Florida, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina is about 422 road miles (679 km): roughly 8 h 50 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: “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.”
| Distance | 422 mi (679 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| 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, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
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.
What the drive from Florida to Magdalena is like
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 20% of the 422 miles. The first 193 miles are in Uruguay; the last 229 are in Argentina. It runs through 9 regions: Florida, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Florida to Magdalena
| 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 | 256–303 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 303–308 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 308–347 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 347–350 | 3 | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 350–356 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 356–359 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 359–390 | 31 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 390–391 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 391–421 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 421–422 | 1 | 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)
- Mile 348 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 365 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
What to see on the way from Florida to Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Macció (mile 57), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 173), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 324), Galileo Galilei Planetarium (mile 354), Museo de Armas de la Nación (mile 357), Teatro Ópera (mile 357), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 360)
- Nature and outdoors: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 324)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 173), Museo de Armas de la Nación (mile 357), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 360), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 392)
Teatro Macció
San José de Mayo's Teatro Bartolomé Macció is a traditional theater, regarded as the city's most important building architecturally and declared a Historic Monument of Uruguay in 1984.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015, the old Anglo meatpacking plant stands on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos, where frozen meat shipments began in 1924.
Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar
Landscape engineer Yasuo Inomata designed this Japanese garden in Belén de Escobar in 1969, and the local Japanese community donated it to the city. Red, white and spotted koi swim in its 1,000-square-meter pond.
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.
Museo de Armas de la Nación
Inside Palacio Paz on Avenida Santa Fe, Buenos Aires' national arms museum fills 17 rooms with weapons and armor from the Middle Ages to the present, including pieces from both World Wars.
Teatro Ópera
Teatro Ópera is a prominent cinema and theater house in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a venue for shows and screenings in the city.
Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken
Established in 1971, Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken in Buenos Aires traces Argentine cinema through about 90,000 film reels plus photos, posters, scripts, costumes and film equipment.
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 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 Arrecifes, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Florida, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 8 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 422 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Florida, Uruguay by car?
About 422 miles (679 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 Magdalena 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 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 Florida 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.
What are good stops between Florida and Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Museo de Armas de la Nación (museum, mile 357, 0.3 mi from the route); Teatro Ópera (theater, mile 357, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (film museum, mile 360, 0.2 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.