Mercedes, Uruguay to Cariló, Argentina is about 411 road miles (661 km): roughly 7 h 60 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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: “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 | 411 mi (661 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 60 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RNA004 → RP2 → RP63 → RP11 → RP56 → RP74 |
| 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 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
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 Cariló: the shape of the trip
RP2 (102 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 36% of the 411 miles. The first 21 miles are in Uruguay; the last 390 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Mercedes and Cariló
| 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 | 175–178 | 3 | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 178–184 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 184–187 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 187–204 | 17 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| RNA004 | 204–214 | 10 | Buenos Aires |
| RP2 | 214–316 | 102 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 316–317 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP63 | 317–335 | 18 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 335–350 | 15 | Buenos Aires |
| RP56 | 350–389 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| RP74 | 389–405 | 16 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 405–408 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 408–411 | 3 | 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 192 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Cariló
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 178), Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography (mile 186)
- Museums and history: San Isidro Cathedral (mile 172), Museo Pueyrredon (mile 172), Museo Histórico Cornelio de Saavedra (mile 176), Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 178), Our Lady of Narek Cathedral, Buenos Aires (mile 182), Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography (mile 186)
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.
San Isidro Cathedral
Main church of the Diocese of San Isidro, this cathedral stands on Del Libertador Avenue opposite Plaza Mitre, in the historic quarter of San Isidro in Buenos Aires province.
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.
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 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.
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.
Our Lady of Narek Cathedral, Buenos Aires
On Charcas Street in Buenos Aires, the Armenian Cathedral of Our Lady of Narek is an Armenian Catholic church following the Armenian rite in full communion with the Pope.
Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography
Overseen by the University of Buenos Aires Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, the Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography is an ethnography museum in Buenos Aires.
More drives to Cariló
- Necochea to Cariló
- Balneario El Cóndor to Cariló
- Tigre to Cariló
- Arrecifes to Cariló
- Martínez to Cariló
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Cariló
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 Cariló, Argentina?
About 7 h 60 min of driving without stops, over 411 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mercedes, Uruguay to Cariló, Argentina?
About 411 miles (661 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 Cariló 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 Cariló 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 Cariló?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1, RNA004, RP2, RP63, RP11, RP56 and RP74. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Mercedes to Cariló?
Closest to the road: Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (museum, mile 178, 0.4 mi from the route); Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi (sculpture, mile 181, 1 mi from the route); Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography (ethnographic museum, mile 186, 0.6 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.