Chapecó to Mercedes, Argentina is about 487 road miles (783 km): roughly 11 h 8 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Argentina at about mile 309, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Brazil, Argentina. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 487 mi (783 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | SC-480 → ERS-406 → ERS-324 → BR-386 → ERS-569 → BR-158 → BR-285 → RN121 → RN14 → RN123 |
| Border crossing | about mile 309, Brazil → Argentina (Santo Tomé–São Borja) |
| Regions on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 309, at Santo Tomé–São Borja, from Rio Grande do Sul into Corrientes. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from Chapecó to Mercedes
BR-285 (160 mi) and RN14 (108 mi) carry about 55% of the 487 miles. The first 309 miles are in Brazil; the last 178 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Chapecó to Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Santa Catarina |
| SC-480 | 3–17 | 14 | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-406 | 17–34 | 17 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-324 | 34–77 | 43 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 77–79 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-386 | 79–82 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-569 | 82–106 | 24 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 106–109 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 109–143 | 34 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 143–144 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 144–169 | 25 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 169–173 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 173–308 | 135 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RN121 | 308–313 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| RN14 | 313–421 | 108 | Corrientes |
| RN123 | 421–483 | 62 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 483–487 | 4 | Corrientes |
- Mile 14 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (region line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Corrientes (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itá Pucú (mile 480)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estadual do Papagaio-Charão (Ex-Parque Est. Rondinha) (mile 75), Itá Pucú (mile 480)
- Museums and history: Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado (mile 237), João Goulart's House (mile 303), Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé (mile 371), Itá Pucú (mile 480)
Parque Estadual do Papagaio-Charão (Ex-Parque Est. Rondinha)
Created in 1982 on 1,000 hectares, this Rio Grande do Sul state park (formerly Rondinha Forest Park) protects a transition between savanna and araucaria forest, home to the threatened red-spectacled parrot and the Butia paraguayensis palm.
Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado
In São Luiz Gonzaga, this municipal museum occupies the house where Senator José Gomes Pinheiro Machado lived after returning from law school in São Paulo.
João Goulart's House
João Goulart's House in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, is a 1927 house where the former Brazilian president lived during his childhood and youth.
Teatro Prezewodowski
Built in 1883, Teatro Prezewodowski is a theater standing in the town of Itaqui in Brazil.
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé
In the town of La Cruz, Corrientes, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé was one of the missions the Jesuits founded in their Province of Paraguay during Spanish colonial rule.
Itá Pucú
More drives to Mercedes
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Argentina
- La Plata to Mercedes, Argentina
- Berisso to Mercedes, Argentina
- Chascomús to Mercedes, Argentina
- Formosa, Argentina to Mercedes, Argentina
- Resistencia to Mercedes, Argentina
More drives from Chapecó
- Chapecó to Ourinhos
- Chapecó to Itapetininga
- Chapecó to Itanhaém
- Chapecó to Tatuí
- Chapecó to Botucatu
- Chapecó to Cubatão
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Chapecó to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 11 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 487 miles.
How far is Mercedes, Argentina from Chapecó by car?
About 487 miles (783 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 Chapecó to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 309, from Brazil into Argentina, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Chapecó into Argentina?
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. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Chapecó to Mercedes, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chapecó to Mercedes?
In order: SC-480, ERS-406, ERS-324, BR-386, ERS-569, BR-158, BR-285, RN121, RN14 and RN123. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chapecó to Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado (museum, mile 237, 1 mi from the route); João Goulart's House (museum, mile 303, 1 mi from the route); Itá Pucú (natural monument, mile 480, 1 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.