Gualeguaychú to Rivera, Uruguay is about 281 road miles (453 km): roughly 6 h 20 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance by road | 281 mi (453 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 20 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, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Border crossing: what to bring for 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 Rivera drive plays out
RN14 (49 mi) and RN135 (8 mi) carry about 20% of the 281 miles. The first 66 miles are in Argentina; the last 215 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Gualeguaychú to Rivera, 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 | 65–281 | 216 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera |
- 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 233 of this route: Tacuarembó → Rivera (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Rivera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 196), Museo del Deporte (mile 213), Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 214)
- Nature and outdoors: Pozo Hondo (mile 194)
- Museums and history: Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 196), Museo del Deporte (mile 213)
- With kids: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 214)
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 Deporte
Located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, the Museo del Deporte preserves and shares the sports history of the Tacuarembó department.
Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba
Reachable from Route 5 at kilometer 390, the Mauricio López Lomba reserve is a wildlife reserve in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
More drives to Rivera
- Montevideo to Rivera
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Buenos Aires to Rivera, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Rivera, Uruguay
- La Plata to Rivera, 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 Rivera, Uruguay?
About 6 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 281 miles.
How far is Rivera, Uruguay from Gualeguaychú by car?
About 281 miles (453 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 Rivera 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 Rivera, 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.
Which highways go from Gualeguaychú to Rivera?
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 Rivera?
Closest to the road: Museo Carlos Gardel (museum, mile 196, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo del Deporte (sports museum, mile 213, 0.6 mi from the route); Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 214, 0.1 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.