Plan on about 10 h 7 min of driving for the 476-mile (766 km) trip from Artigas to Magdalena, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 133, at Concordia–Salto.
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.”
| Distance | 476 mi (766 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | RNA015 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 133, Uruguay → Argentina (Concordia–Salto) |
| Regions on the route | Artigas, Salto, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Magdalena
The route crosses at about mile 133, at Concordia–Salto, from Salto 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 Artigas to Magdalena is like
RN14 (166 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 45% of the 476 miles. The first 133 miles are in Uruguay; the last 343 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Artigas, Salto, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Artigas to Magdalena, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–123 | 123 | Artigas, Salto |
| connecting roads | 123–126 | 3 | Salto |
| local roads | 126–133 | 7 | Salto |
| RNA015 | 133–143 | 10 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 143–144 | 1 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 144–310 | 166 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 310–357 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 357–362 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 362–402 | 40 | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 402–404 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 404–410 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 410–413 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 413–444 | 31 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 444–445 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 445–475 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 475–476 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 54 of this route: Artigas → Salto (region line)
- Mile 133 of this route: Salto → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 341 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 401 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 418 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Artigas and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Termas de Salto Grande (mile 132), El Palmar National Park (mile 187), Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (mile 410), St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires (mile 411), Ernesto de la Cárcova Museum of Reproductions and Comparative Sculpture (mile 414), La Plata Astronomical Observatory (mile 447)
- Nature and outdoors: Termas de Salto Grande (mile 132), El Palmar National Park (mile 187), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 370)
- Museums and history: Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (mile 410), St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires (mile 411), Ernesto de la Cárcova Museum of Reproductions and Comparative Sculpture (mile 414), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 446)
- With kids: The Children's Republic (mile 441)
Termas de Salto Grande
On the Uruguayan shore of the Salto Grande dam's lake in Salto department, Termas de Salto Grande is a hot spring complex.
El Palmar National Park
Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
About 2,500 hectares of wetlands in Campana, Buenos Aires province, are protected as Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park. It's a Ramsar Site and home to the marsh deer and plenty of waterbirds.
Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum
At Avenida del Libertador 405 in Retiro, Buenos Aires, Argentina's national railway museum shows locomotives, cars, machinery and other objects in a historic building and also houses a railway history study center.
St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires
Also known as the Maronite Catholic Cathedral of Buenos Aires, St. Maron's Cathedral stands at 834 Paraguay Street in the city.
Ernesto de la Cárcova Museum of Reproductions and Comparative Sculpture
Run by the National University of Arts, this museum of reproductions and comparative sculpture is in the Puerto Madero area of Buenos Aires.
The Children's Republic
Spread over 131 acres in La Plata, The Children's Republic is a theme park with 35 scale-model buildings.
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.
La Plata Astronomical Observatory
The La Plata Astronomical Observatory sits in the city of La Plata, capital of Buenos Aires Province, and is registered with the IAU under code 839.
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 Artigas
- Artigas to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Artigas to Carmelo
- Artigas to Colonia del Sacramento
- Artigas to Conchillas
- Artigas to Nueva Helvecia
- Artigas to Veinticinco de Agosto
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Artigas to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 10 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 476 miles.
What is the driving distance from Artigas to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 476 miles (766 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 Artigas to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 133, from Uruguay into Argentina, at Concordia–Salto.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Artigas 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 Artigas to Magdalena, 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 Artigas to Magdalena?
In order: RNA015, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Artigas to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 187, 0.2 mi from the route); Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (railway museum, mile 410, 0.2 mi from the route); St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires (cathedral, mile 411, 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.