By road, Mar del Plata and Fray Bentos, Uruguay are about 428 miles (688 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 16 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 421, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance | 428 mi (688 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP2 → RN1 → AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 421, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 421, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Entre Ríos into Río Negro. 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 Mar del Plata to Fray Bentos is like
RP2 (234 mi) and RN12 (48 mi) carry about 66% of the 428 miles. The first 421 miles are in Argentina; the last 7 are in Uruguay. It runs through 4 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mar del Plata to Fray Bentos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP2 | 2–236 | 234 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 236–237 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 237–254 | 17 | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 254–257 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 257–263 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 263–265 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 265–304 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 304–305 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 305–309 | 4 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 309–357 | 48 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 357–393 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 393–400 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 400–419 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 419–422 | 3 | Entre Ríos, Río Negro |
| local roads | 422–428 | 6 | Río Negro |
- Mile 250 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 327 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 421 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
Stops between Mar del Plata and Fray Bentos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 254), Museo de la Casa Rosada (mile 255), Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (mile 257), Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 263), Temaikèn (mile 288)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Natural Municipal Ribera Norte (mile 268)
- Museums and history: Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 254), Museo de la Casa Rosada (mile 255), Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (mile 257), Our Lady of Narek Cathedral, Buenos Aires (mile 259), Museo Nacional del Hombre (mile 262), Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 263), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 399)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 288)
Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken
Established in 1971, Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken in Buenos Aires traces Argentine cinema through about 90,000 film reels plus photos, posters, scripts, costumes and film equipment.
Museo de la Casa Rosada
Set in the old galleries of the Taylor Customs House in Buenos Aires, this museum opened in 2011 and displays about 10,000 historic pieces that belonged to Argentine presidents.
Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum
At Avenida del Libertador 405 in Retiro, Buenos Aires, Argentina's national railway museum shows locomotives, cars, machinery and other objects in a historic building and also houses a railway history study center.
Our Lady of Narek Cathedral, Buenos Aires
On Charcas Street in Buenos Aires, the Armenian Cathedral of Our Lady of Narek is an Armenian Catholic church following the Armenian rite in full communion with the Pope.
Museo Nacional del Hombre
In the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, the Museo Nacional del Hombre is a national museum focused on the archaeology of South America's Indigenous peoples.
Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur
Opened in June 2014 by the Argentine government, the Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands Museum stands on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds in Buenos Aires.
Parque Natural Municipal Ribera Norte
On the Río de la Plata shore in Acassuso, San Isidro, Ribera Norte is a municipal nature park protecting green space within greater Buenos Aires.
Temaikèn
Temaikèn is a zoo in Belén de Escobar, outside Buenos Aires, and the only zoo in Argentina accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
When you get to Fray Bentos
Miguel Young Theatre, Fray Bentos
The Miguel Young Theatre in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, was built in 1913 to plans by Antonio Llambías de Olivar.
Museo Luis Alberto Solari
Museo Luis Alberto Solari is a fine arts museum in Fray Bentos, capital of Uruguay's Río Negro department, welcoming the general public, students and foreign visitors.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from this spot on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos starting in 1865. In 1924, the Anglo plant began shipping frozen meat from the same site.
More drives to Fray Bentos
- Florida, Uruguay to Fray Bentos
- Minas to Fray Bentos
- Rivera to Fray Bentos
- Rocha to Fray Bentos
- Melo to Fray Bentos
- Buenos Aires to Fray Bentos, Uruguay
More drives from Mar del Plata
- Mar del Plata to Viedma
- Mar del Plata to Adrogué
- Mar del Plata to Tigre
- Mar del Plata to San Antonio de Areco
- Mar del Plata to Arrecifes
- Mar del Plata to Pergamino
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mar del Plata to Fray Bentos, Uruguay?
About 8 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 428 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mar del Plata to Fray Bentos, Uruguay?
About 428 miles (688 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 Mar del Plata to Fray Bentos drive cross the border?
At about mile 421, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Mar del Plata 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Mar del Plata to Fray Bentos, Uruguay?
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 Mar del Plata to Fray Bentos?
In order: RP2, RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Mar del Plata to Fray Bentos?
Closest to the road: Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (film museum, mile 254, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo de la Casa Rosada (museum, mile 255, 0.2 mi from the route); Raúl Scalabrini Ortiz National Railway Museum (railway museum, mile 257, 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.