La Paloma to Martínez, Argentina is about 475 road miles (765 km): roughly 10 h 8 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 475 mi (765 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 |
| 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
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.
On the road from La Paloma to Martínez
RN12 (47 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 17% of the 475 miles. The first 322 miles are in Uruguay; the last 153 are in Argentina. It runs through 9 regions: Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from La Paloma to Martínez, road by road
| 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 | 437–472 | 35 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 472–475 | 3 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to Martínez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro 25 de Mayo (mile 18), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 186), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 303), Temaikèn (mile 454)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna José Ignacio (mile 47), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 81), Laguna del Cisne (mile 116)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 116), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 186), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 303)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 454)
Teatro 25 de Mayo
Rocha's Teatro 25 de Mayo opened in 1910 as an Italian-style theater in the eclectic style, with room for about 400 people. Now a cultural complex, it is a stop on the city's self-guided heritage walk.
Laguna José Ignacio
In Uruguay's Maldonado Department, Laguna José Ignacio is a coastal lagoon kept apart from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbank.
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.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
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
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015, the old Anglo meatpacking plant stands on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos, where frozen meat shipments began in 1924.
Temaikèn
Temaikèn is a zoo in Belén de Escobar, outside Buenos Aires, and the only zoo in Argentina accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
When you get to Martínez
San Isidro Cathedral
Main church of the Diocese of San Isidro, this cathedral stands on Del Libertador Avenue opposite Plaza Mitre, in the historic quarter of San Isidro in Buenos Aires province.
Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur
Opened in June 2014 by the Argentine government, the Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands Museum stands on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds in Buenos Aires.
ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination
Set in Buenos Aires on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds, one of the largest clandestine detention, torture and extermination centers of the last dictatorship, this site museum was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2023.
More drives to Martínez
- La Plata to Martínez
- Berisso to Martínez
- Chascomús to Martínez
- Ayacucho, Argentina to Martínez
- Villa Gesell to Martínez
- Mar del Plata to Martínez
More drives from La Paloma
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from La Paloma to Martínez, Argentina?
About 10 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 475 miles.
How far is Martínez, Argentina from La Paloma by car?
About 475 miles (765 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 Martínez 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 Martínez 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 Martínez use?
In order: I-B, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6 and RN9. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Paloma and Martínez?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 186, 0.9 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 303, 0.7 mi from the route); Temaikèn (zoo, mile 454, 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.