By road, Gualeguaychú and Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay are about 258 miles (416 km) apart, or roughly 5 h 55 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 23, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
Full advisory: Argentina, Uruguay. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Uruguay: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Total distance | 258 mi (416 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 23, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 23, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Entre Ríos into Río Negro. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from Gualeguaychú to Alejandro Gallinal
RN136 (20 mi) carries about 8% of the 258 miles. The first 23 miles are in Argentina; the last 235 are in Uruguay. It runs through 7 regions: Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Gualeguaychú to Alejandro Gallinal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 1–21 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 21–23 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 23–120 | 97 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 120–121 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 121–157 | 36 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 157–160 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 160–258 | 98 | San José, Canelones, Florida |
- Mile 23 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 39 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 121 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 138 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
- Mile 181 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Canelones → Florida (region line)
Stops between Gualeguaychú and Alejandro Gallinal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 41), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 158), Piedra Alta (mile 213)
- Museums and history: Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 38), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 41), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 158), Cathedral of Florida (mile 213), Piedra Alta (mile 213)
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from this spot on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos starting in 1865. In 1924, the Anglo plant began shipping frozen meat from the same site.
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.
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.
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.
Cathedral of Florida
Florida's cathedral basilica is also Uruguay's national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the country's patroness, and keeps the original image; look for its bronze door by sculptor José Belloni and his son Stelio, stained glass and domes.
Piedra Alta
On the banks of the Santa Lucía Chico River outside the city of Florida, Piedra Alta is a rock formation of historic importance that appears on the department's coat of arms and flag.
More drives to Alejandro Gallinal
- Nueva Helvecia to Alejandro Gallinal
- Colonia del Sacramento to Alejandro Gallinal
- Carmelo to Alejandro Gallinal
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal
- Tacuarembó to Alejandro Gallinal
- Paysandú to Alejandro Gallinal
More drives from Gualeguaychú
- Gualeguaychú to Adrogué
- Gualeguaychú to Berisso
- Gualeguaychú to Magdalena
- Gualeguaychú to Chascomús
- Gualeguaychú to Cariló
- Gualeguaychú to Villa Gesell
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Gualeguaychú to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
About 5 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 258 miles.
How far is Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay from Gualeguaychú by car?
About 258 miles (416 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 Gualeguaychú to Alejandro Gallinal drive cross the border?
At about mile 23, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Gualeguaychú into Uruguay?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You can drive on your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 13, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Gualeguaychú to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Gualeguaychú and Alejandro Gallinal?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 41, 0.8 mi from the route); Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 158, 0.9 mi from the route); Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 213, 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.