Plan on about 10 h 29 min of driving for the 469-mile (754 km) trip from Erechim to Mercedes, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Argentina at about mile 291, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Brazil, Argentina. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 469 mi (754 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | ERS-135 → BR-285 → RN121 → RN14 → RN123 |
| Border crossing | about mile 291, Brazil → Argentina (Santo Tomé–São Borja) |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to Mercedes
The route crosses at about mile 291, at Santo Tomé–São Borja, from Rio Grande do Sul into Corrientes. 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 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. |
| 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Erechim to Mercedes drive plays out
BR-285 (237 mi) and RN14 (108 mi) carry about 74% of the 469 miles. The first 291 miles are in Brazil; the last 178 are in Argentina. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Erechim and Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-135 | 3–47 | 44 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 47–150 | 103 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 150–154 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 154–155 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 155–289 | 134 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RN121 | 289–295 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| RN14 | 295–403 | 108 | Corrientes |
| RN123 | 403–465 | 62 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 465–469 | 4 | Corrientes |
- Mile 291 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Corrientes (international border)
Places worth a stop between Erechim and Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itá Pucú (mile 461)
- Nature and outdoors: Itá Pucú (mile 461)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida, Passo Fundo (mile 50), Museu do Automobilismo Brasileiro (mile 51), Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado (mile 219), João Goulart's House (mile 285), Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé (mile 353), Itá Pucú (mile 461)
Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida, Passo Fundo
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Passo Fundo, dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, is the Catholic church that holds the seat of the Archdiocese of Passo Fundo.
Museu do Automobilismo Brasileiro
Starting from businessman Paulo Afonso Trevisan's collection of race cars, this Passo Fundo museum gathers photos, films and documents on the history of Brazilian motor racing.
Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado
In São Luiz Gonzaga, this municipal museum occupies the house where Senator José Gomes Pinheiro Machado lived after returning from law school in São Paulo.
João Goulart's House
João Goulart's House in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, is a 1927 house where the former Brazilian president lived during his childhood and youth.
Teatro Prezewodowski
Built in 1883, Teatro Prezewodowski is a theater standing in the town of Itaqui in Brazil.
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 Erechim
- Erechim to Campo Mourão
- Erechim to Santana do Livramento
- Erechim to Chuí
- Erechim to Rivera, Uruguay
- Erechim to Tacuarembó, Uruguay
- Erechim to Melo, Uruguay
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Erechim to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 10 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 469 miles.
How far is Mercedes, Argentina from Erechim by car?
About 469 miles (754 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 Erechim to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 291, from Brazil into Argentina, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Erechim 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 Erechim to Mercedes drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Erechim to Mercedes use?
In order: ERS-135, BR-285, RN121, RN14 and RN123. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Erechim and Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado (museum, mile 219, 1 mi from the route); João Goulart's House (museum, mile 285, 1 mi from the route); Itá Pucú (natural monument, mile 461, 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.