Concordia to La Paloma, Uruguay Road Trip: Border & Stops

By admin, 13 October, 2026

Concordia to La Paloma, Uruguay is about 441 road miles (710 km): roughly 9 h 4 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 81, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Argentina — Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions; Uruguay — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution

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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
El Palmar National ParkNuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, PaysandúReserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo TáliceCathedral of Our Lady of GuadalupeIglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de LourdesCerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding StationLaguna José IgnacioObservatorio Astronómico del CUREArgentina–Uruguay borderConcordiaLa Paloma
Route from Concordia to La Paloma with the 8 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate Argentina–Uruguay border crossing (red square).
Distance441 mi (710 km)
Time at the wheel, no stops9 h 4 min
Main roads, in orderRN14 → RN135 → I-B
Border crossingabout mile 81, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge)
Regions on the routeEntre Ríos, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 17.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below8

Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay

The route crosses at about mile 81, 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 UruguayYou 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 ArgentinaA valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended.
Rental carCross 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 Concordia to La Paloma

RN14 (65 mi) and RN135 (9 mi) carry about 17% of the 441 miles. The first 81 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 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.

Concordia to La Paloma: the road sequence

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miRegion
local roads0–44Entre Ríos
connecting roads4–62Entre Ríos
RN146–7165Entre Ríos
RN13571–809Entre Ríos
local roads80–354274Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado
I-B354–3595Maldonado
connecting roads359–3601Maldonado
local roads360–44181Maldonado, Rocha
  • Mile 81 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
  • Mile 114 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (region line)
  • Mile 168 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (region line)
  • Mile 230 of this route: Flores → San José (region line)
  • Mile 280 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
  • Mile 349 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (region line)
  • Mile 406 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (region line)

Stops between Concordia and La Paloma

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Palmar National Park (mile 42), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 198), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 290), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 422)
  • Nature and outdoors: El Palmar National Park (mile 42), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 198), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 360), Laguna José Ignacio (mile 394)
  • Museums and history: Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 88), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 290), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 326)

El Palmar National Park

Mile 42 · National park of Argentina · 0.2 mi from the route

Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.

Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú

Mile 88 · Basilica · 2 mi from the route

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

Mile 198 · Botanical garden · 0.1 mi from the route

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

Mile 290 · Cathedral · 0.2 mi from the route

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.

Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes

Mile 326 · Church · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Engineer Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker in Estación Atlántida, inaugurated in 1960, joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2021. Look for its wavy brick walls and roof, an openwork brick bell tower and an underground baptistery.

Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station

Mile 360 · Nature park · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 394 · Lagoon · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 422 · Astronomical observatory · 0.3 mi from the route

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.

In La Paloma itself

Cabo Santa María

Cape · in La Paloma

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

Lighthouse · in La Paloma

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

Beach · in La Paloma

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

More drives from Concordia

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Concordia to La Paloma, Uruguay?

About 9 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 441 miles.

What is the driving distance from Concordia to La Paloma, Uruguay?

About 441 miles (710 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 Concordia to La Paloma drive cross the border?

At about mile 81, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.

What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Concordia 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 Concordia 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.

Which highways go from Concordia to La Paloma?

In order: RN14, RN135 and I-B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

What are good stops between Concordia and La Paloma?

Closest to the road: El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 42, 0.2 mi from the route); Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 198, 0.1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 290, 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.