Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil is about 382 road miles (615 km): roughly 8 h 33 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Brazil at about mile 106, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Argentina, Brazil. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance by road | 382 mi (615 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN12 → RN120 → RN14 → RN121 → BR-285 → BR-287 → BR-158 → RSC-287 |
| Border crossing | about mile 106, Argentina → Brazil (Santo Tomé–São Borja) |
| Regions on the route | Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Getting across the Argentina–Brazil border
The route crosses at about mile 106, at Santo Tomé–São Borja, from Corrientes into Rio Grande do Sul. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul: the shape of the trip
BR-287 (178 mi) and RSC-287 (79 mi) carry about 67% of the 382 miles. The first 106 miles are in Argentina; the last 276 are in Brazil. It runs through 2 regions: Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Corrientes |
| RN12 | 2–21 | 19 | Corrientes |
| RN120 | 21–56 | 35 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 56–101 | 45 | Corrientes |
| RN121 | 101–107 | 6 | Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 107–112 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-287 | 112–290 | 178 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 290–295 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 295–300 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 300–379 | 79 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 379–382 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 106 of this route: Corrientes → Rio Grande do Sul (international border)
Stops between Ituzaingó and Santa Cruz do Sul
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (mile 263)
- Museums and history: João Goulart's House (mile 111), Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (mile 263), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (mile 294), Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (mile 357)
João Goulart's House
João Goulart's House in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, is a 1927 house where the former Brazilian president lived during his childhood and youth.
Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha
The Walter Ilha Paleontological and Archaeological Museum is a museum in São Pedro do Sul, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
Seat of the Archdiocese of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul, this eclectic cathedral mixes neo-Baroque and neoclassical styles; construction started in 1902 under parish priest Caetano Pagliuca, and it opened in 1909.
Planetário Professor José Mariano da Rocha Filho
Founded in 1971 at the Federal University of Santa Maria, this planetarium seats 120 people and has used a Digistar 4 digital projector since 2011.
Aqueduto de Candelária
In Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aqueduto de Candelária stands in the Linha Curitiba area. It was commissioned by João Kochenborger, one of the first German immigrants to reach the municipality, in 1862.
Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum
In the town of Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum is part of the Paleorrota Geopark and offers information about the region.
When you get to Santa Cruz do Sul
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul
Facing Getúlio Vargas Square in central Santa Cruz do Sul, St. John the Baptist Cathedral is the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.
More drives to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Ponta Grossa to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Curitiba to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Paranaguá to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Joinville to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Itajaí to Santa Cruz do Sul
More drives from Ituzaingó
- Ituzaingó to Concepción, Paraguay
- Ituzaingó to Neuland, Paraguay
- Ituzaingó to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Ituzaingó to Fray Bentos, Uruguay
- Ituzaingó to Trinidad, Uruguay
- Ituzaingó to Santana do Livramento, Brazil
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil?
About 8 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 382 miles.
What is the driving distance from Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil?
About 382 miles (615 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 Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul drive cross the border?
At about mile 106, from Argentina into Brazil, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Ituzaingó into Brazil?
Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 06, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul use?
In order: RN12, RN120, RN14, RN121, BR-285, BR-287, BR-158 and RSC-287. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Ituzaingó to Santa Cruz do Sul?
Closest to the road: Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (paleontological museum, mile 263, 0.2 mi from the route); Aqueduto de Candelária (aqueduct, mile 356, 1 mi from the route); Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (museum, mile 357, 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.