By road, Chascomús and Punta del Este, Uruguay are about 506 miles (815 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 24 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 244, 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 506 mi (815 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP2 → RN1 → AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 → I-B |
| Border crossing | about mile 244, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 244, 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.
On the road from Chascomús to Punta del Este
RP2 (55 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 20% of the 506 miles. The first 244 miles are in Argentina; the last 262 are in Uruguay. It runs through 9 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Chascomús to Punta del Este: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Buenos Aires |
| RP2 | 4–59 | 55 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 59–60 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 60–76 | 16 | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 76–80 | 4 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 80–85 | 5 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 85–88 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 88–127 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 127–132 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 132–179 | 47 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 179–216 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 216–222 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 222–241 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 241–244 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 244–341 | 97 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 341–342 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 342–378 | 36 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 378–381 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 381–477 | 96 | San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 477–500 | 23 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 500–506 | 6 | Maldonado |
- Mile 72 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 88 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 150 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 244 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 260 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 342 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 359 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
- Mile 403 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 472 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (region line)
Stops between Chascomús and Punta del Este
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Illuminated Block (mile 78), Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (mile 79), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 262), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 378)
- Nature and outdoors: Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 81), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 120), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 485)
- Museums and history: Illuminated Block (mile 78), Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (mile 79), Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 81), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 221), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 262), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 378), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 449)
- With kids: Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 81)
Illuminated Block
The Illuminated Block (Manzana de las Luces) is a historical landmark in the Monserrat neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento
Consecrated in 1914, the Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento is a church at San Martín 1039 in the Retiro neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum
Located in the Caballito neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum is a public museum devoted to the natural sciences.
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.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
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.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
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.
When you get to Punta del Este
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.
Museo Vivo del Títere
In the city of Maldonado, the Museo Vivo del Títere is a puppet museum created in 1998 through an agreement between Uruguay's Ministry of Education and Culture and the Intendencia de Maldonado.
Punta del Este Lighthouse
Erected in 1860, Punta del Este Lighthouse stands on the headland of Punta del Este in Uruguay's Maldonado Department.
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 Chascomús
- Chascomús to Tigre
- Chascomús to San Antonio de Areco
- Chascomús to Arrecifes
- Chascomús to Martínez
- Chascomús to Mercedes, Argentina
- Chascomús to Artigas, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chascomús to Punta del Este, Uruguay?
About 10 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 506 miles.
How far is Punta del Este, Uruguay from Chascomús by car?
About 506 miles (815 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 Chascomús to Punta del Este drive cross the border?
At about mile 244, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Chascomús 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 Chascomús 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.
What roads does the drive from Chascomús to Punta del Este use?
In order: RP2, RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14, RN136 and I-B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chascomús to Punta del Este?
Closest to the road: Illuminated Block (museum, mile 78, 0.6 mi from the route); Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (basilica, mile 79, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 262, 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.