The Wayro route from Mercedes, Uruguay to Tigre, Argentina is 171 miles (275 km), about 3 h 27 min of driving without 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.”
| Distance | 171 mi (275 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → RP24 |
| Border crossing | about mile 21, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The border on the way to Tigre
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.
On the road from Mercedes to Tigre
RN12 (47 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 49% of the 171 miles. The first 21 miles are in Uruguay; the last 150 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mercedes to Tigre, 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 | 136–164 | 28 | Buenos Aires |
| RP24 | 164–170 | 6 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 170–171 | 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)
What to see on the way from Mercedes to Tigre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 152), Temaikèn (mile 153)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 144), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 152)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 42)
- 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
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
About 2,500 hectares of wetlands in Campana, Buenos Aires province, are protected as Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park. It's a Ramsar Site and home to the marsh deer and plenty of waterbirds.
Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar
Landscape engineer Yasuo Inomata designed this Japanese garden in Belén de Escobar in 1969, and the local Japanese community donated it to the city. Red, white and spotted koi swim in its 1,000-square-meter pond.
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.
In Tigre itself
Otamendi Belgrano Palace
At Sarmiento 1427 in San Fernando, the eclectic-style Palacio Belgrano Otamendi was the home of architect Joaquín Mariano Belgrano, who designed it himself.
Parque de la Costa
In Tigre, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires, Parque de la Costa is an amusement park that makes an easy break from the road.
Tigre Club
Once the Tigre Club, the Tigre Art Museum stands on the banks of the Luján River along Paseo Victorica in Tigre and is named for former mayor Ricardo Ubieto.
More drives to Tigre
- La Plata to Tigre
- Chascomús to Tigre
- Tandil to Tigre
- Mar del Plata to Tigre
- Necochea to Tigre
- Bahía Blanca to Tigre
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 Villa Gesell, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mercedes, Uruguay to Tigre, Argentina?
About 3 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 171 miles.
What is the driving distance from Mercedes, Uruguay to Tigre, Argentina?
About 171 miles (275 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 Tigre 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 Tigre, 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.
Which highways go from Mercedes to Tigre?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9 and RP24. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Mercedes to Tigre?
Closest to the road: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 42, 1 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 152, 0.3 mi from the route); Temaikèn (zoo, mile 153, 0.5 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.