Colonia del Sacramento to Tigre, Argentina is about 284 road miles (457 km): roughly 6 h 16 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 134, 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 | 284 mi (457 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → RP24 |
| Border crossing | about mile 134, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Uruguay into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 134, 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 Colonia del Sacramento to Tigre: the shape of the trip
RN12 (48 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 30% of the 284 miles. The first 134 miles are in Uruguay; the last 150 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Colonia del Sacramento to Tigre, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–111 | 111 | Colonia, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 111–112 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 112–131 | 19 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 131–134 | 3 | Río Negro |
| RN136 | 134–153 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 153–160 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 160–196 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 196–244 | 48 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 244–249 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 249–277 | 28 | Buenos Aires |
| RP24 | 277–282 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 282–284 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 62 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 116 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 134 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 227 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Colonia del Sacramento and Tigre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (mile 62), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 265), Temaikèn (mile 265)
- Nature and outdoors: Anchorena Presidential Estate (mile 14), Agraciada Beach (mile 65), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 265)
- Museums and history: Museo del Carmen (mile 47), Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (mile 62), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 114)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 265)
Anchorena Presidential Estate
Located in Colonia Department, 208 km from Montevideo, the Anchorena Presidential Estate is a national park that also serves as a rest residence for Uruguay's president.
Teatro Uamá
Teatro Uamá is a theater in the city of Carmelo, in Uruguay's Colonia department, regarded as the town's leading cultural institution.
Museo del Carmen
Facing Plaza Artigas in Carmelo, the Archivo y Museo del Carmen belongs to the local Carmelo parish and holds religious and historical collections.
Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli
Nueva Palmira's municipal museum, also known as the Museo Roselli, is named for its first director, Professor Francisco Lucas Rosselli.
Agraciada Beach
On the eastern bank of the Uruguay River in Soriano department, Agraciada Beach is a historic beach area facing Argentina's Entre Ríos province.
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.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015, the old Anglo meatpacking plant stands on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos, where frozen meat shipments began in 1924.
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.
When you get to Tigre
Sarmiento House
In Tigre, north of Buenos Aires, the Sarmiento House is a National Historic Monument where Domingo Sarmiento, Argentina's seventh president, lived from 1855 until his death in 1888.
Otamendi Belgrano Palace
At Sarmiento 1427 in San Fernando, the eclectic-style Palacio Belgrano Otamendi was the home of architect Joaquín Mariano Belgrano, who designed it himself.
Tigre Club
Once the Tigre Club, the Tigre Art Museum stands on the banks of the Luján River along Paseo Victorica in Tigre and is named for former mayor Ricardo Ubieto.
More drives to Tigre
- La Plata to Tigre
- Chascomús to Tigre
- Tandil to Tigre
- Mar del Plata to Tigre
- Necochea to Tigre
- Bahía Blanca to Tigre
More drives from Colonia del Sacramento
- Colonia del Sacramento to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Colonia del Sacramento to Fray Marcos
- Colonia del Sacramento to Alejandro Gallinal
- Colonia del Sacramento to Barra de Valizas
- Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo
- Colonia del Sacramento to Chuy
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Colonia del Sacramento to Tigre, Argentina?
About 6 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 284 miles.
How far is Tigre, Argentina from Colonia del Sacramento by car?
About 284 miles (457 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 Colonia del Sacramento to Tigre drive cross the border?
At about mile 134, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Colonia del Sacramento 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 Colonia del Sacramento to Tigre, 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 Colonia del Sacramento to Tigre?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9 and RP24. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Colonia del Sacramento to Tigre?
Closest to the road: Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (museum, mile 62, 0.7 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 265, 0.2 mi from the route); Temaikèn (zoo, mile 265, 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.