it to the city. Red, white and spotted koi swim in its 1,000-square-meter pond.
Temaikèn
Temaikèn is a zoo in Belén de Escobar, outside Buenos Aires, and the only zoo in Argentina accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
In Martínez itself
ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination
Set in Buenos Aires on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds, one of the largest clandestine detention, torture and extermination centers of the last dictatorship, this site museum was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2023.
Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur
Opened in June 2014 by the Argentine government, the Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands Museum stands on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds in Buenos Aires.
Parque Natural Municipal Ribera Norte
On the Río de la Plata shore in Acassuso, San Isidro, Ribera Norte is a municipal nature park protecting green space within greater Buenos Aires.
More drives to Martínez
- La Plata to Martínez
- Berisso to Martínez
- Chascomús to Martínez
- Ayacucho, Argentina to Martínez
- Villa Gesell to Martínez
- Mar del Plata to Martínez
More drives from Alejandro Gallinal
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Alejandro Gallinal to Martínez, Argentina?
About 8 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 390 miles.
How far is Martínez, Argentina from Alejandro Gallinal by car?
About 390 miles (628 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 Martínez 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Alejandro Gallinal to Martínez, Argentina?
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.
Which highways go from Alejandro Gallinal to Martínez?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6 and RN9. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Alejandro Gallinal and Martínez?
Closest to the road: Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 45, 0.4 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 369, 0.4 mi from the route); Temaikèn (zoo, mile 369, 0.5 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.