Plan on about 11 h 44 min of driving for the 551-mile (887 km) trip from La Paloma to Magdalena, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 322, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
Full advisory: Uruguay, Argentina. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance by road | 551 mi (887 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 322, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Magdalena
The route crosses at about mile 322, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Río Negro into Entre Ríos. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from La Paloma to Magdalena is like
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 16% of the 551 miles. The first 322 miles are in Uruguay; the last 229 are in Argentina. It runs through 10 regions: Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from La Paloma to Magdalena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–81 | 81 | Rocha, Maldonado |
| I-B | 81–88 | 7 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 88–104 | 16 | Maldonado, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 104–105 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 105–149 | 44 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 149–152 | 3 | Canelones |
| local roads | 152–183 | 31 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 183–186 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 186–222 | 36 | San José, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 222–224 | 2 | Colonia, Soriano |
| local roads | 224–320 | 96 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 320–323 | 3 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 323–342 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 342–349 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 349–385 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 385–432 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 432–437 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 437–477 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 477–479 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 479–486 | 7 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 486–489 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 489–519 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 519–520 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 520–551 | 31 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 35 of this route: Rocha → Maldonado (region line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 162 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 206 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 223 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 304 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 322 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 415 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 477 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 494 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between La Paloma and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 152), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 186), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 303), Monument to General Carlos M. de Alvear (mile 485), Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (mile 488), La Plata Astronomical Observatory (mile 522)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 81)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 152), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 186), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 303), Museo Carlos Gardel, Buenos Aires (mile 487), Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (mile 488)
Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station
Near Piriápolis in Maldonado, this breeding station for native wildlife on Cerro Pan de Azúcar is surrounded by native vegetation and offers guided visits, including a native wildlife trail and a path up the hill.
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.
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.
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.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from this spot on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos starting in 1865. In 1924, the Anglo plant began shipping frozen meat from the same site.
Monument to General Carlos M. de Alvear
Raised in honor of Carlos María de Alvear, this public sculpture monument stands on Plaza Julio de Caro in the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Museo Carlos Gardel, Buenos Aires
Tango singer, composer and film actor Carlos Gardel once lived in the Buenos Aires house that is now the Museo Casa Carlos Gardel.
Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires
Often called MACBA, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires is an art museum in the city's San Telmo neighborhood.
La Plata Astronomical Observatory
The La Plata Astronomical Observatory sits in the city of La Plata, capital of Buenos Aires Province, and is registered with the IAU under code 839.
More drives to Magdalena
- Necochea to Magdalena
- Adrogué to Magdalena
- Tigre to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Luján to Magdalena
- San Antonio de Areco to Magdalena
More drives from La Paloma
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Paloma to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 11 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 551 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from La Paloma by car?
About 551 miles (887 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 La Paloma to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 322, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from La Paloma into Argentina?
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. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the La Paloma to Magdalena drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from La Paloma to Magdalena use?
In order: I-B, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Paloma to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 152, 0.2 mi from the route); Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (contemporary art museum, mile 488, 0.1 mi from the route); La Plata Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 522, 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.