Plan on about 10 h 25 min of driving for the 485-mile (781 km) trip from Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Argentina at about mile 406, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil, Argentina. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 485 mi (781 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-470 → RSC-453 → RSC-287 → BR-158 → BR-290 → RN117 → RN14 → RN123 |
| Border crossing | about mile 406, Brazil → Argentina (Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana) |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing from Brazil into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 406, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana, from Rio Grande do Sul into Corrientes. 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 Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes drive plays out
BR-290 (165 mi) and RSC-287 (95 mi) carry about 54% of the 485 miles. The first 406 miles are in Brazil; the last 79 are in Argentina. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-470 | 1–7 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 7–67 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 67–162 | 95 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 162–167 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 167–171 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 171–242 | 71 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 242–407 | 165 | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| RN117 | 407–414 | 7 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 414–420 | 6 | Corrientes |
| RN123 | 420–482 | 62 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 482–485 | 3 | Corrientes |
- Mile 406 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Corrientes (international border)
What to see on the way from Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (mile 169), Museum Vincente Pallotti (mile 170), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 406), Itá Pucú (mile 478)
- Nature and outdoors: Itá Pucú (mile 478)
- Museums and history: St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul (mile 81), Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (mile 105), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (mile 169), Museum Vincente Pallotti (mile 170), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 406), Itá Pucú (mile 478)
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul
Facing Getúlio Vargas Square in central Santa Cruz do Sul, St. John the Baptist Cathedral is the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.
Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum
In the town of Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum is part of the Paleorrota Geopark and offers information about the region.
Aqueduto de Candelária
In Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aqueduto de Candelária stands in the Linha Curitiba area. It was commissioned by João Kochenborger, one of the first German immigrants to reach the municipality, in 1862.
Planetário Professor José Mariano da Rocha Filho
Founded in 1971 at the Federal University of Santa Maria, this planetarium seats 120 people and has used a Digistar 4 digital projector since 2011.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
Seat of the Archdiocese of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul, this eclectic cathedral mixes neo-Baroque and neoclassical styles; construction started in 1902 under parish priest Caetano Pagliuca, and it opened in 1909.
Museum Vincente Pallotti
On Avenida Presidente Vargas in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Vicente Pallotti Museum shares a complex with Palotina College.
St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana
Uruguaiana's St. Ann Cathedral grew out of the parish of Santana, created in 1846 together with the town, and was built between 1861 and 1874.
Itá Pucú
More drives to Mercedes
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Argentina
- La Plata to Mercedes, Argentina
- Berisso to Mercedes, Argentina
- Chascomús to Mercedes, Argentina
- Formosa, Argentina to Mercedes, Argentina
- Resistencia to Mercedes, Argentina
More drives from Bento Gonçalves
- Bento Gonçalves to Guaíra
- Bento Gonçalves to Tubarão
- Bento Gonçalves to Santana do Livramento
- Bento Gonçalves to Chuí
- Bento Gonçalves to Maldonado, Uruguay
- Bento Gonçalves to Rivera, Uruguay
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 10 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 485 miles.
What is the driving distance from Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 485 miles (781 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 Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 406, from Brazil into Argentina, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Bento Gonçalves 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 Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes use?
In order: BR-470, RSC-453, RSC-287, BR-158, BR-290, RN117, RN14 and RN123. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (cathedral, mile 169, 0.5 mi from the route); Museum Vincente Pallotti (museum, mile 170, 0.1 mi from the route); St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (cathedral, mile 406, 0.6 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.