Plan on about 6 h 46 min of driving for the 367-mile (590 km) trip from Buenos Aires to Bella Unión, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 279, at Concordia–Salto.
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.”
| Distance | 367 mi (590 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RNA015 |
| Border crossing | about mile 279, Argentina → Uruguay (Concordia–Salto) |
| Regions on the route | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Salto, Artigas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to Bella Unión
The route crosses at about mile 279, at Concordia–Salto, from Entre Ríos into Salto. 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 Buenos Aires to Bella Unión drive plays out
RN14 (166 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 58% of the 367 miles. The first 279 miles are in Argentina; the last 88 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Salto, Artigas. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Buenos Aires to Bella Unión, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 2–8 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 8–10 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 10–50 | 40 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 50–55 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 55–102 | 47 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 102–268 | 166 | Entre Ríos |
| RNA015 | 268–279 | 11 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 279–367 | 88 | Salto, Artigas |
- Mile 11 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 72 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 279 of this route: Entre Ríos → Salto (international border)
- Mile 330 of this route: Salto → Artigas (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Buenos Aires and Bella Unión
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Temaikèn (mile 33), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 34), El Palmar National Park (mile 224), Termas de Salto Grande (mile 280)
- Nature and outdoors: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 34), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 42), El Palmar National Park (mile 224), Termas de Salto Grande (mile 280)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia (mile 7), Quinta Los Ombúes (mile 14)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 33)
Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia
Sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia once lived in this house in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, which now operates as a museum dedicated to him.
Quinta Los Ombúes
In the historic center of San Isidro, Buenos Aires Province, Quinta Los Ombúes is a museum and historic site set in an old colonial-style country house.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
More drives to Bella Unión
- Paysandú to Bella Unión
- Florida, Uruguay to Bella Unión
- Minas to Bella Unión
- Montevideo to Bella Unión
- Maldonado to Bella Unión
- Rocha to Bella Unión
More drives from Buenos Aires
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Ayacucho, Argentina
- Buenos Aires to Sierra de La Ventana
- Buenos Aires to Luján
- Buenos Aires to San Antonio de Areco
- Buenos Aires to Arrecifes
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Buenos Aires to Bella Unión, Uruguay?
About 6 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 367 miles.
What is the driving distance from Buenos Aires to Bella Unión, Uruguay?
About 367 miles (590 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 Buenos Aires to Bella Unión drive cross the border?
At about mile 279, from Argentina into Uruguay, at Concordia–Salto.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Buenos Aires 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 Buenos Aires to Bella Unión, 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.
What roads does the drive from Buenos Aires to Bella Unión use?
In order: AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RNA015. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Buenos Aires and Bella Unión?
Closest to the road: Temaikèn (zoo, mile 33, 0.6 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 34, 0.2 mi from the route); El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 224, 0.3 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.