Plan on about 10 h 54 min of driving for the 518-mile (834 km) trip from Buenos Aires to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 167, 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 | 518 mi (834 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 167, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Treinta y Tres
The route crosses at about mile 167, 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.
The Buenos Aires–Treinta y Tres drive in a few lines
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 17% of the 518 miles. The first 167 miles are in Argentina; the last 351 are in Uruguay. It runs through 10 regions: Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Buenos Aires and Treinta y Tres
| 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 | 102–138 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 138–145 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 145–164 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 164–167 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 167–263 | 96 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 263–264 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 264–300 | 36 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 300–303 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 303–518 | 215 | San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres |
- 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 167 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 183 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 264 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 281 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
- Mile 325 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 391 of this route: Canelones → Lavalleja (region line)
- Mile 501 of this route: Lavalleja → Treinta y Tres (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Buenos Aires and Treinta y Tres
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 185), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 301)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Arequita (mile 416), Salto del Penitente (mile 426)
- Museums and history: Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta (mile 7), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 144), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 185), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 301), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 372)
Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta
In Buenos Aires's Belgrano neighborhood, the Enrique Larreta Museum is devoted to Spanish art.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
In Gualeguaychú, Argentina, the Roman Catholic diocese has its cathedral church at St. Joseph's, also known as Gualeguaychú Cathedral.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
The former Anglo meatpacking plant on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos began shipping frozen meat in 1924, on the site where Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from 1865. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Since 1960, the Diocese of Mercedes has had its seat at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, the main Catholic church in this Uruguayan city.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Engineer Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker in Estación Atlántida, inaugurated in 1960, joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2021. Look for its wavy brick walls and roof, an openwork brick bell tower and an underground baptistery.
Parque nacional Arequita
Arequita National Park is a protected natural area in Lavalleja department, southeastern Uruguay, known for Cerro Arequita, its related rock formations and its biodiversity.
Salto del Penitente
When you get to Treinta y Tres
Museo Agustín Araújo
Treinta y Tres's departmental fine arts museum, the Museo Agustín Araújo is a public museum in the city of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
More drives to Treinta y Tres
- Montevideo to Treinta y Tres
- Rivera to Treinta y Tres
- Colonia del Sacramento to Treinta y Tres
- Salto to Treinta y Tres
- Fray Bentos to Treinta y Tres
- Rosario, Argentina to Treinta y Tres, 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 is the drive from Buenos Aires to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay?
About 10 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 518 miles.
How far is Treinta y Tres, Uruguay from Buenos Aires by car?
About 518 miles (834 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 Treinta y Tres drive cross the border?
At about mile 167, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos 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 Treinta y Tres 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 Treinta y Tres?
In order: 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 Buenos Aires and Treinta y Tres?
Closest to the road: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 144, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 185, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 301, 0.7 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.