By road, Melo and Chascomús, Argentina are about 555 miles (893 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 44 min of driving. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 272, at the Colón–Paysandú 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.”
| Distance | 555 mi (893 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN135 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RNA004 → RP2 |
| Border crossing | about mile 272, Uruguay → Argentina (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Cerro Largo, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Uruguay into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 272, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Paysandú 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.
On the road from Melo to Chascomús
RN14 (94 mi) and RN12 (48 mi) carry about 26% of the 555 miles. The first 272 miles are in Uruguay; the last 283 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Cerro Largo, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Melo to Chascomús, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–273 | 273 | Cerro Largo, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto, Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 273–281 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 281–375 | 94 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 375–423 | 48 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 423–428 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 428–467 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 467–469 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 469–476 | 7 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 476–479 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 479–496 | 17 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| RNA004 | 496–505 | 9 | Buenos Aires |
| RP2 | 505–551 | 46 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 551–555 | 4 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 42 of this route: Cerro Largo → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 149 of this route: Tacuarembó → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 158 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 164 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Paysandú → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 406 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 467 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 484 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
What to see on the way from Melo to Chascomús
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 124), Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 126), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 142), El Rosedal De Palermo (mile 473), St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires (mile 476), Teatro General San Martín (mile 477), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 480)
- Nature and outdoors: Pozo Hondo (mile 144), El Rosedal De Palermo (mile 473)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 126), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 142), Sarmiento Historical Museum (mile 471), St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires (mile 476), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 480)
- With kids: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 124)
Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba
Reachable from Route 5 at kilometer 390, the Mauricio López Lomba reserve is a wildlife reserve in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Cathedral of Tacuarembó
Saint Fructuosus Cathedral is the main Catholic church of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1960.
Museo Carlos Gardel
Dedicated to the life and work of Carlos Gardel, this museum is in Valle Edén, Tacuarembó department, 21 kilometers from the city of Tacuarembó.
Pozo Hondo
Pozo Hondo is a waterfall in Uruguay's Tacuarembó department, located between the towns of Valle Edén and Tambores.
Sarmiento Historical Museum
In the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Sarmiento Historical Museum covers the Generation of '80 and the life of President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, with sections on Nicolás Avellaneda and the 1880 federalization.
El Rosedal De Palermo
Part of Parque Tres de Febrero in Palermo, the Rosedal covers 3.4 hectares with about 18,000 rose bushes, busts of 26 poets and writers, a Greek-style bridge and an Andalusian patio.
St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires
Also known as the Maronite Catholic Cathedral of Buenos Aires, St. Maron's Cathedral stands at 834 Paraguay Street in the city.
Teatro General San Martín
On Corrientes Avenue next to the cultural center of the same name, Teatro General San Martín is a public theater with stages for plays and film plus art exhibitions.
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.
When you get to Chascomús
Chascomús Lagoon
On the east side of the city of Chascomús, in Buenos Aires Province, Chascomús Lagoon (Laguna de Chascomús) lies in the Salado River basin and is the second lagoon in the chain known as Las Encadenadas.
More drives to Chascomús
- Necochea to Chascomús
- Pergamino to Chascomús
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Chascomús
- Rosario, Argentina to Chascomús
- Santa Fe to Chascomús
- Gualeguaychú to Chascomús
More drives from Melo
- Melo to Punta del Diablo
- Melo to Minas
- Melo to Barra de Valizas
- Melo to La Paloma
- Melo to Piriápolis
- Melo to Fray Marcos
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Melo to Chascomús, Argentina?
About 11 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 555 miles.
What is the driving distance from Melo to Chascomús, Argentina?
About 555 miles (893 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 Melo to Chascomús drive cross the border?
At about mile 272, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Melo 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 Melo to Chascomús 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 Melo to Chascomús?
In order: RN135, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1, RNA004 and RP2. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Melo to Chascomús?
Closest to the road: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 124, 0.3 mi from the route); St. Maron's Cathedral, Buenos Aires (cathedral, mile 476, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (film museum, 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.