By road, Mar del Plata and Salto, Uruguay are about 543 miles (874 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 9 min of driving. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 534, at Concordia–Salto.
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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance by road | 543 mi (874 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP2 → RN1 → AV1-N → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RNA015 |
| Border crossing | about mile 534, Argentina → Uruguay (Concordia–Salto) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Salto |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Argentina into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 534, at Concordia–Salto, from Entre Ríos into Salto. 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.
On the road from Mar del Plata to Salto
RP2 (234 mi) and RN14 (166 mi) carry about 74% of the 543 miles. The first 534 miles are in Argentina; the last 9 are in Uruguay. It runs through 4 regions: Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Salto. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Mar del Plata and Salto
| 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 | 357–523 | 166 | Entre Ríos |
| RNA015 | 523–534 | 11 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 534–543 | 9 | Salto |
- 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 534 of this route: Entre Ríos → Salto (international border)
Stops between Mar del Plata and Salto
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basílica de San Francisco (mile 255), Catedral Stella Maris (mile 256), José Hernández Folk Art Museum (mile 258), Tierra Santa (mile 261), ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination (mile 263), El Palmar National Park (mile 480), Termas de Salto Grande (mile 535)
- Nature and outdoors: El Palmar National Park (mile 480), Termas de Salto Grande (mile 535)
- Museums and history: Basílica de San Francisco (mile 255), Catedral Stella Maris (mile 256), José Hernández Folk Art Museum (mile 258), ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination (mile 263), Museo Histórico Cornelio de Saavedra (mile 265), Museo Pueyrredon (mile 268)
- With kids: Tierra Santa (mile 261)
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.
Catedral Stella Maris
Catedral Stella Maris is a Catholic church dedicated to Our Lady Star of the Sea and serves as the cathedral of Argentina's military diocese.
José Hernández Folk Art Museum
Part of the city's public museum network, Buenos Aires' José Hernández Folk Art Museum collects, studies and displays Argentine folk art in its many forms.
Tierra Santa
Tierra Santa is a religious theme park in the city of Buenos Aires, in Argentina.
ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination
Set in Buenos Aires on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds, one of the largest clandestine detention, torture and extermination centers of the last dictatorship, this site museum was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2023.
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.
El Palmar National Park
Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.
Termas de Salto Grande
On the Uruguayan shore of the Salto Grande dam's lake in Salto department, Termas de Salto Grande is a hot spring complex.
Arriving in Salto
Museo del Centro Cultural Casa Horacio Quiroga
In Salto, the Museo del Centro Cultural Casa Horacio Quiroga (Casa Quiroga) tells the life and work of writer Horacio Quiroga inside a house that was one of his family's summer homes.
Teatro Larrañaga
Teatro Larrañaga is the main performing arts venue in the city of Salto, Uruguay.
Cathedral of Salto
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is Salto's main Catholic church and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1939.
More drives to Salto
- Montevideo to Salto
- Buenos Aires to Salto, Uruguay
- Córdoba, Argentina to Salto, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Salto, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Salto, Uruguay
- Resistencia to Salto, 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 does it take to drive from Mar del Plata to Salto, Uruguay?
About 10 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 543 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mar del Plata to Salto, Uruguay?
About 543 miles (874 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 Salto drive cross the border?
At about mile 534, from Argentina into Uruguay, at Concordia–Salto.
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 Salto, 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.
What roads does the drive from Mar del Plata to Salto use?
In order: RP2, RN1, AV1-N, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RNA015. 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 Salto?
Closest to the road: Basílica de San Francisco (basilica, mile 255, 0.3 mi from the route); ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination (museum, mile 263, 0.2 mi from the route); El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 480, 0.1 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.