By road, Buenos Aires and Río Branco, Uruguay are about 532 miles (856 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 46 min of driving. 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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance by road | 532 mi (856 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 46 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, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Río Branco
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.
What the drive from Buenos Aires to Río Branco is like
RN14 (93 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 26% of the 532 miles. The first 205 miles are in Argentina; the last 327 are in Uruguay. It runs through 7 regions: Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Buenos Aires and Río Branco
| 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 | 203–477 | 274 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
| connecting roads | 477–479 | 2 | Cerro Largo |
| local roads | 479–532 | 53 | Cerro Largo |
- 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)
- Mile 313 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 319 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 329 of this route: Paysandú → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 436 of this route: Tacuarembó → Cerro Largo (region line)
Places worth a stop between Buenos Aires and Río Branco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Tierra Santa (mile 6), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 334), Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 352), Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 354), Cathedral of Melo (mile 475), Regional History Museum of Melo (mile 475)
- Nature and outdoors: Pozo Hondo (mile 332)
- Museums and history: Museo Nacional del Hombre (mile 6), Museo Histórico Cornelio de Saavedra (mile 10), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 334), Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 352), Cathedral of Melo (mile 475), Regional History Museum of Melo (mile 475)
- With kids: Tierra Santa (mile 6), Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 354)
Tierra Santa
Tierra Santa is a religious theme park in the city of Buenos Aires, in Argentina.
Museo Nacional del Hombre
In the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, the Museo Nacional del Hombre is a national museum focused on the archaeology of South America's Indigenous peoples.
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.
Pozo Hondo
Pozo Hondo is a waterfall in Uruguay's Tacuarembó department, located between the towns of Valle Edén and Tambores.
Museo Carlos Gardel
Dedicated to the life and work of Carlos Gardel, this museum is in Valle Edén, Tacuarembó department, 21 kilometers from the city of Tacuarembó.
Cathedral of Tacuarembó
Saint Fructuosus Cathedral is the main Catholic church of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1960.
Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba
Reachable from Route 5 at kilometer 390, the Mauricio López Lomba reserve is a wildlife reserve in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Cathedral of Melo
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Raphael is the main Roman Catholic church in the city of Melo, Uruguay.
Regional History Museum of Melo
Founded on June 27, 1976, Melo's municipal history museum displays archaeological pieces and historical items from the region and hosts temporary exhibitions and talks.
More drives to Río Branco
- Rivera to Río Branco
- Montevideo to Río Branco
- Salto to Río Branco
- Paysandú to Río Branco
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Río Branco
- Fray Bentos to Río Branco
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 is the drive from Buenos Aires to Río Branco, Uruguay?
About 11 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 532 miles.
How far is Río Branco, Uruguay from Buenos Aires by car?
About 532 miles (856 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 Río Branco 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Buenos Aires to Río Branco drive?
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 Buenos Aires to Río Branco?
In order: AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN135. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Buenos Aires and Río Branco?
Closest to the road: Tierra Santa (theme park, mile 6, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Carlos Gardel (museum, mile 334, 0.4 mi from the route); Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 354, 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.