By road, Gualeguaychú and Treinta y Tres, Uruguay are about 375 miles (603 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 8 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance | 375 mi (603 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 8 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, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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 Treinta y Tres
RN136 (20 mi) carries about 5% of the 375 miles. The first 23 miles are in Argentina; the last 352 are in Uruguay. It runs through 8 regions: Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Gualeguaychú and Treinta y Tres
| 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 | 160–375 | 215 | San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres |
- 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 247 of this route: Canelones → Lavalleja (region line)
- Mile 358 of this route: Lavalleja → Treinta y Tres (region line)
What to see on the way from Gualeguaychú to Treinta y Tres
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 41), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 158), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 158), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 192), Cathedral of Minas (mile 272)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Arequita (mile 273), Salto del Penitente (mile 282)
- Museums and history: Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 38), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 41), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 158), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 158), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 192), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 228), Cathedral of Minas (mile 272)
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
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.
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.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
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.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Engineer Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker in Estación Atlántida, inaugurated in 1960, joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2021. Look for its wavy brick walls and roof, an openwork brick bell tower and an underground baptistery.
Cathedral of Minas
Minas's main Catholic church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception served as the seat of the Diocese of Minas from 1960 to 2020.
Parque nacional Arequita
Arequita National Park is a protected natural area in Lavalleja department, southeastern Uruguay, known for Cerro Arequita, its related rock formations and its biodiversity.
Salto del Penitente
Once you reach Treinta y Tres
Museo Agustín Araújo
Treinta y Tres's departmental fine arts museum, the Museo Agustín Araújo is a public museum in the city of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
More drives to Treinta y Tres
- Montevideo to Treinta y Tres
- Rivera to Treinta y Tres
- Colonia del Sacramento to Treinta y Tres
- Salto to Treinta y Tres
- Fray Bentos to Treinta y Tres
- Buenos Aires to Treinta y Tres, 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 Treinta y Tres, Uruguay?
About 8 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 375 miles.
How far is Treinta y Tres, Uruguay from Gualeguaychú by car?
About 375 miles (603 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 Treinta y Tres 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Gualeguaychú to Treinta y Tres drive?
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.
Where can you stop on the way from Gualeguaychú to Treinta y Tres?
Closest to the road: Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 158, 0.7 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 192, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Minas (cathedral, mile 272, 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.