Plan on about 6 h 40 min of driving for the 314-mile (505 km) trip from La Plata to Trinidad, 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance by road | 314 mi (505 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 40 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, Flores |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Trinidad
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.
On the road from La Plata to Trinidad
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 27% of the 314 miles. The first 201 miles are in Argentina; the last 113 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Flores. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from La Plata to Trinidad
| 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 | 201–314 | 113 | Río Negro, Flores |
- 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 282 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Trinidad
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santo Domingo Convent (mile 34), Errázuriz Palace (mile 38), Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 42)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of Narek Cathedral, Buenos Aires (mile 38), Errázuriz Palace (mile 38), Museo Casa de Rogelio Yrurtia (mile 42), Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 42), San Isidro Cathedral (mile 48), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 178)
Santo Domingo Convent
Dating from colonial times, the Santo Domingo Convent in Buenos Aires's Monserrat neighborhood saw fighting during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata.
Our Lady of Narek Cathedral, Buenos Aires
On Charcas Street in Buenos Aires, the Armenian Cathedral of Our Lady of Narek is an Armenian Catholic church following the Armenian rite in full communion with the Pope.
Errázuriz Palace
Once one of the most elegant private homes in Buenos Aires, Errázuriz Palace (Palacio Errázuriz) has housed the National Museum of Decorative Art since 1937.
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.
Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur
Opened in June 2014 by the Argentine government, the Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands Museum stands on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds in Buenos Aires.
San Isidro Cathedral
Main church of the Diocese of San Isidro, this cathedral stands on Del Libertador Avenue opposite Plaza Mitre, in the historic quarter of San Isidro in Buenos Aires province.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
When you get to Trinidad
Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice
Off Route 3 near Trinidad, the Dr. Rodolfo Tálice Ecopark (Reserva de Flora y Fauna Dr. Rodolfo Talice) is a fenced wildlife reserve where axis deer, greater rheas and pampas deer roam free alongside other species.
More drives to Trinidad
- Montevideo to Trinidad, Uruguay
- Minas to Trinidad, Uruguay
- Artigas to Trinidad, Uruguay
- Treinta y Tres to Trinidad, Uruguay
- Buenos Aires to Trinidad, Uruguay
- Córdoba, Argentina to Trinidad, 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 Trinidad, Uruguay?
About 6 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 314 miles.
How far is Trinidad, Uruguay from La Plata by car?
About 314 miles (505 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 Trinidad 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 Trinidad, 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 Trinidad?
In order: RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from La Plata to Trinidad?
Closest to the road: Santo Domingo Convent (convent, mile 34, 0.3 mi from the route); Errázuriz Palace (art museum, mile 38, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (museum, mile 42, 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.