By road, La Plata and Rivera, Uruguay are about 455 miles (732 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 26 min of driving. 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance | 455 mi (732 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 26 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, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Rivera
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.
What the drive from La Plata to Rivera is like
RN14 (94 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 31% of the 455 miles. The first 239 miles are in Argentina; the last 216 are in Uruguay. It runs through 7 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: La Plata to Rivera
| 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 | 238–455 | 217 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera |
- 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 406 of this route: Tacuarembó → Rivera (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between La Plata and Rivera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de la Pasión Boquense (mile 32), Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (mile 34), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Socorro (mile 36), Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Buenos Aires (mile 37), Tierra Santa (mile 40), Temaikèn (mile 68), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 369)
- Nature and outdoors: Pozo Hondo (mile 367)
- Museums and history: Museo de la Pasión Boquense (mile 32), Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (mile 34), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Socorro (mile 36), Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Buenos Aires (mile 37), House of Valentín Alsina (mile 41), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 369)
- With kids: Tierra Santa (mile 40), Temaikèn (mile 68)
Museo de la Pasión Boquense
Football fans can dig into the history and personalities of Club Atlético Boca Juniors at the Museo de la Pasión Boquense, a themed soccer museum devoted to the club.
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.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Socorro
In the Retiro neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Socorro is a Catholic church.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, Buenos Aires
Built as part of a Franciscan monastery and completed in 1732, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Recoleta has served as a parish church since the Franciscans were expelled in 1821.
Tierra Santa
Tierra Santa is a religious theme park in the city of Buenos Aires, in Argentina.
House of Valentín Alsina
In Buenos Aires' Belgrano neighborhood, the House of Valentín Alsina dates from 1856 and was declared a National Historic Monument in 1977; it bears the name of the writer and two-time governor.
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.
More drives to Rivera
- Montevideo to Rivera
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Buenos Aires to Rivera, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Rivera, Uruguay
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rivera, 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 is the drive from La Plata to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 9 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 455 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Plata to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 455 miles (732 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 Rivera 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 Rivera, 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 Rivera?
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 Rivera?
Closest to the road: Museum of Contemporary Art of Buenos Aires (contemporary art museum, mile 34, 0.3 mi from the route); Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Socorro (basilica, mile 36, 0.2 mi from the route); Tierra Santa (theme park, mile 40, 0.4 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.