By road, Berisso and Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay are about 315 miles (507 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 52 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 205, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
Full advisory: Argentina, Uruguay. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Total distance | 315 mi (507 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | 114-05 → RN1 → AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 205, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 205, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Entre Ríos into Río Negro. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Berisso to Nueva Helvecia drive plays out
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 28% of the 315 miles. The first 205 miles are in Argentina; the last 110 are in Uruguay. It runs through 6 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Berisso to Nueva Helvecia
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| 114-05 | 1–4 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 4–7 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 7–37 | 30 | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 37–40 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 40–46 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 46–48 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 48–88 | 40 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 88–93 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 93–140 | 47 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 140–176 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 176–183 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 183–202 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 202–205 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 205–315 | 110 | Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia |
- Mile 33 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 49 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 110 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 205 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 221 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 285 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
Places worth a stop between Berisso and Nueva Helvecia
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Ferroviario de Tolosa (mile 7), Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (mile 39), Broadway Theatre (mile 39), El Rosedal De Palermo (mile 43), Eduardo Sívori Museum (mile 43), ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination (mile 47), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 222)
- Nature and outdoors: El Rosedal De Palermo (mile 43)
- Museums and history: Museo Ferroviario de Tolosa (mile 7), Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (mile 39), Eduardo Sívori Museum (mile 43), ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination (mile 47), Museo Histórico Cornelio de Saavedra (mile 48), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 222)
- With kids: The Children's Republic (mile 10)
Museo Ferroviario de Tolosa
Run by the Tolosa branch of the Ferroclub Argentino, created in 1996, the Museo Ferroviario "Ing. Pedro C. Saccaggio" is a railway museum in Tolosa.
The Children's Republic
Spread over 131 acres in La Plata, The Children's Republic is a theme park with 35 scale-model buildings.
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.
Broadway Theatre
Designed by architect Jorge Kálnay, the Art Deco Broadway Theatre opened on October 11, 1930, at 1155 Corrientes Avenue in Buenos Aires.
El Rosedal De Palermo
Part of Parque Tres de Febrero in Palermo, the Rosedal covers 3.4 hectares with about 18,000 rose bushes, busts of 26 poets and writers, a Greek-style bridge and an Andalusian patio.
Eduardo Sívori Museum
Named after painter Eduardo Sívori, this municipal museum of plastic arts in Buenos Aires opened in 1938.
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 Histórico Cornelio de Saavedra
Inside Parque General Paz on Avenida Crisólogo Larralde, the Cornelio de Saavedra Historical Museum is a history museum of the City of Buenos Aires.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
More drives to Nueva Helvecia
- Tacuarembó to Nueva Helvecia
- Salto to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Artigas to Nueva Helvecia
- Minas to Nueva Helvecia
- Maldonado to Nueva Helvecia
More drives from Berisso
- Berisso to Adrogué
- Berisso to Tigre
- Berisso to San Antonio de Areco
- Berisso to Arrecifes
- Berisso to Martínez
- Berisso to Colón, Argentina
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Berisso to Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay?
About 6 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 315 miles.
How far is Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay from Berisso by car?
About 315 miles (507 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 Berisso to Nueva Helvecia drive cross the border?
At about mile 205, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Berisso into Uruguay?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You can drive on your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 13, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Berisso to Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Berisso to Nueva Helvecia?
In order: 114-05, RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Berisso and Nueva Helvecia?
Closest to the road: Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (basilica, mile 39, 0.2 mi from the route); Eduardo Sívori Museum (art museum, mile 43, 0.5 mi from the route); ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination (museum, mile 47, 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.