By road, Chuy and Martínez, Argentina are about 539 miles (867 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 32 min of driving. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 385, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
Full advisory: Uruguay, Argentina. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance by road | 539 mi (867 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 |
| Border crossing | about mile 385, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 385, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Río Negro into Entre Ríos. 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 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. |
| 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, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Chuy to Martínez: the shape of the trip
RN12 (47 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 15% of the 539 miles. The first 385 miles are in Uruguay; the last 154 are in Argentina. It runs through 9 regions: Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Chuy to Martínez
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–144 | 144 | Rocha, Maldonado |
| I-B | 144–150 | 6 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 150–167 | 17 | Maldonado, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 167–168 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 168–213 | 45 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 213–216 | 3 | Canelones |
| local roads | 216–247 | 31 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 247–250 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 250–383 | 133 | San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 383–386 | 3 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 386–405 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 405–412 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 412–448 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 448–495 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 495–500 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 500–536 | 36 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 536–539 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 99 of this route: Rocha → Maldonado (region line)
- Mile 156 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 269 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 286 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 368 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 385 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 478 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Chuy and Martínez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santa Teresa National Park (mile 22), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 83), Teatro Politeama (mile 214), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 249), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 517), Temaikèn (mile 518)
- Nature and outdoors: Santa Teresa National Park (mile 22), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 144), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 517)
- Museums and history: Museo Departamental de San José (mile 249), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 366)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 518)
Parque Nacional Laguna Negra
In Rocha department, Laguna Negra National Park protects the waters of Laguna Negra, the Potrerillo de Santa Teresa biological station and part of Santa Teresa National Park north of Route 9.
Santa Teresa National Park
Santa Teresa National Park on Rocha's coast was created to frame the colonial Santa Teresa Fortress; its grounds hold more than two million planted trees from five continents, a greenhouse and native wetland and woodland wildlife.
Observatorio Astronómico del CURE
Run by the University of the Republic's eastern campus (CURE), this small observatory in Rocha opened in 2016 and uses a 30 cm reflector telescope under a motorized dome for teaching, research and public outreach.
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.
Teatro Politeama
Canelones' Teatro Politeama opened in 1921 and reopened in 2014 as the Complejo Cultural Politeama Teatro Atahualpa del Cioppo. Uruguay declared the theater a National Historic Monument in 2022.
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.
Calera Real del Dacá
On the eastern edge of Mercedes beside the Dacá stream, the ruins of the Calera Real lime works date to 1722 and are considered the region's first industrial site; recent works added visitor circuits, lighting and interpretive signs.
Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar
Landscape engineer Yasuo Inomata designed this Japanese garden in Belén de Escobar in 1969, and the local Japanese community donated it to the city. Red, white and spotted koi swim in its 1,000-square-meter pond.
Temaikèn
Temaikèn is a zoo in Belén de Escobar, outside Buenos Aires, and the only zoo in Argentina accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Arriving in Martínez
Parque Natural Municipal Ribera Norte
On the Río de la Plata shore in Acassuso, San Isidro, Ribera Norte is a municipal nature park protecting green space within greater Buenos Aires.
Museo Pueyrredon
In Acassuso, in the San Isidro district of Buenos Aires Province, this municipal history museum bears the name of Brigadier General Juan Martín de Pueyrredón.
San Isidro Cathedral
Main church of the Diocese of San Isidro, this cathedral stands on Del Libertador Avenue opposite Plaza Mitre, in the historic quarter of San Isidro in Buenos Aires province.
More drives to Martínez
- La Plata to Martínez
- Berisso to Martínez
- Chascomús to Martínez
- Ayacucho, Argentina to Martínez
- Villa Gesell to Martínez
- Mar del Plata to Martínez
More drives from Chuy
- Chuy to Barra de Valizas
- Chuy to La Paloma
- Chuy to Atlántida
- Chuy to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Chuy to Nueva Helvecia
- Chuy to Conchillas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chuy to Martínez, Argentina?
About 11 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 539 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chuy to Martínez, Argentina?
About 539 miles (867 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 Chuy to Martínez drive cross the border?
At about mile 385, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Chuy 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 Chuy to Martínez, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Chuy to Martínez?
In order: I-B, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6 and RN9. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Chuy to Martínez?
Closest to the road: Santa Teresa National Park (national park, mile 22, 0.1 mi from the route); Teatro Politeama (theater, mile 214, 0.1 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 517, 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.