Plan on about 4 h 3 min of driving for the 199-mile (320 km) trip from Mercedes, Uruguay to Adrogué, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 21, 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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 199 mi (320 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → RNA001 |
| Border crossing | about mile 21, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Adrogué
The route crosses at about mile 21, 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.
The Mercedes–Adrogué drive in a few lines
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 43% of the 199 miles. The first 21 miles are in Uruguay; the last 178 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Mercedes and Adrogué
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–19 | 19 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 19–21 | 2 | Río Negro |
| RN136 | 21–41 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 41–47 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 47–83 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 83–130 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 130–135 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 135–136 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 136–175 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 175–176 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RNA001 | 176–193 | 17 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 193–199 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
- Mile 3 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 21 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 114 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 176 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
What to see on the way from Mercedes to Adrogué
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Temaikèn (mile 153), Casa Museo Ernesto Sabato (mile 180)
- Nature and outdoors: Jardín Botánico Lucien Hauman (mile 178), Reserva Ecológica Lago Lugano (mile 188)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 42), Museo del Estudio Jurídico (mile 172), Museo Nacional del Hombre (mile 176), Casa Museo Ernesto Sabato (mile 180)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 153)
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.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
Museo del Estudio Jurídico
Founded in 2015, the Museo del Estudio Jurídico sits on 9 de Julio Street in the commercial center of San Isidro, Argentina.
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.
Jardín Botánico Lucien Hauman
Run by the Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Buenos Aires, Jardín Botánico Lucien Hauman is a one-hectare botanical garden in the city of Buenos Aires.
Casa Museo Ernesto Sabato
Writer Ernesto Sabato lived in this Santos Lugares house with his wife Matilde from 1945 until his death in 2011; today Casa Museo Ernesto Sabato is a museum run by his grandchildren.
Torre Espacial
Rising 200 meters in Buenos Aires' Villa Soldati section, Torre Espacial (also called Torre Interama) is an observation tower built between 1980 and 1981 for the Parque de la Ciudad amusement park.
Reserva Ecológica Lago Lugano
In Villa Soldati, in the south of Buenos Aires, this ecological reserve surrounds Lago Lugano with 36 hectares of green space, about 350 native species and 1,000 meters of trails.
Once you reach Adrogué
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, Lomas de Zamora
Facing the central square of Lomas de Zamora, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace stands on land donated by Victorio Grigera in 1860.
Museo Histórico La Campana
Dedicated to the history of the Monte Grande area, Museo Histórico La Campana stands in Monte Grande, in Esteban Echeverría district, and opened on November 10, 1980.
More drives to Adrogué
- Mar del Plata to Adrogué
- Tigre to Adrogué
- Berisso to Adrogué
- Luján to Adrogué
- Pergamino to Adrogué
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Adrogué
More drives from Mercedes
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Cabo Polonio
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Chuy
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Río Branco
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Tigre, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mercedes, Uruguay to Adrogué, Argentina?
About 4 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 199 miles.
How far is Adrogué, Argentina from Mercedes, Uruguay by car?
About 199 miles (320 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 Mercedes to Adrogué drive cross the border?
At about mile 21, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Mercedes 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 Mercedes to Adrogué 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 Mercedes to Adrogué?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9 and RNA001. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mercedes and Adrogué?
Closest to the road: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 42, 1 mi from the route); Temaikèn (zoo, mile 153, 0.5 mi from the route); Casa Museo Ernesto Sabato (historic house museum, mile 180, 0.7 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.