Luján to Río Branco, Uruguay is about 513 road miles (825 km): roughly 11 h 27 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 186, 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Total distance | 513 mi (825 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP47 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN135 |
| Border crossing | about mile 186, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 186, 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 Luján to Río Branco is like
RN14 (94 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 27% of the 513 miles. The first 186 miles are in Argentina; the last 327 are in Uruguay. It runs through 6 regions: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Luján to Río Branco: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP47 | 1–7 | 6 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 8–35 | 27 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 35–82 | 47 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 82–176 | 94 | Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 176–184 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 184–458 | 274 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
| connecting roads | 458–460 | 2 | Cerro Largo |
| local roads | 460–513 | 53 | Cerro Largo |
- Mile 53 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 186 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
- Mile 294 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 300 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 309 of this route: Paysandú → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 416 of this route: Tacuarembó → Cerro Largo (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Río Branco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 315), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 332), Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 332), Cathedral of Melo (mile 456), Regional History Museum of Melo (mile 456)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 26), Pozo Hondo (mile 313)
- Museums and history: Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 315), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 332), Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 332), Cathedral of Melo (mile 456), Regional History Museum of Melo (mile 456)
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
Marsh deer give their name to Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park, a Ramsar Site in Campana, Buenos Aires province, where waterbirds are abundant.
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.
Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar
The Museo del Indio y del Gaucho, a museum of the Indigenous people and the gaucho, is located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Cathedral of Tacuarembó
Saint Fructuosus Cathedral is the main Catholic church of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1960.
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 Río Branco
- Rivera to Río Branco
- Montevideo to Río Branco
- Salto to Río Branco
- Paysandú to Río Branco
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Río Branco
- Fray Bentos to Río Branco
More drives from Luján
- Luján to Adrogué
- Luján to Berisso
- Luján to Magdalena
- Luján to Capilla del Monte
- Luján to Villa Carlos Paz
- Luján to Tacuarembó, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Luján to Río Branco, Uruguay?
About 11 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 513 miles.
How far is Río Branco, Uruguay from Luján by car?
About 513 miles (825 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 Luján to Río Branco drive cross the border?
At about mile 186, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Luján 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 Luján to Río Branco 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.
Which highways go from Luján to Río Branco?
In order: RP47, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN135. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Luján and Río Branco?
Closest to the road: Museo Carlos Gardel (museum, mile 315, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (museum, mile 332, 0.6 mi from the route); Cathedral of Tacuarembó (cathedral, mile 332, 0.7 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.