La Plata to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay is about 553 road miles (890 km): roughly 11 h 36 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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 | 553 mi (890 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 36 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, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 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.
What the drive from La Plata to Treinta y Tres is like
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 16% of the 553 miles. The first 201 miles are in Argentina; the last 352 are in Uruguay. It runs through 10 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect La Plata and Treinta y Tres
| 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 | 338–553 | 215 | San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres |
- 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 426 of this route: Canelones → Lavalleja (region line)
- Mile 536 of this route: Lavalleja → Treinta y Tres (region line)
What to see on the way from La Plata to Treinta y Tres
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Temaikèn (mile 68), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 219), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 336)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto del Penitente (mile 460)
- Museums and history: Museum of Foreign Debt (mile 36), Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta (mile 41), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 178), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 219), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 336), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 406)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 68)
Museum of Foreign Debt
Inside the University of Buenos Aires Faculty of Economic Sciences, the Museum of Foreign Debt is a public museum showing how foreign debt has shaped Argentina's economic development.
Teatro General San Martín
On Corrientes Avenue next to the cultural center of the same name, Teatro General San Martín is a public theater with stages for plays and film plus art exhibitions.
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.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
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
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.
Salto del Penitente
Arriving in Treinta y Tres
Museo Agustín Araújo
Treinta y Tres's departmental fine arts museum, the Museo Agustín Araújo is a public museum in the city of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
More drives to Treinta y Tres
- Montevideo to Treinta y Tres
- Rivera to Treinta y Tres
- Colonia del Sacramento to Treinta y Tres
- Salto to Treinta y Tres
- Fray Bentos to Treinta y Tres
- Buenos Aires to Treinta y Tres, 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 Treinta y Tres, Uruguay?
About 11 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 553 miles.
What is the driving distance from La Plata to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay?
About 553 miles (890 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 Treinta y Tres 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 Treinta y Tres 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.
What roads does the drive from La Plata to Treinta y Tres use?
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 Treinta y Tres?
Closest to the road: Temaikèn (zoo, mile 68, 0.6 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 219, 0.7 mi from the route); Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 336, 0.9 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.