Plan on about 5 h 55 min of driving for the 275-mile (443 km) trip from Encarnación to Mercedes, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Paraguay into Argentina at about mile 6, at Posadas–Encarnación.
Full advisory: Paraguay, Argentina. Advisory issued: Paraguay August 19, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Paraguay: “Intercity highway maintenance is not equal to U.S. standards.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 275 mi (443 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | PY06 → RN105 → RN14 → RN123 |
| Border crossing | about mile 6, Paraguay → Argentina (Posadas–Encarnación) |
| Regions on the route | Itapúa, Misiones, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Crossing from Paraguay into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 6, at Posadas–Encarnación, from Itapúa into Misiones. 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 Paraguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Paraguay | You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. |
| 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, Paraguay (updated September 17, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Encarnación to Mercedes: the shape of the trip
RN14 (175 mi) and RN123 (62 mi) carry about 86% of the 275 miles. The first 6 miles are in Paraguay; the last 269 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Itapúa, Misiones, Corrientes. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Encarnación to Mercedes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Itapúa |
| PY06 | 1–4 | 3 | Itapúa |
| connecting roads | 4–6 | 2 | Itapúa |
| RN105 | 6–35 | 29 | Misiones |
| RN14 | 35–210 | 175 | Misiones, Corrientes |
| RN123 | 210–272 | 62 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 272–275 | 3 | Corrientes |
- Mile 6 of this route: Itapúa → Misiones (international border)
- Mile 40 of this route: Misiones → Corrientes (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Encarnación and Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Jardín botánico Alberto Roth (mile 8), Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola (mile 35), Mission San José de Itacuá (mile 35), Itá Pucú (mile 268)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín botánico Alberto Roth (mile 8), Itá Pucú (mile 268)
- Museums and history: Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola (mile 35), Mission San José de Itacuá (mile 35), Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé (mile 160), Itá Pucú (mile 268)
Jardín botánico Alberto Roth
Covering about 11 hectares in Posadas, the Jardín Botánico Alberto Roth is a city-run botanical garden with ties to the Universidad Nacional de Misiones.
Parque ecológico Candelaria
Near the town of Candelaria in southern Misiones, the Parque ecológico Candelaria was created for wildlife conservation, environmental education and recreational tourism.
Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola
Built in 1895, Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola stands at the corner of Centenario and 9 de Julio avenues in San José.
Mission San José de Itacuá
Remains of the Jesuit mission of San José de Itacuá lie outside the town of San José in Misiones. Founded by José Cataldino in 1633, it was refounded in 1660 and destroyed in 1817.
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé
In the town of La Cruz, Corrientes, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé was one of the missions the Jesuits founded in their Province of Paraguay during Spanish colonial rule.
Itá Pucú
More drives to Mercedes
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Argentina
- La Plata to Mercedes, Argentina
- Berisso to Mercedes, Argentina
- Chascomús to Mercedes, Argentina
- Formosa, Argentina to Mercedes, Argentina
- Resistencia to Mercedes, Argentina
More drives from Encarnación
- Encarnación to San Bernardino
- Encarnación to Filadelfia
- Encarnación to Neuland
- Encarnación to Areguá
- Encarnación to Clorinda, Argentina
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Encarnación to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 5 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 275 miles.
How far is Mercedes, Argentina from Encarnación by car?
About 275 miles (443 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 Encarnación to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 6, from Paraguay into Argentina, at Posadas–Encarnación.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Encarnación 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 Encarnación to Mercedes drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Paraguay Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Encarnación to Mercedes use?
In order: PY06, RN105, RN14 and RN123. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Encarnación to Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Jardín botánico Alberto Roth (botanical garden, mile 8, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola (museum, mile 35, 1 mi from the route); Mission San José de Itacuá (jesuit mission ruins, mile 35, 1 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.