Plan on about 10 h 4 min of driving for the 488-mile (785 km) trip from Formosa, Argentina to Santana do Livramento, Brazil, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Brazil at about mile 346, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Argentina, Brazil. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance | 488 mi (785 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN11 → RN16 → RN12 → RN123 → RN14 → RN117 → BR-290 → RSC-377 → BR-293 |
| Border crossing | about mile 346, Argentina → Brazil (Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana) |
| Regions on the route | Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Getting across the Argentina–Brazil border
The route crosses at about mile 346, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana, from Corrientes into Rio Grande do Sul. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Formosa–Santana do Livramento drive in a few lines
RN123 (113 mi) and RN11 (102 mi) carry about 44% of the 488 miles. The first 346 miles are in Argentina; the last 142 are in Brazil. It runs through 4 regions: Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Formosa to Santana do Livramento
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Formosa |
| RN11 | 2–104 | 102 | Formosa, Chaco |
| RN16 | 104–115 | 11 | Chaco, Corrientes |
| local roads | 115–119 | 4 | Corrientes |
| RN12 | 119–218 | 99 | Corrientes |
| RN123 | 218–331 | 113 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 331–337 | 6 | Corrientes |
| RN117 | 337–344 | 7 | Corrientes |
| connecting roads | 344–345 | 1 | Corrientes |
| BR-290 | 345–391 | 46 | Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-377 | 391–426 | 35 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-293 | 426–484 | 58 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 484–488 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 45 of this route: Formosa → Chaco (region line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Chaco → Corrientes (region line)
- Mile 346 of this route: Corrientes → Rio Grande do Sul (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Santana do Livramento
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Corrientes Cathedral (mile 116), Itá Pucú (mile 273), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 346)
- Nature and outdoors: Iberá National Park (mile 177), Itá Pucú (mile 273)
- Museums and history: Museo Ichoalay (mile 104), Resistencia Cathedral (mile 107), Corrientes Cathedral (mile 116), Itá Pucú (mile 273), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 346)
Museo Ichoalay
Founded in 1949 by two teachers, Museo Ichoalay is a regional history museum in Resistencia, housed in the building of Escuela Normal Superior No. 87.
Resistencia Cathedral
Also called the St. Ferdinand the King Cathedral, Resistencia Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Resistencia, Argentina.
Corrientes Cathedral
Corrientes Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Corrientes and part of the Archdiocese of Corrientes.
Iberá National Park
In the northeastern province of Corrientes, Iberá National Park borders the 5,530 square-kilometer Iberá Provincial Park to the southeast.
Itá Pucú
St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana
Uruguaiana's St. Ann Cathedral grew out of the parish of Santana, created in 1846 together with the town, and was built between 1861 and 1874.
More drives to Santana do Livramento
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Santana do Livramento
- Bento Gonçalves to Santana do Livramento
- Passo Fundo to Santana do Livramento
- São Leopoldo to Santana do Livramento
- Novo Hamburgo to Santana do Livramento
- Caxias do Sul to Santana do Livramento
More drives from Formosa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Formosa, Argentina to Santana do Livramento, Brazil?
About 10 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 488 miles.
How far is Santana do Livramento, Brazil from Formosa, Argentina by car?
About 488 miles (785 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 Formosa to Santana do Livramento drive cross the border?
At about mile 346, from Argentina into Brazil, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Formosa into Brazil?
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. If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 06, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Formosa to Santana do Livramento drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Formosa to Santana do Livramento use?
In order: RN11, RN16, RN12, RN123, RN14, RN117, BR-290, RSC-377 and BR-293. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Formosa to Santana do Livramento?
Closest to the road: Corrientes Cathedral (cathedral, mile 116, 0.5 mi from the route); Itá Pucú (natural monument, mile 273, 1 mi from the route); St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (cathedral, mile 346, 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.