By road, La Plata and Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay are about 332 miles (535 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 16 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 201, 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: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Total distance | 332 mi (535 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN1 → AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 201, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 201, 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.
The La Plata–Colonia del Sacramento drive in a few lines
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 26% of the 332 miles. The first 201 miles are in Argentina; the last 131 are in Uruguay. It runs through 6 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: La Plata to Colonia del Sacramento
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 3–33 | 30 | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 33–37 | 4 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 37–42 | 5 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 42–45 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 45–84 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 84–85 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 85–89 | 4 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 89–136 | 47 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 136–173 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 173–179 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 179–198 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 198–201 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 201–220 | 19 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 220–222 | 2 | Soriano |
| local roads | 222–332 | 110 | Soriano, Colonia |
- Mile 29 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 45 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 217 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between La Plata and Colonia del Sacramento
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Armas de la Nación (mile 36), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 219), Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (mile 271)
- Nature and outdoors: Agraciada Beach (mile 268), Anchorena Presidential Estate (mile 318)
- Museums and history: Palacio de Aguas Corrientes (mile 36), Museo de Armas de la Nación (mile 36), Museo Nacional del Hombre (mile 40), Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia (mile 42), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 178), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 219), Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (mile 271)
Palacio de Aguas Corrientes
Known as the Palace of Running Waters, the Palacio de Aguas Corrientes is an architecturally significant water pumping station in Buenos Aires and former headquarters of Obras Sanitarias de la Nación.
Museo de Armas de la Nación
Inside Palacio Paz on Avenida Santa Fe, Buenos Aires' national arms museum fills 17 rooms with weapons and armor from the Middle Ages to the present, including pieces from both World Wars.
Museo Nacional del Hombre
In the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, the Museo Nacional del Hombre is a national museum focused on the archaeology of South America's Indigenous peoples.
Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia
Sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia once lived in this house in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, which now operates as a museum dedicated to him.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
In Gualeguaychú, Argentina, the Roman Catholic diocese has its cathedral church at St. Joseph's, also known as Gualeguaychú Cathedral.
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.
Agraciada Beach
On the eastern bank of the Uruguay River in Soriano department, Agraciada Beach is a historic beach area facing Argentina's Entre Ríos province.
Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli
Nueva Palmira's municipal museum, also known as the Museo Roselli, is named for its first director, Professor Francisco Lucas Rosselli.
Anchorena Presidential Estate
Located in Colonia Department, 208 km from Montevideo, the Anchorena Presidential Estate is a national park that also serves as a rest residence for Uruguay's president.
Arriving in Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse
Erected in 1857 on the ruins of the Saint Francis Xavier convent, the Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse stands in the town's historic district in Uruguay.
Museo Paleontológico Profesor Armando Calcaterra
In the Real de San Carlos area of Colonia del Sacramento, Museo Paleontológico Profesor Armando Calcaterra shows about 1,600 pieces, including fossil vertebrates and invertebrates and Indigenous artifacts.
Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento, Colonia del Sacramento
In Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, the Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (Basilica of the Holy Sacrament) is a Roman Catholic parish church you can stop at in town.
More drives to Colonia del Sacramento
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento
- Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento
- Tacuarembó to Colonia del Sacramento
- Salto to Colonia del Sacramento
- Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento
- Artigas to Colonia del Sacramento
More drives from La Plata
- La Plata to Tigre
- La Plata to Luján
- La Plata to San Antonio de Areco
- La Plata to Arrecifes
- La Plata to Pergamino
- La Plata to Martínez
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Plata to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay?
About 7 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 332 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Plata to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay?
About 332 miles (535 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 Plata to Colonia del Sacramento drive cross the border?
At about mile 201, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from La Plata 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 La Plata to Colonia del Sacramento 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.
Which highways go from La Plata to Colonia del Sacramento?
In order: RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Plata and Colonia del Sacramento?
Closest to the road: Museo de Armas de la Nación (museum, mile 36, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 219, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (museum, mile 271, 0.8 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.