Plan on about 7 h 41 min of driving for the 366-mile (589 km) trip from Colón, Argentina to La Paloma, Uruguay, before any stops. 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 366 mi (589 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 41 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 14.6 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.
How the Colón to La Paloma drive plays out
I-B (6 mi) carries about 2% of the 366 miles. The first 6 miles are in Argentina; the last 360 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.
The route from Colón to La Paloma, road by road
| 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 | 285–366 | 81 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to La Paloma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (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), Laguna del Cisne (mile 250), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 285), Laguna José Ignacio (mile 319)
- Museums and history: Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 13), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 215), 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.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
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.
In La Paloma itself
Cabo Santa María
Cabo Santa María (Cabo de Santa María) is a headland on Uruguay's Atlantic coast in Rocha, where the town and port of La Paloma were built.
Cabo Santa María Lighthouse
Erected in 1871, Cabo Santa María Lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic from its headland in Rocha and serves as a landmark of the seaside resort of La Paloma.
La Balconada beach
La Balconada (Playa La Balconada) is one of the main beaches of Rocha, located in La Paloma and known for its sunsets.
More drives to La Paloma
- Maldonado to La Paloma
- Atlántida to La Paloma
- Nueva Helvecia to La Paloma
- Tacuarembó to La Paloma
- Rivera to La Paloma
- Artigas to La Paloma
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 La Paloma, Uruguay?
About 7 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 366 miles.
What is the driving distance from Colón, Argentina to La Paloma, Uruguay?
About 366 miles (589 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 La Paloma 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 La Paloma 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 La Paloma?
Closest to the road: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 122, 0.1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, 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.