The Wayro route from Atlántida to Magdalena, Argentina is 442 miles (711 km), about 9 h 14 min of driving without stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 213, 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.”
| Distance | 442 mi (711 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 213, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 213, 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.
The Atlántida–Magdalena drive in a few lines
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 19% of the 442 miles. The first 213 miles are in Uruguay; the last 229 are in Argentina. It runs through 8 regions: Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, 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 Atlántida to Magdalena, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–40 | 40 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 40–43 | 3 | Canelones |
| local roads | 43–74 | 31 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 74–77 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 77–113 | 36 | San José, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 113–114 | 1 | Colonia |
| local roads | 114–211 | 97 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 211–213 | 2 | Río Negro |
| RN136 | 213–232 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 232–239 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 239–275 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 275–322 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 322–327 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 327–328 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 328–367 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 367–370 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 370–376 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 376–379 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 379–409 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 409–411 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 411–441 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 441–442 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 53 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 96 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 195 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 213 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 306 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 367 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 384 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 Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 42), Teatro Macció (mile 76), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 193), AMALITA Collection (mile 377), Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (mile 377), Curutchet House (mile 412)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 336)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 42), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 193), AMALITA Collection (mile 377), Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (mile 377), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 412), Curutchet House (mile 412)
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
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
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from this spot on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos starting in 1865. In 1924, the Anglo plant began shipping frozen meat from the same site.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
Marsh deer give their name to Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park, a Ramsar Site in Campana, Buenos Aires province, where waterbirds are abundant.
AMALITA Collection
Officially the Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat Art Collection, the AMALITA Collection is an art museum in Buenos Aires.
Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento
Consecrated in 1914, the Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento is a church at San Martín 1039 in the Retiro neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
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.
Curutchet House
The Curutchet House in La Plata, Argentina, is a building designed by the architect Le Corbusier.
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 Atlántida
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Atlántida to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 9 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 442 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Atlántida by car?
About 442 miles (711 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 Atlántida to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 213, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Atlántida 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 Atlántida 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 Atlántida 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.
Where can you stop on the way from Atlántida to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 42, 0.2 mi from the route); Teatro Macció (theater, mile 76, 0.8 mi from the route); Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (basilica, mile 377, 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.