The Wayro route from Ciudad del Este to Mercedes, Argentina is 445 miles (716 km), about 9 h 48 min of driving without stops. You cross from Paraguay into Argentina at about mile 175, at Posadas–Encarnación.
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution in Paraguay: Departments of Alto Paraná, Amambay, Canindeyú, Concepcion, and San Pedro.
Full advisory: Paraguay, Argentina. Advisory issued: Paraguay August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Paraguay: “Nearly all rural roads are unpaved and may be impassable during rainy periods and the rainy season from October to March.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 445 mi (716 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | PY07 → PY06 → RN105 → RN14 → RN123 |
| Border crossing | about mile 175, Paraguay → Argentina (Posadas–Encarnación) |
| Regions on the route | Alto Paraná, Itapúa, Misiones, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 175, at Posadas–Encarnación, from Itapúa into Misiones. 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 Paraguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Paraguay | You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. |
| 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, Paraguay (updated September 17, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Ciudad del Este to Mercedes: the shape of the trip
RN14 (176 mi) and PY07 (107 mi) carry about 64% of the 445 miles. The first 175 miles are in Paraguay; the last 270 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Alto Paraná, Itapúa, Misiones, Corrientes. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Ciudad del Este to Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Alto Paraná |
| PY07 | 4–12 | 8 | Alto Paraná |
| local roads | 12–25 | 13 | Alto Paraná |
| PY07 | 25–124 | 99 | Alto Paraná, Itapúa |
| PY06 | 124–174 | 50 | Itapúa |
| connecting roads | 174–175 | 1 | Itapúa |
| RN105 | 175–204 | 29 | Misiones |
| RN14 | 204–380 | 176 | Misiones, Corrientes |
| RN123 | 380–442 | 62 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 442–445 | 3 | Corrientes |
- Mile 55 of this route: Alto Paraná → Itapúa (region line)
- Mile 175 of this route: Itapúa → Misiones (international border)
- Mile 211 of this route: Misiones → Corrientes (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Ciudad del Este and Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná (mile 153), Cathedral of the Incarnation, Encarnación (mile 171), Andrés Guacurarí Historical-Archaeological Museum (mile 176), Mission San José de Itacuá (mile 206), Itá Pucú (mile 438)
- Nature and outdoors: Nacunday National Park (mile 42), Itá Pucú (mile 438)
- Museums and history: La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná (mile 153), Ruins of Jesús de Tavarangue (mile 154), Cathedral of the Incarnation, Encarnación (mile 171), Andrés Guacurarí Historical-Archaeological Museum (mile 176), Mission San José de Itacuá (mile 206), Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé (mile 329), Itá Pucú (mile 438)
Nacunday National Park
In the Ñacunday district of Alto Paraná, Paraguay, Ñacunday National Park protects about 20 square kilometers of land.
La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná
La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná is a former Jesuit reduction in Paraguay, one of the many mission colonies established in South America in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Ruins of Jesús de Tavarangue
Jesús de Tavarangue was a Jesuit reduction in present-day Itapúa; its ruins, along with those of Trinidad, were named a World Heritage Site in 1993.
Cathedral of the Incarnation, Encarnación
Encarnación Cathedral is a Catholic church in the center of Encarnación, capital of Itapúa Department. Work on the current building began in 1913 and continued from 1928 until it opened in 1938.
Andrés Guacurarí Historical-Archaeological Museum
Posadas' Andrés Guacurarí Historical and Archaeological Museum (Museo Histórico y Arqueológico Andrés Guacurarí) is a museum of history and archaeology in this Argentine city.
Mission San José de Itacuá
Remains of the Jesuit mission of San José de Itacuá lie outside the town of San José in Misiones. Founded by José Cataldino in 1633, it was refounded in 1660 and destroyed in 1817.
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 Ciudad del Este
- Ciudad del Este to Encarnación
- Ciudad del Este to Filadelfia
- Ciudad del Este to Posadas, Argentina
- Ciudad del Este to Resistencia, Argentina
- Ciudad del Este to Concordia, Argentina
- Ciudad del Este to Ituzaingó, Argentina
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Ciudad del Este to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 9 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 445 miles.
How far is Mercedes, Argentina from Ciudad del Este by car?
About 445 miles (716 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 Ciudad del Este to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 175, from Paraguay into Argentina, at Posadas–Encarnación.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Ciudad del Este 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Ciudad del Este to Mercedes drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Paraguay Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ciudad del Este to Mercedes use?
In order: PY07, PY06, RN105, RN14 and RN123. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ciudad del Este to Mercedes?
Closest to the road: La Santísima Trinidad de Paraná (jesuit mission ruins, mile 153, 0.5 mi from the route); Cathedral of the Incarnation, Encarnación (cathedral, mile 171, 0.7 mi from the route); Andrés Guacurarí Historical-Archaeological Museum (museum, mile 176, 0.6 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.