The Wayro route from Mar del Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay is 465 miles (749 km), about 8 h 45 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 460, at the Colón–Paysandú 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance | 465 mi (749 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 45 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP2 → RN1 → AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN135 |
| Border crossing | about mile 460, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Argentina–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 460, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Entre Ríos into Paysandú. 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.
How the Mar del Plata to Paysandú drive plays out
RP2 (234 mi) and RN14 (93 mi) carry about 70% of the 465 miles. The first 460 miles are in Argentina; the last 5 are in Uruguay. It runs through 4 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Paysandú. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Mar del Plata to Paysandú: the road sequence
| 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 | 357–450 | 93 | Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 450–459 | 9 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 459–465 | 6 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú |
- Mile 249 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 460 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Mar del Plata and Paysandú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Buenos Aires (mile 254), Teatro Maipo (mile 255), Monument to General Carlos M. de Alvear (mile 257), Tierra Santa (mile 261), Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 263)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 297)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Buenos Aires (mile 254), Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 263), Museo Histórico Cornelio de Saavedra (mile 265), Museo Pueyrredon (mile 268)
- With kids: Tierra Santa (mile 261)
Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Buenos Aires
Facing Lezama Park in San Telmo, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity is an Eastern Orthodox church in Buenos Aires.
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.
Monument to General Carlos M. de Alvear
Raised in honor of Carlos María de Alvear, this public sculpture monument stands on Plaza Julio de Caro in the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi
An equestrian statue of Italian military and political figure Giuseppe Garibaldi, this monument stands on Plaza Italia in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
Tierra Santa
Tierra Santa is a religious theme park in the city of Buenos Aires, in Argentina.
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.
Museo Histórico Cornelio de Saavedra
Inside Parque General Paz on Avenida Crisólogo Larralde, the Cornelio de Saavedra Historical Museum is a history museum of the City of Buenos Aires.
Museo Pueyrredon
In Acassuso, in the San Isidro district of Buenos Aires Province, this municipal history museum bears the name of Brigadier General Juan Martín de Pueyrredón.
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.
When you get to Paysandú
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.
Teatro Florencio Sánchez
In the city of Paysandú, Teatro Florencio Sánchez is a theater and movie house that has been declared a national historic monument of Uruguay.
More drives to Paysandú
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Montevideo to Paysandú
- Buenos Aires to Paysandú, Uruguay
- La Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Berisso to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Porto Alegre to Paysandú, 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 Paysandú, Uruguay?
About 8 h 45 min of driving without stops, over 465 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mar del Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay?
About 465 miles (749 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 Paysandú drive cross the border?
At about mile 460, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú 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 Paysandú, 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 Paysandú?
In order: RP2, RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN135. 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 Paysandú?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Buenos Aires (cathedral, mile 254, 0.4 mi from the route); Tierra Santa (theme park, mile 261, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (museum, mile 263, 0.4 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.