The Wayro route from La Plata to Melo, Uruguay is 511 miles (823 km), about 11 h 3 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 239, at the Colón–Paysandú 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance | 511 mi (823 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN1 → AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN135 |
| Border crossing | about mile 239, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 239, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Entre Ríos into Paysandú. 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.
How the La Plata to Melo drive plays out
RN14 (94 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 28% of the 511 miles. The first 239 miles are in Argentina; the last 272 are in Uruguay. It runs through 7 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: La Plata to Melo
| 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 | 136–230 | 94 | Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 230–238 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 238–511 | 273 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
- 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 239 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
- Mile 348 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 353 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 363 of this route: Paysandú → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 470 of this route: Tacuarembó → Cerro Largo (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between La Plata and Melo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (mile 34), Museo del Holocausto (mile 36), Floralis Genérica (mile 37), Temaikèn (mile 68), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 369), Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 388)
- Nature and outdoors: Pozo Hondo (mile 367)
- Museums and history: Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (mile 34), Museo del Holocausto (mile 36), Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta (mile 41), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 369)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 68), Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 388)
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.
Museo del Holocausto
Dedicated to keeping the memory of the Shoah alive, the Museo del Holocausto in Buenos Aires holds documents and personal objects donated by survivors who emigrated from Europe.
Floralis Genérica
Floralis Genérica is a steel and aluminum flower sculpture in United Nations Square in Buenos Aires, created in 2002 and given to the city by architect Eduardo Catalano.
Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta
In Buenos Aires's Belgrano neighborhood, the Enrique Larreta Museum is devoted to Spanish art.
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.
Pozo Hondo
Pozo Hondo is a waterfall in Uruguay's Tacuarembó department, located between the towns of Valle Edén and Tambores.
Museo Carlos Gardel
Dedicated to the life and work of Carlos Gardel, this museum is in Valle Edén, Tacuarembó department, 21 kilometers from the city of Tacuarembó.
Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba
Reachable from Route 5 at kilometer 390, the Mauricio López Lomba reserve is a wildlife reserve in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
In Melo itself
Cathedral of Melo
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Raphael is the main Roman Catholic church in the city of Melo, Uruguay.
Regional History Museum of Melo
Founded on June 27, 1976, Melo's municipal history museum displays archaeological pieces and historical items from the region and hosts temporary exhibitions and talks.
More drives to Melo
- Montevideo to Melo
- Paysandú to Melo
- Buenos Aires to Melo, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Melo, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Melo, Uruguay
- Paraná to Melo, Uruguay
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 Melo, Uruguay?
About 11 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 511 miles.
How far is Melo, Uruguay from La Plata by car?
About 511 miles (823 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 Melo drive cross the border?
At about mile 239, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú 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.)
Is it safe to drive from La Plata to Melo, Uruguay?
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 Melo?
In order: RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN135. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Plata and Melo?
Closest to the road: Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (contemporary art museum, mile 34, 0.3 mi from the route); Floralis Genérica (sculpture, mile 37, 0.4 mi from the route); Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 388, 0.1 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.