By road, Gualeguaychú and Encarnación, Paraguay are about 486 miles (782 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 45 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Paraguay at about mile 482, at Posadas–Encarnación.
Full advisory: Argentina, Paraguay. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Paraguay August 19, 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.”
- Paraguay: “Intercity highway maintenance is not equal to U.S. standards.”
| Distance by road | 486 mi (782 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP20 → RN14 → RN105 |
| Border crossing | about mile 482, Argentina → Paraguay (Posadas–Encarnación) |
| Regions on the route | Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Misiones, Itapúa |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Crossing from Argentina into Paraguay
The route crosses at about mile 482, at Posadas–Encarnación, from Misiones into Itapúa. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Paraguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Paraguay | You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Paraguay | The State Department notes that Paraguay doesn't require vehicle insurance. |
| 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, Paraguay (updated September 17, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Gualeguaychú to Encarnación drive plays out
RN14 (444 mi) and RN105 (30 mi) carry about 98% of the 486 miles. The first 482 miles are in Argentina; the last 4 are in Paraguay. It runs through 4 regions: Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Misiones, Itapúa. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Gualeguaychú to Encarnación: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Entre Ríos |
| RP20 | 1–8 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 8–452 | 444 | Entre Ríos, Corrientes, Misiones |
| RN105 | 452–482 | 30 | Misiones |
| local roads | 482–486 | 4 | Itapúa |
- Mile 178 of this route: Entre Ríos → Corrientes (region line)
- Mile 447 of this route: Corrientes → Misiones (region line)
- Mile 482 of this route: Misiones → Itapúa (international border)
Stops between Gualeguaychú and Encarnación
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Palmar National Park (mile 86), Mission San José de Itacuá (mile 451), Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola (mile 451), Jardín botánico Alberto Roth (mile 478)
- Nature and outdoors: El Palmar National Park (mile 86), Jardín botánico Alberto Roth (mile 478)
- Museums and history: Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé (mile 327), Mission San José de Itacuá (mile 451), Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola (mile 451)
El Palmar National Park
Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé
In the town of La Cruz, Corrientes, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé was one of the missions the Jesuits founded in their Province of Paraguay during Spanish colonial rule.
Mission San José de Itacuá
Remains of the Jesuit mission of San José de Itacuá lie outside the town of San José in Misiones. Founded by José Cataldino in 1633, it was refounded in 1660 and destroyed in 1817.
Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola
Built in 1895, Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola stands at the corner of Centenario and 9 de Julio avenues in San José.
Parque ecológico Candelaria
Near the town of Candelaria in southern Misiones, the Parque ecológico Candelaria was created for wildlife conservation, environmental education and recreational tourism.
Jardín botánico Alberto Roth
Covering about 11 hectares in Posadas, the Jardín Botánico Alberto Roth is a city-run botanical garden with ties to the Universidad Nacional de Misiones.
Arriving in Encarnación
Posadas Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Posadas Cathedral, is the main Catholic church of Posadas, capital of Misiones province.
Andrés Guacurarí Historical-Archaeological Museum
Posadas' Andrés Guacurarí Historical and Archaeological Museum (Museo Histórico y Arqueológico Andrés Guacurarí) is a museum of history and archaeology in this Argentine city.
Misiones Police Historical Museum
The Misiones Police Historical Museum is a museum located inside the police headquarters in the city of Posadas, Argentina.
More drives to Encarnación
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 Encarnación, Paraguay?
About 9 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 486 miles.
What is the driving distance from Gualeguaychú to Encarnación, Paraguay?
About 486 miles (782 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 Encarnación drive cross the border?
At about mile 482, from Argentina into Paraguay, at Posadas–Encarnación.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Gualeguaychú into Paraguay?
No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. (U.S. State Department, updated September 17, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Gualeguaychú to Encarnación drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Paraguay Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Gualeguaychú to Encarnación?
In order: RP20, RN14 and RN105. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Gualeguaychú and Encarnación?
Closest to the road: El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 86, 0.0 mi from the route); Mission San José de Itacuá (jesuit mission ruins, mile 451, 0.9 mi from the route); Jardín botánico Alberto Roth (botanical garden, mile 478, 0.3 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.