By road, Fray Marcos and Magdalena, Argentina are about 449 miles (722 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 34 min of driving. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 219, 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 | 449 mi (722 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 219, 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 17.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Magdalena
The route crosses at about mile 219, 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 Fray Marcos to Magdalena is like
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 19% of the 449 miles. The first 219 miles are in Uruguay; the last 230 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 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Fray Marcos to Magdalena, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–27 | 27 | Florida, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 27–28 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 28–35 | 7 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 35–38 | 3 | Canelones |
| local roads | 38–47 | 9 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 47–50 | 3 | Canelones |
| local roads | 50–81 | 31 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 81–84 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 84–120 | 36 | San José, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 120–121 | 1 | Colonia |
| local roads | 121–217 | 96 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 217–221 | 4 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 221–240 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 240–246 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 246–283 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 283–330 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 330–335 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 335–375 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 375–377 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 377–383 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 383–386 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 386–416 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 416–418 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 418–448 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 448–449 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 2 of this route: Florida → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 60 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 104 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 219 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 313 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 375 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 391 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 49), Teatro Macció (mile 83), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 200), Evita Museum (mile 381), Basílica de San Francisco (mile 385), La Plata Museum (mile 419)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 342), Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 381)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 49), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 200), Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 381), Evita Museum (mile 381), Basílica de San Francisco (mile 385), La Plata Museum (mile 419)
- With kids: Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 381)
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
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
Since 1960, the Diocese of Mercedes has had its seat at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, the main Catholic church in this Uruguayan city.
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.
Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum
Located in the Caballito neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum is a public museum devoted to the natural sciences.
Evita Museum
In Palermo, Buenos Aires, at 2988 Lafinur Street, the Evita Museum covers the life and legacy of Eva Duarte de Perón and her work through the Eva Perón Foundation.
Basílica de San Francisco
At Alsina 380 in Monserrat, the Basílica de San Francisco belonged to the Franciscans, the first order to receive land in the settlement Juan de Garay founded in 1580.
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 Marcos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fray Marcos to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 9 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 449 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Fray Marcos by car?
About 449 miles (722 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 Marcos to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 219, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Fray Marcos 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 Fray Marcos 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 Fray Marcos 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 Fray Marcos and Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 49, 0.1 mi from the route); Basílica de San Francisco (basilica, mile 385, 0.6 mi from the route); La Plata Museum (museum, mile 419, 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.