Plan on about 7 h 57 min of driving for the 338-mile (544 km) trip from Gualeguaychú to Melo, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 66, at the Colón–Paysandú 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 338 mi (544 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP20 → RN14 → RN135 |
| Border crossing | about mile 66, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Crossing from Argentina into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 66, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Entre Ríos into Paysandú. 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.
How the Gualeguaychú to Melo drive plays out
RN14 (49 mi) and RN135 (8 mi) carry about 17% of the 338 miles. The first 66 miles are in Argentina; the last 272 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Gualeguaychú to Melo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Entre Ríos |
| RP20 | 1–8 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 8–57 | 49 | Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 57–65 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 65–338 | 273 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
- Mile 66 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
- Mile 175 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 180 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 190 of this route: Paysandú → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 297 of this route: Tacuarembó → Cerro Largo (region line)
Stops between Gualeguaychú and Melo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 196), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 213)
- Nature and outdoors: Pozo Hondo (mile 194)
- Museums and history: Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 196), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 213)
Pozo Hondo
Pozo Hondo is a waterfall in Uruguay's Tacuarembó department, located between the towns of Valle Edén and Tambores.
Museo Carlos Gardel
Dedicated to the life and work of Carlos Gardel, this museum is in Valle Edén, Tacuarembó department, 21 kilometers from the city of Tacuarembó.
Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar
The Museo del Indio y del Gaucho, a museum of the Indigenous people and the gaucho, is located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
When you get to Melo
Cathedral of Melo
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Raphael is the main Roman Catholic church in the city of Melo, Uruguay.
Regional History Museum of Melo
Founded on June 27, 1976, Melo's municipal history museum displays archaeological pieces and historical items from the region and hosts temporary exhibitions and talks.
More drives to Melo
- Montevideo to Melo
- Paysandú to Melo
- Buenos Aires to Melo, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Melo, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Melo, Uruguay
- Paraná to Melo, Uruguay
More drives from Gualeguaychú
- Gualeguaychú to Adrogué
- Gualeguaychú to Berisso
- Gualeguaychú to Magdalena
- Gualeguaychú to Chascomús
- Gualeguaychú to Cariló
- Gualeguaychú to Villa Gesell
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Gualeguaychú to Melo, Uruguay?
About 7 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 338 miles.
How far is Melo, Uruguay from Gualeguaychú by car?
About 338 miles (544 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 Melo drive cross the border?
At about mile 66, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú 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 Melo, 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 roads does the drive from Gualeguaychú to Melo use?
In order: RP20, RN14 and RN135. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Gualeguaychú to Melo?
Closest to the road: Pozo Hondo (waterfall, mile 194, 2 mi from the route); Museo Carlos Gardel (museum, mile 196, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (museum, mile 213, 0.5 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.