Maldonado to Chajarí, Argentina is about 423 road miles (680 km): roughly 8 h 18 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 301, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
Full advisory: Uruguay, Argentina. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 423 mi (680 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B → RN135 → RN14 |
| Border crossing | about mile 301, Uruguay → Argentina (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Entre Ríos |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 301, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Paysandú into Entre Ríos. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Maldonado to Chajarí: the shape of the trip
RN14 (109 mi) and I-B (18 mi) carry about 30% of the 423 miles. The first 301 miles are in Uruguay; the last 122 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Entre Ríos. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Maldonado to Chajarí, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Maldonado |
| I-B | 9–27 | 18 | Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 27–28 | 1 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 28–44 | 16 | Maldonado, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 44–45 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 45–56 | 11 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 56–57 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 57–89 | 32 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 89–93 | 4 | Canelones |
| local roads | 93–302 | 209 | Canelones, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 302–310 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 310–419 | 109 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 419–423 | 4 | Entre Ríos |
- Mile 34 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 152 of this route: San José → Flores (region line)
- Mile 215 of this route: Flores → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 268 of this route: Río Negro → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Paysandú → Entre Ríos (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Chajarí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Politeama (mile 91), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 184), El Palmar National Park (mile 339)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 19), Laguna del Cisne (mile 57), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 184), El Palmar National Park (mile 339)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 56), Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 293)
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.
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.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
Teatro Politeama
Canelones' Teatro Politeama opened in 1921 and reopened in 2014 as the Complejo Cultural Politeama Teatro Atahualpa del Cioppo. Uruguay declared the theater a National Historic Monument in 2022.
Teatro Macció
San José de Mayo's Teatro Bartolomé Macció is a traditional theater, regarded as the city's most important building architecturally and declared a Historic Monument of Uruguay in 1984.
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.
Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú
Paysandú's Catholic parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Benedict of Palermo was named a minor basilica in 1949 and remains an active parish of the city.
El Palmar National Park
Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.
More drives to Chajarí
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Chajarí
- Buenos Aires to Chajarí
- La Plata to Chajarí
- Berisso to Chajarí
- Córdoba, Argentina to Chajarí
- Villa Carlos Paz to Chajarí
More drives from Maldonado
- Maldonado to Nueva Helvecia
- Maldonado to Colonia del Sacramento
- Maldonado to Carmelo
- Maldonado to Tacuarembó
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Maldonado to Artigas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Maldonado to Chajarí, Argentina?
About 8 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 423 miles.
How far is Chajarí, Argentina from Maldonado by car?
About 423 miles (680 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 Maldonado to Chajarí drive cross the border?
At about mile 301, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Maldonado into Argentina?
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. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Maldonado to Chajarí drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Maldonado to Chajarí?
In order: I-B, RN135 and RN14. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Maldonado and Chajarí?
Closest to the road: Teatro Politeama (theater, mile 91, 0.2 mi from the route); Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 184, 0.1 mi from the route); El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 339, 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.