Plan on about 10 h 18 min of driving for the 505-mile (813 km) trip from Maldonado to Chascomús, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 262, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 505 mi (813 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RNA004 → RP2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 262, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 262, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Río Negro 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.
How the Maldonado to Chascomús drive plays out
RN12 (46 mi) and RP2 (46 mi) carry about 18% of the 505 miles. The first 262 miles are in Uruguay; the last 243 are in Argentina. It runs through 9 regions: Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Maldonado to Chascomús, 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 | 93–124 | 31 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 124–127 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 127–260 | 133 | San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 260–263 | 3 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 263–283 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 283–289 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 289–326 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 326–372 | 46 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 372–377 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 377–378 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 378–418 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 418–419 | 1 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 419–426 | 7 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 426–429 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 429–446 | 17 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 446–447 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RNA004 | 447–455 | 8 | Buenos Aires |
| RP2 | 455–501 | 46 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 501–505 | 4 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 34 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 146 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 163 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 245 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 262 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 355 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 418 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 434 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Places worth a stop between Maldonado and Chascomús
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 92), Teatro Macció (mile 126), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 243), Galileo Galilei Planetarium (mile 423), Teatro Maipo (mile 427)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 19), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 385)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 92), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 243), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 284), Museo Carlos Gardel, Buenos Aires (mile 426)
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.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
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.
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.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
About 2,500 hectares of wetlands in Campana, Buenos Aires province, are protected as Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park. It's a Ramsar Site and home to the marsh deer and plenty of waterbirds.
Galileo Galilei Planetarium
The Galileo Galilei Planetarium, known locally simply as Planetario, sits in Parque Tres de Febrero in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires.
Museo Carlos Gardel, Buenos Aires
Tango singer, composer and film actor Carlos Gardel once lived in the Buenos Aires house that is now the Museo Casa Carlos Gardel.
Teatro Maipo
Founded in 1908 by entrepreneur Charles Seguin and first called the Scala Theater, Teatro Maipo is a historic theater in downtown Buenos Aires.
In Chascomús itself
Chascomús Lagoon
On the east side of the city of Chascomús, in Buenos Aires Province, Chascomús Lagoon (Laguna de Chascomús) lies in the Salado River basin and is the second lagoon in the chain known as Las Encadenadas.
More drives to Chascomús
- Necochea to Chascomús
- Pergamino to Chascomús
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Chascomús
- Rosario, Argentina to Chascomús
- Santa Fe to Chascomús
- Gualeguaychú to Chascomús
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 Chascomús, Argentina?
About 10 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 505 miles.
How far is Chascomús, Argentina from Maldonado by car?
About 505 miles (813 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 Chascomús drive cross the border?
At about mile 262, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos 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 Chascomús 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 Chascomús?
In order: I-B, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1, RNA004 and RP2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Maldonado to Chascomús?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 92, 0.2 mi from the route); Galileo Galilei Planetarium (planetarium, mile 423, 0.3 mi from the route); Teatro Maipo (theater, mile 427, 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.