Plan on about 5 h 4 min of driving for the 250-mile (402 km) trip from Mercedes, Uruguay to Magdalena, 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 in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 250 mi (402 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 4 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| 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 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
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.
What the drive from Mercedes to Magdalena is like
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 34% of the 250 miles. The first 21 miles are in Uruguay; the last 229 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, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mercedes to Magdalena, road by road
| 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 | 187–217 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 217–219 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 219–249 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 249–250 | 1 | 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 Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Temaikèn (mile 153), Museo de Arquitectura y Diseño (mile 184), Women's Museum of Argentina (mile 185), Ernesto de la Cárcova Museum of Reproductions and Comparative Sculpture (mile 188)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 42), Museo de Arquitectura y Diseño (mile 184), Women's Museum of Argentina (mile 185), Ernesto de la Cárcova Museum of Reproductions and Comparative Sculpture (mile 188), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 220), Museum of Contemporary Latin American Art of La Plata (mile 220)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 153)
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.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
In Gualeguaychú, Argentina, the Roman Catholic diocese has its cathedral church at St. Joseph's, also known as Gualeguaychú Cathedral.
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.
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.
Museo de Arquitectura y Diseño
Run by the Sociedad Central de Arquitectos, Museo de Arquitectura y Diseño is a museum dedicated to architecture and design in Argentina.
Women's Museum of Argentina
Created on August 11, 2006, the Women's Museum of Argentina is at Pasaje Rivarola 147 in Buenos Aires and has been declared of cultural interest by the national Chamber of Deputies.
Ernesto de la Cárcova Museum of Reproductions and Comparative Sculpture
Run by the National University of Arts, this museum of reproductions and comparative sculpture is in the Puerto Madero area of Buenos Aires.
Cathedral of La Plata
Facing Plaza Moreno and City Hall at the geographic center of La Plata, this neo-Gothic cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
Museum of Contemporary Latin American Art of La Plata
Opened in 1999, the Museum of Contemporary Latin American Art of La Plata (MACLA) is a fine arts museum in La Plata, Buenos Aires province, with free admission.
More drives to Magdalena
- Necochea to Magdalena
- Adrogué to Magdalena
- Tigre to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Luján to Magdalena
- San Antonio de Areco to Magdalena
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 is the drive from Mercedes, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 5 h 4 min of driving without stops, over 250 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mercedes, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 250 miles (402 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 Magdalena 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Mercedes, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina?
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.
What roads does the drive from Mercedes to Magdalena use?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Mercedes and Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Temaikèn (zoo, mile 153, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo de Arquitectura y Diseño (museum, mile 184, 0.2 mi from the route); Women's Museum of Argentina (museum, mile 185, 0.2 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.