Plan on about 4 h 51 min of driving for the 237-mile (382 km) trip from Fray Bentos to Magdalena, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 8, 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.”
| Total distance | 237 mi (382 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 51 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 8, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 8, 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.
On the road from Fray Bentos to Magdalena
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 36% of the 237 miles. The first 8 miles are in Uruguay; the last 229 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Fray Bentos to Magdalena, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 5–9 | 4 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 9–29 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 29–35 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 35–71 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 71–118 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 118–123 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 123–124 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 124–163 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 163–165 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 165–171 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 171–175 | 4 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 175–205 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 205–206 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 206–237 | 31 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 8 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 101 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 163 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Places worth a stop between Fray Bentos and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Temaikèn (mile 140), Museo de Informática de la República Argentina (mile 172), Our Lady of Mercy Church (mile 173), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 176), La Plata Museum (mile 208)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 29), Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia (mile 167), Museo de Informática de la República Argentina (mile 172), Our Lady of Mercy Church (mile 173), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 176), Basílica de San Ponciano (mile 208), La Plata Museum (mile 208)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 140)
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
In Gualeguaychú, Argentina, the Roman Catholic diocese has its cathedral church at St. Joseph's, also known as Gualeguaychú Cathedral.
Temaikèn
Temaikèn is a zoo in Belén de Escobar, outside Buenos Aires, and the only zoo in Argentina accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia
Sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia once lived in this house in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, which now operates as a museum dedicated to him.
Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi
An equestrian statue of Italian military and political figure Giuseppe Garibaldi, this monument stands on Plaza Italia in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Museo de Informática de la República Argentina
Founded in 2010 and run by the ICATEC Foundation, this Buenos Aires museum preserves Argentina's computing heritage and the memory of the country's computing pioneers.
Our Lady of Mercy Church
Our Lady of Mercy Church is a Catholic church on Calle Reconquista in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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.
Basílica de San Ponciano
On Calle 48 in La Plata, Basílica de San Ponciano is a Catholic church named a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997 and a diocesan sanctuary in 2019.
La Plata Museum
Part of the National University of La Plata's natural sciences faculty, the La Plata Museum is a natural history museum in the city of La Plata.
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 Fray Bentos
- Fray Bentos to Conchillas
- Fray Bentos to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Fray Bentos to Atlántida
- Fray Bentos to Fray Marcos
- Fray Bentos to Alejandro Gallinal
- Fray Bentos to Piriápolis
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fray Bentos to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 4 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 237 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Fray Bentos by car?
About 237 miles (382 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 Fray Bentos to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 8, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Fray Bentos 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Fray Bentos to Magdalena, Argentina?
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 Fray Bentos to Magdalena?
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.
Where can you stop on the way from Fray Bentos to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Museo de Informática de la República Argentina (computer museum, mile 172, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (film museum, mile 176, 0.2 mi from the route); La Plata Museum (museum, mile 208, 0.4 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.