By road, Corrientes and Santa Maria, Brazil are about 468 miles (753 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 29 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Brazil at about mile 231, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Argentina, Brazil. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Brazil August 31, 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.”
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 468 mi (753 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN12 → RN123 → RN14 → RN117 → BR-290 → BR-158 |
| Border crossing | about mile 231, Argentina → Brazil (Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana) |
| Regions on the route | Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Crossing from Argentina into Brazil
The route crosses at about mile 231, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana, from Corrientes into Rio Grande do Sul. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Corrientes to Santa Maria drive plays out
BR-290 (165 mi) and RN123 (113 mi) carry about 59% of the 468 miles. The first 231 miles are in Argentina; the last 237 are in Brazil. It runs through 2 regions: Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Corrientes to Santa Maria: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Corrientes |
| RN12 | 4–103 | 99 | Corrientes |
| RN123 | 103–216 | 113 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 216–221 | 5 | Corrientes |
| connecting roads | 221–222 | 1 | Corrientes |
| RN117 | 222–229 | 7 | Corrientes |
| BR-290 | 229–394 | 165 | Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 394–465 | 71 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 465–468 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 231 of this route: Corrientes → Rio Grande do Sul (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Corrientes and Santa Maria
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itá Pucú (mile 158), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 231)
- Nature and outdoors: Iberá National Park (mile 62), Itá Pucú (mile 158)
- Museums and history: Itá Pucú (mile 158), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 231)
Iberá National Park
In the northeastern province of Corrientes, Iberá National Park borders the 5,530 square-kilometer Iberá Provincial Park to the southeast.
Itá Pucú
St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana
Uruguaiana's St. Ann Cathedral grew out of the parish of Santana, created in 1846 together with the town, and was built between 1861 and 1874.
When you get to Santa Maria
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
Seat of the Archdiocese of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul, this eclectic cathedral mixes neo-Baroque and neoclassical styles; construction started in 1902 under parish priest Caetano Pagliuca, and it opened in 1909.
Museum Vincente Pallotti
On Avenida Presidente Vargas in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Vicente Pallotti Museum shares a complex with Palotina College.
Theatro Treze de Maio
Facing Praça Saldanha Marinho in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Theatro Treze de Maio is a theater protected as a municipal heritage property.
More drives to Santa Maria
- Porto Alegre to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Joinville to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Itajaí to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Blumenau to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Florianópolis to Santa Maria, Brazil
More drives from Corrientes
- Corrientes to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- Corrientes to Pergamino
- Corrientes to Arrecifes
- Corrientes to San Antonio de Areco
- Corrientes to Clorinda
- Corrientes to Catamarca
Continue Your Adventure
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Jaraguá do Sul Road Trip: Route & Stops
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Tubarão Road Trip: Stops & Drive Time
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Palhoça Road Trip: Stops Along the Way
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Guaíra Road Trip: Stops Along the Way
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Chuí Road Trip: Distance, Time & Stops
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Corrientes to Santa Maria, Brazil?
About 9 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 468 miles.
What is the driving distance from Corrientes to Santa Maria, Brazil?
About 468 miles (753 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 Corrientes to Santa Maria drive cross the border?
At about mile 231, from Argentina into Brazil, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Corrientes into Brazil?
Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 06, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Corrientes to Santa Maria, Brazil?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Corrientes to Santa Maria?
In order: RN12, RN123, RN14, RN117, BR-290 and BR-158. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Corrientes to Santa Maria?
Closest to the road: Iberá National Park (national park, mile 62, 5 mi from the route); Itá Pucú (natural monument, mile 158, 1 mi from the route); St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (cathedral, mile 231, 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.