Concordia to Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay is about 259 road miles (417 km): roughly 5 h 39 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 149, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos 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.”
| Total distance | 259 mi (417 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN14 → RP20 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 149, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Crossing from Argentina into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 149, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Entre Ríos into Río Negro. 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.
The Concordia–Nueva Helvecia drive in a few lines
RN14 (113 mi) and RN136 (19 mi) carry about 51% of the 259 miles. The first 149 miles are in Argentina; the last 110 are in Uruguay. It runs through 4 regions: Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia. Of the 5 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Concordia to Nueva Helvecia
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 4–6 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 6–119 | 113 | Entre Ríos |
| RP20 | 119–127 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 127–146 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 146–149 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 149–259 | 110 | Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia |
- Mile 149 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 165 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 229 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
Places worth a stop between Concordia and Nueva Helvecia
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Palmar National Park (mile 42)
- Nature and outdoors: El Palmar National Park (mile 42)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 127), Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 163), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 167)
El Palmar National Park
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.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
The former Anglo meatpacking plant on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos began shipping frozen meat in 1924, on the site where Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from 1865. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015.
Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum
In a 19th-century building in Mercedes' Parque Castillo Mauá, this paleontology museum opened in 1946 around the collection of naturalist Alejandro Berro; a well-preserved glyptodon shell found on a nearby riverbank is a highlight.
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.
More drives to Nueva Helvecia
- Tacuarembó to Nueva Helvecia
- Salto to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Artigas to Nueva Helvecia
- Minas to Nueva Helvecia
- Maldonado to Nueva Helvecia
More drives from Concordia
- Concordia to Tigre
- Concordia to Adrogué
- Concordia to Arrecifes
- Concordia to Berisso
- Concordia to Magdalena
- Concordia to Chascomús
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Concordia to Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay?
About 5 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 259 miles.
How far is Nueva Helvecia, Uruguay from Concordia by car?
About 259 miles (417 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 Nueva Helvecia drive cross the border?
At about mile 149, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos 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 Nueva Helvecia 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 Nueva Helvecia?
In order: RN14, RP20 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Concordia and Nueva Helvecia?
Closest to the road: El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 42, 0.2 mi from the route); Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 127, 1 mi from the route); Calera Real del Dacá (ruins, mile 167, 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.