Plan on about 4 h 0 min of driving for the 210-mile (338 km) trip from Buenos Aires to Paysandú, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 205, at the Colón–Paysandú 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Total distance | 210 mi (338 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN135 |
| Border crossing | about mile 205, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The border on the way to Paysandú
The route crosses at about mile 205, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Entre Ríos into Paysandú. 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 Paysandú drive plays out
RN14 (93 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 67% of the 210 miles. The first 205 miles are in Argentina; the last 5 are in Uruguay. It runs through 4 regions: Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Buenos Aires to Paysandú: the road sequence
| 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 | 102–195 | 93 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 195–196 | 1 | Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 196–203 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 203–210 | 7 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú |
- 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 205 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
What to see on the way from Buenos Aires to Paysandú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Temaikèn (mile 33), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 34)
- Nature and outdoors: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 34), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 42)
- Museums and history: Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia (mile 7), Carnacini House Museum (mile 12), 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.
Carnacini House Museum
Painter Ceferino Carnacini lived for fifty years in the house that is now the Carnacini House Museum (Museo Casa Carnacini), a municipal art museum in Villa Ballester, Argentina.
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
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos) protects about 2,500 hectares of wetlands in Campana, Buenos Aires province, home to the marsh deer that gives it its name and to abundant waterbirds. It is a Ramsar Site.
Arriving in Paysandú
Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú
Paysandú's Catholic parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Benedict of Palermo was named a minor basilica in 1949 and remains an active parish of the city.
Teatro Florencio Sánchez
In the city of Paysandú, Teatro Florencio Sánchez is a theater and movie house that has been declared a national historic monument of Uruguay.
More drives to Paysandú
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Montevideo to Paysandú
- Mar del Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- La Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Berisso to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Porto Alegre to Paysandú, Uruguay
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 Paysandú, Uruguay?
About 4 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 210 miles.
How far is Paysandú, Uruguay from Buenos Aires by car?
About 210 miles (338 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 Paysandú drive cross the border?
At about mile 205, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
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 Paysandú, 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 Paysandú use?
In order: AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN135. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Buenos Aires to Paysandú?
Closest to the road: Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia (art museum, mile 7, 1 mi from the route); 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). 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.