By road, Colón, Argentina and Barra de Valizas, Uruguay are about 396 miles (638 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 28 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 6, 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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance | 396 mi (638 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Border crossing | about mile 6, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 6, 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 Colón to Barra de Valizas
I-B (6 mi) carries about 2% of the 396 miles. The first 6 miles are in Argentina; the last 390 are in Uruguay. It runs through 8 regions: Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Colón and Barra de Valizas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–279 | 279 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 279–285 | 6 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 285–396 | 111 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- Mile 6 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
- Mile 39 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 94 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (region line)
- Mile 155 of this route: Flores → San José (region line)
- Mile 204 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 274 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (region line)
- Mile 331 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (region line)
Stops between Colón and Barra de Valizas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), Teatro Politeama (mile 215), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 347), Teatro 25 de Mayo (mile 349)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 285), Laguna José Ignacio (mile 319), La Sirena Beach (mile 390)
- Museums and history: Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 13), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 251)
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.
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.
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.
Laguna José Ignacio
In Uruguay's Maldonado Department, Laguna José Ignacio is a coastal lagoon kept apart from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbank.
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.
Teatro 25 de Mayo
Rocha's Teatro 25 de Mayo opened in 1910 as an Italian-style theater in the eclectic style, with room for about 400 people. Now a cultural complex, it is a stop on the city's self-guided heritage walk.
La Sirena Beach
About 2.5 km north of Aguas Dulces, La Sirena is one of Uruguay's two official naturist beaches, backed by vegetated dunes, small marshes, lagoons and pine and acacia woods where coastal birds are common.
In Barra de Valizas itself
Parque nacional Cabo Polonio
Part of Uruguay's national protected areas system since 2009, Cabo Polonio National Park spans 25,820 hectares of coastline, ocean and offshore islands.
Cabo Polonio Lighthouse
Standing on the Cabo Polonio headland in Uruguay's Rocha department, this lighthouse looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and was built in 1881.
Dunes of Cabo Polonio
Inside Cabo Polonio National Park in Uruguay's Rocha department, a band of natural sand dunes runs along the Atlantic Ocean.
More drives to Barra de Valizas
- Maldonado to Barra de Valizas
- Montevideo to Barra de Valizas
- Veinticinco de Agosto to Barra de Valizas
- Nueva Helvecia to Barra de Valizas
- Colonia del Sacramento to Barra de Valizas
- Conchillas to Barra de Valizas
More drives from Colón
- Colón, Argentina to Adrogué
- Colón, Argentina to Magdalena
- Colón, Argentina to Chascomús
- Colón, Argentina to Cariló
- Colón, Argentina to Villa Gesell
- Colón, Argentina to Capilla del Monte
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Colón, Argentina to Barra de Valizas, Uruguay?
About 8 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 396 miles.
How far is Barra de Valizas, Uruguay from Colón, Argentina by car?
About 396 miles (638 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 Colón to Barra de Valizas drive cross the border?
At about mile 6, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Colón 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Colón to Barra de Valizas drive?
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.
Where can you stop on the way from Colón to Barra de Valizas?
Closest to the road: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 122, 0.1 mi from the route); Teatro Politeama (theater, mile 215, 0.2 mi from the route); Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (astronomical observatory, mile 347, 0.3 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.