Plan on about 9 h 37 min of driving for the 512-mile (824 km) trip from Mercedes, Uruguay to Capilla del Monte, 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 512 mi (824 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RP16 → RN12 → RP11 → RN174 → RNA008 → RN9 → RNA019 → RN20 → RN38 |
| Border crossing | about mile 21, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Córdoba |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
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.
Driving Mercedes to Capilla del Monte: the shape of the trip
RN9 (241 mi) and RP11 (64 mi) carry about 60% of the 512 miles. The first 21 miles are in Uruguay; the last 491 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Córdoba. Of the 7 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Mercedes to Capilla del Monte
| 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 |
| connecting roads | 41–43 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 43–48 | 5 | Entre Ríos |
| RP16 | 48–90 | 42 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 90–94 | 4 | Entre Ríos |
| RP11 | 94–158 | 64 | Entre Ríos |
| RN174 | 158–195 | 37 | Entre Ríos, Santa Fe |
| RNA008 | 195–201 | 6 | Santa Fe |
| RN9 | 201–442 | 241 | Santa Fe, Córdoba |
| RNA019 | 442–454 | 12 | Córdoba |
| connecting roads | 454–455 | 1 | Córdoba |
| RN20 | 455–467 | 12 | Córdoba |
| local roads | 467–485 | 18 | Córdoba |
| RN38 | 485–511 | 26 | Córdoba |
| local roads | 511–512 | 1 | Córdoba |
- Mile 3 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 21 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 193 of this route: Entre Ríos → Santa Fe (region line)
- Mile 262 of this route: Santa Fe → Córdoba (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Capilla del Monte
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Abadía del Niño Dios (mile 158)
- Museums and history: Bicentennial Lighthouse (mile 447), Museo Usina Molet (mile 470), Eden Hotel (mile 492)
- With kids: Paraná River Aquarium (mile 196)
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015, the old Anglo meatpacking plant stands on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos, where frozen meat shipments began in 1924.
Abadía del Niño Dios
Abadía del Niño Dios is a Benedictine monastery in Victoria, Entre Ríos Province. Founded in 1899, it was the first Benedictine foundation in Hispanic America.
Paraná River Aquarium
The Paraná River Aquarium in Rosario is a public aquarium built as a scientific and educational center focused on the river.
Bicentennial Lighthouse
Rising 335 feet in Sarmiento Park in Córdoba, the Bicentennial Lighthouse (Faro del Bicentenario) is a lighthouse-like monument.
Argentine National Observatory
Founded in 1871 by President Domingo F. Sarmiento and American astronomer Benjamin Apthorp Gould, the Argentine National Observatory is known today as the Astronomical Observatory of Córdoba.
Museo Usina Molet
Museo Usina Molet stands on the banks of the Suquía River in the Punilla Valley of Córdoba province, at kilometer 22 of Provincial Route E 55.
Eden Hotel
In La Falda, about 45 km from the Cabildo de Córdoba, the Eden Hotel is a former hotel that is now a historic site.
More drives to Capilla del Monte
- Córdoba, Argentina to Capilla del Monte
- Paraná to Capilla del Monte
- Rosario, Argentina to Capilla del Monte
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Capilla del Monte
- Pergamino to Capilla del Monte
- Arrecifes to Capilla del Monte
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Mercedes, Uruguay to Capilla del Monte, Argentina?
About 9 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 512 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mercedes, Uruguay to Capilla del Monte, Argentina?
About 512 miles (824 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 Capilla del Monte 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 Capilla del Monte 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 Capilla del Monte?
In order: RN136, RP16, RN12, RP11, RN174, RNA008, RN9, RNA019, RN20 and RN38. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Mercedes to Capilla del Monte?
Closest to the road: Abadía del Niño Dios (monastery, mile 158, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo Usina Molet (museum, mile 470, 1 mi from the route); Eden Hotel (museum, mile 492, 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.