The Wayro route from Córdoba, Argentina to Mercedes, Uruguay is 448 miles (721 km), about 8 h 14 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 429, 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: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Total distance | 448 mi (721 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 14 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN9 → RNA008 → RN174 → RP11 → RN12 → RP16 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 429, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The border on the way to Mercedes
The route crosses at about mile 429, 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 Córdoba–Mercedes drive in a few lines
RN9 (240 mi) and RP11 (64 mi) carry about 68% of the 448 miles. The first 429 miles are in Argentina; the last 19 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Córdoba to Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Córdoba |
| RN9 | 7–247 | 240 | Córdoba, Santa Fe |
| RNA008 | 247–253 | 6 | Santa Fe |
| RN174 | 253–290 | 37 | Santa Fe, Entre Ríos |
| RP11 | 290–354 | 64 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 354–358 | 4 | Entre Ríos |
| RP16 | 358–400 | 42 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 400–405 | 5 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 405–407 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 407–426 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 426–429 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 429–448 | 19 | Río Negro, Soriano |
- Mile 186 of this route: Córdoba → Santa Fe (region line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Santa Fe → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 429 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 445 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
Stops between Córdoba and Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Balneario La Florida (mile 254), Abadía del Niño Dios (mile 289), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 405)
- Nature and outdoors: Balneario La Florida (mile 254)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 405)
- With kids: Paraná River Aquarium (mile 251)
Paraná River Aquarium
The Paraná River Aquarium in Rosario is a public aquarium built as a scientific and educational center focused on the river.
Balneario La Florida
Rosario's municipal riverside beach area runs nearly 4 kilometers along the Paraná River, from the Rosario-Victoria Bridge to Parque Alem, and dates to around 1940.
Abadía del Niño Dios
Abadía del Niño Dios is a Benedictine monastery in Victoria, Entre Ríos Province. Founded in 1899, it was the first Benedictine foundation in Hispanic America.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
Arriving in Mercedes
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.
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.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
More drives to Mercedes
- Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Artigas to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Montevideo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Melo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Uruguay
More drives from Córdoba
- Córdoba, Argentina to Paraná
- Córdoba, Argentina to Concordia
- Córdoba, Argentina to Gualeguaychú
- Córdoba, Argentina to Tigre
- Córdoba, Argentina to Adrogué
- Córdoba, Argentina to Chajarí
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Córdoba, Argentina to Mercedes, Uruguay?
About 8 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 448 miles.
How far is Mercedes, Uruguay from Córdoba, Argentina by car?
About 448 miles (721 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 Córdoba to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 429, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Córdoba 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 Córdoba to Mercedes 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 Córdoba to Mercedes?
In order: RN9, RNA008, RN174, RP11, RN12, RP16 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Córdoba and Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Balneario La Florida (beach, mile 254, 0.9 mi from the route); Abadía del Niño Dios (monastery, mile 289, 0.6 mi from the route); Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 405, 0.9 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.