Maldonado to Magdalena, Argentina is about 492 road miles (791 km): roughly 10 h 13 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 492 mi (791 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| 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 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Uruguay into Argentina
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.
What the drive from Maldonado to Magdalena is like
RN12 (46 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 17% of the 492 miles. The first 262 miles are in Uruguay; the last 230 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.
Which roads connect Maldonado and Magdalena
| 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 | 429–459 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 459–460 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 460–491 | 31 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 491–492 | 1 | 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)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Maldonado and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 126), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 243), Evita Museum (mile 424), Centro Cultural General San Martín (mile 427), Basílica de San Francisco (mile 428)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 19)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 56), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 126), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 243), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 284), Evita Museum (mile 424), Centro Cultural General San Martín (mile 427), Basílica de San Francisco (mile 428), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 462)
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.
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
In Gualeguaychú, Argentina, the Roman Catholic diocese has its cathedral church at St. Joseph's, also known as Gualeguaychú Cathedral.
Evita Museum
In Palermo, Buenos Aires, at 2988 Lafinur Street, the Evita Museum covers the life and legacy of Eva Duarte de Perón and her work through the Eva Perón Foundation.
Centro Cultural General San Martín
Run by the city government near Corrientes Avenue, the General San Martín Cultural Centre in Buenos Aires hosts a mix of cultural and artistic events.
Basílica de San Francisco
At Alsina 380 in Monserrat, the Basílica de San Francisco belonged to the Franciscans, the first order to receive land in the settlement Juan de Garay founded in 1580.
Cathedral of La Plata
Facing Plaza Moreno and City Hall at the geographic center of La Plata, this neo-Gothic cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
More drives to Magdalena
- Necochea to Magdalena
- Adrogué to Magdalena
- Tigre to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Luján to Magdalena
- San Antonio de Areco to Magdalena
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 Magdalena, Argentina?
About 10 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 492 miles.
What is the driving distance from Maldonado to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 492 miles (791 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 Magdalena 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 Magdalena 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 Magdalena?
In order: I-B, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Maldonado to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 243, 0.7 mi from the route); Centro Cultural General San Martín (art museum, mile 427, 0.4 mi from the route); Basílica de San Francisco (basilica, mile 428, 0.6 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.