Plan on about 8 h 17 min of driving for the 425-mile (684 km) trip from Chajarí to Punta del Este, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 122, 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance | 425 mi (684 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN14 → RN135 → I-B |
| Border crossing | about mile 122, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Getting across the Argentina–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 122, 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.
On the road from Chajarí to Punta del Este
RN14 (110 mi) and I-B (24 mi) carry about 32% of the 425 miles. The first 122 miles are in Argentina; the last 303 are in Uruguay. It runs through 7 regions: Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Chajarí and Punta del Este
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 2–112 | 110 | Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 112–121 | 9 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 121–366 | 245 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 366–367 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 367–395 | 28 | Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 395–419 | 24 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 419–425 | 6 | Maldonado |
- Mile 122 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
- Mile 155 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 210 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (region line)
- Mile 271 of this route: Flores → San José (region line)
- Mile 321 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 390 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (region line)
What to see on the way from Chajarí to Punta del Este
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Palmar National Park (mile 83), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 239), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 331)
- Nature and outdoors: El Palmar National Park (mile 83), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 239), Laguna del Cisne (mile 367), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 403)
- Museums and history: Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 129), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 301), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 331), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 367)
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.
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.
Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice
Off Route 3 near Trinidad, the Dr. Rodolfo Tálice Ecopark (Reserva de Flora y Fauna Dr. Rodolfo Talice) is a fenced wildlife reserve where axis deer, greater rheas and pampas deer roam free alongside other species.
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
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.
Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station
Near Piriápolis in Maldonado, this breeding station for native wildlife on Cerro Pan de Azúcar is surrounded by native vegetation and offers guided visits, including a native wildlife trail and a path up the hill.
Once you reach Punta del Este
Punta del Este Lighthouse
Erected in 1860, Punta del Este Lighthouse stands on the headland of Punta del Este in Uruguay's Maldonado Department.
La Mano de Punta del Este
Five human fingers rise out of the sand at Parada 1 on Brava Beach in Punta del Este in La Mano, a sculpture by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal.
García Uriburu Collection Museum
García Uriburu Collection Museum (Museo Colección García Uriburu) is a museum collection in the city of Maldonado, Uruguay.
More drives to Punta del Este
- Paysandú to Punta del Este
- Rivera to Punta del Este
- Durazno to Punta del Este
- Fray Bentos to Punta del Este
- Buenos Aires to Punta del Este, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Punta del Este, Uruguay
More drives from Chajarí
- Chajarí to Adrogué
- Chajarí to Magdalena
- Chajarí to Chascomús
- Chajarí to Cariló
- Chajarí to Villa Gesell
- Chajarí to Capilla del Monte
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chajarí to Punta del Este, Uruguay?
About 8 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 425 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chajarí to Punta del Este, Uruguay?
About 425 miles (684 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 Chajarí to Punta del Este drive cross the border?
At about mile 122, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Chajarí 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 Chajarí to Punta del Este, 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 Chajarí to Punta del Este?
In order: RN14, RN135 and I-B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chajarí to Punta del Este?
Closest to the road: El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 83, 0.1 mi from the route); Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 239, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 331, 0.0 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.