Plan on about 9 h 37 min of driving for the 464-mile (746 km) trip from La Plata to Punta del Este, Uruguay, before any stops. 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.”
| Distance | 464 mi (746 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN1 → AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 → I-B |
| 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, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
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.
What the drive from La Plata to Punta del Este is like
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 19% of the 464 miles. The first 201 miles are in Argentina; the last 263 are in Uruguay. It runs through 9 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: La Plata to Punta del Este
| 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 | 201–298 | 97 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 298–299 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 299–335 | 36 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 335–338 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 338–434 | 96 | San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 434–457 | 23 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 457–464 | 7 | Maldonado |
- 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 299 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 316 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
- Mile 360 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 429 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Punta del Este
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): San Nicolás de Bari Basilica, Buenos Aires (mile 36), Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (mile 36), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 68), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 219), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 336)
- Nature and outdoors: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 68), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 442)
- Museums and history: San Nicolás de Bari Basilica, Buenos Aires (mile 36), Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (mile 36), Sarmiento Historical Museum (mile 41), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 219), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 336), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 406)
San Nicolás de Bari Basilica, Buenos Aires
Built in the French academic style, this Buenos Aires basilica honors Saint Nicholas of Bari; the original 1733 chapel on Corrientes was demolished in 1931 to widen Diagonal Norte.
Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum
At Avenida del Libertador 405 in Retiro, Buenos Aires, Argentina's national railway museum shows locomotives, cars, machinery and other objects in a historic building and also houses a railway history study center.
Sarmiento Historical Museum
In the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Sarmiento Historical Museum covers the Generation of '80 and the life of President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, with sections on Nicolás Avellaneda and the 1880 federalization.
Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar
Landscape engineer Yasuo Inomata designed this Japanese garden in Belén de Escobar in 1969, and the local Japanese community donated it to the city. Red, white and spotted koi swim in its 1,000-square-meter pond.
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.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
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.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
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.
When you get to Punta del Este
La Mano de Punta del Este
Five human fingers rise out of the sand at Parada 1 on Brava Beach in Punta del Este in La Mano, a sculpture by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal.
Museo San Fernando
Museo San Fernando is a history museum in Maldonado, located at Rafael Pérez del Puerto 745, on the corner of Sarandí street.
Museo Vivo del Títere
In the city of Maldonado, the Museo Vivo del Títere is a puppet museum created in 1998 through an agreement between Uruguay's Ministry of Education and Culture and the Intendencia de Maldonado.
More drives to Punta del Este
- Paysandú to Punta del Este
- Rivera to Punta del Este
- Durazno to Punta del Este
- Fray Bentos to Punta del Este
- Buenos Aires to Punta del Este, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Punta del Este, 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 Punta del Este, Uruguay?
About 9 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 464 miles.
How far is Punta del Este, Uruguay from La Plata by car?
About 464 miles (746 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 Punta del Este 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.)
Is it safe to drive from La Plata to Punta del Este, 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.
What roads does the drive from La Plata to Punta del Este use?
In order: RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14, RN136 and I-B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between La Plata and Punta del Este?
Closest to the road: Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (railway museum, mile 36, 0.2 mi from the route); San Nicolás de Bari Basilica, Buenos Aires (basilica, mile 36, 0.6 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 68, 0.2 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.