Maldonado to Luján, Argentina is about 408 road miles (657 km): roughly 8 h 34 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance | 408 mi (657 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RP47 |
| 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
The Maldonado–Luján drive in a few lines
RN12 (46 mi) and RN14 (37 mi) carry about 20% of the 408 miles. The first 262 miles are in Uruguay; the last 146 are in Argentina. It runs through 8 regions: Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Maldonado to Luján
| 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 | 372–400 | 28 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 400–401 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP47 | 401–406 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 406–408 | 2 | 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)
Where to stop on the way to Luján
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 92), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 126)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 19), Laguna del Cisne (mile 57), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 382)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 56), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 92), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 126), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 243), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 284)
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
Engineer Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker in Estación Atlántida, inaugurated in 1960, joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2021. Look for its wavy brick walls and roof, an openwork brick bell tower and an underground baptistery.
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.
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.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
Calera Real del Dacá
On the eastern edge of Mercedes beside the Dacá stream, the ruins of the Calera Real lime works date to 1722 and are considered the region's first industrial site; recent works added visitor circuits, lighting and interpretive signs.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
In Gualeguaychú, Argentina, the Roman Catholic diocese has its cathedral church at St. Joseph's, also known as Gualeguaychú Cathedral.
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.
Once you reach Luján
Basilica of Our Lady of Luján
The Basilica of Our Lady of Luján is a Catholic church in Luján, Buenos Aires province, dedicated to Our Lady of Luján, the patron saint of Argentina.
Abadía de San Benito
On the outskirts of Luján, Abadía de San Benito is a Benedictine monastery of the Cono-Sur Congregation that became an abbey in 1950 before moving from Buenos Aires.
Museum of Fine Arts Fernán Félix de Amador
Luján's Museum of Fine Arts is named after Fernán Félix de Amador, the Argentine writer, poet and journalist born in the city.
More drives to Luján
- Buenos Aires to Luján
- La Plata to Luján
- Bahía Blanca to Luján
- Paraná to Luján
- San Luis to Luján
- Montevideo to Luján, Argentina
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 does it take to drive from Maldonado to Luján, Argentina?
About 8 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 408 miles.
What is the driving distance from Maldonado to Luján, Argentina?
About 408 miles (657 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 Luján 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Maldonado to Luján, Argentina?
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.
What roads does the drive from Maldonado to Luján use?
In order: I-B, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6 and RP47. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Maldonado and Luján?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 92, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 126, 0.7 mi from the route); Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 284, 1 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.