Durazno to Magdalena, Argentina is about 368 road miles (593 km): roughly 8 h 2 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 139, 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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 368 mi (593 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 139, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Durazno, Flores, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 139, 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.
On the road from Durazno to Magdalena
RN12 (46 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 23% of the 368 miles. The first 139 miles are in Uruguay; the last 229 are in Argentina. It runs through 6 regions: Durazno, Flores, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Durazno to Magdalena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–137 | 137 | Durazno, Flores, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 137–140 | 3 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 140–160 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 160–166 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 166–203 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 203–249 | 46 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 249–254 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 254–255 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 255–295 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 295–296 | 1 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 296–303 | 7 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 303–306 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 306–336 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 336–337 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 337–368 | 31 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 5 of this route: Durazno → Flores (region line)
- Mile 58 of this route: Flores → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 139 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 232 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 295 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 311 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Durazno and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 27), Temaikèn (mile 272), Galileo Galilei Planetarium (mile 300), ARA Uruguay (mile 304), Teatro General San Martín (mile 304)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 27)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 160), ARA Uruguay (mile 304), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 339)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 272)
Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice
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.
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.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
Galileo Galilei Planetarium
The Galileo Galilei Planetarium, known locally simply as Planetario, sits in Parque Tres de Febrero in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires.
Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi
An equestrian statue of Italian military and political figure Giuseppe Garibaldi, this monument stands on Plaza Italia in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
ARA Uruguay
Berthed at Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires, the corvette ARA Uruguay is a museum ship built in England and serving in the Argentine navy from 1874 until 1926.
Teatro General San Martín
On Corrientes Avenue next to the cultural center of the same name, Teatro General San Martín is a public theater with stages for plays and film plus art exhibitions.
Cathedral of La Plata
Facing Plaza Moreno and City Hall at the geographic center of La Plata, this neo-Gothic cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
More drives to Magdalena
- Necochea to Magdalena
- Adrogué to Magdalena
- Tigre to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Luján to Magdalena
- San Antonio de Areco to Magdalena
More drives from Durazno
- Durazno to Atlántida
- Durazno to Piriápolis
- Durazno to Punta del Este
- Durazno to La Paloma
- Durazno to Barra de Valizas
- Durazno to Cabo Polonio
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Durazno to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 8 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 368 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Durazno by car?
About 368 miles (593 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 Durazno to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 139, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Durazno 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Durazno to Magdalena drive?
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.
What roads does the drive from Durazno to Magdalena use?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Durazno to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 27, 0.1 mi from the route); Galileo Galilei Planetarium (planetarium, mile 300, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro General San Martín (arts center, mile 304, 0.4 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.