Florida, Uruguay to Arrecifes, Argentina is about 375 road miles (603 km): roughly 7 h 47 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 193, 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance by road | 375 mi (603 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 47 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RN193 → RN8 |
| Border crossing | about mile 193, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Florida, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Crossing from Uruguay into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 193, 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.
Driving Florida to Arrecifes: the shape of the trip
RN12 (49 mi) and RN8 (47 mi) carry about 26% of the 375 miles. The first 193 miles are in Uruguay; the last 182 are in Argentina. It runs through 8 regions: Florida, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Florida to Arrecifes, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–54 | 54 | Florida, Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 54–57 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 57–93 | 36 | San José, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 93–94 | 1 | Colonia |
| local roads | 94–191 | 97 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 191–193 | 2 | Río Negro |
| RN136 | 193–213 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 213–219 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 219–256 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 256–305 | 49 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RN193 | 305–324 | 19 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 324–325 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN8 | 325–372 | 47 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 372–375 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 21 of this route: Florida → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 33 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 76 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 94 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 175 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 193 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 286 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Arrecifes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 57), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 57), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 173), Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gu͏̈iraldes (mile 336)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 303)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 57), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 57), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 173), Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 176), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 214), Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gu͏̈iraldes (mile 336)
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
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.
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.
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, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
Marsh deer give their name to Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park, a Ramsar Site in Campana, Buenos Aires province, where waterbirds are abundant.
Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gu͏̈iraldes
In San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires province, the Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Güiraldes spreads ten exhibit rooms across the 97-hectare Parque Criollo, opened in 1938, and presents Argentina's past, especially that of Buenos Aires province.
More drives to Arrecifes
- Buenos Aires to Arrecifes
- Adrogué to Arrecifes
- La Plata to Arrecifes
- Berisso to Arrecifes
- Chascomús to Arrecifes
- Mar del Plata to Arrecifes
More drives from Florida
- Florida, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento
- Florida, Uruguay to Bella Unión
- Florida, Uruguay to Fray Bentos
- Florida, Uruguay to Adrogué, Argentina
- Florida, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Florida, Uruguay to Arrecifes, Argentina?
About 7 h 47 min of driving without stops, over 375 miles.
What is the driving distance from Florida, Uruguay to Arrecifes, Argentina?
About 375 miles (603 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 Florida to Arrecifes drive cross the border?
At about mile 193, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Florida 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 Florida to Arrecifes 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.
Which highways go from Florida to Arrecifes?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RN193 and RN8. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Florida and Arrecifes?
Closest to the road: Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 57, 0.7 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 173, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gu͏̈iraldes (museum, mile 336, 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.