By road, Montevideo and Berisso, Argentina are about 398 miles (640 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 22 min of driving. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 194, 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 | 398 mi (640 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP13 |
| Border crossing | about mile 194, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Montevideo, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Uruguay into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 194, 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 Montevideo–Berisso drive in a few lines
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 22% of the 398 miles. The first 194 miles are in Uruguay; the last 204 are in Argentina. It runs through 8 regions: Montevideo, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Montevideo to Berisso, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Montevideo |
| RN HB | 3–6 | 3 | Montevideo |
| local roads | 6–95 | 89 | Montevideo, San José, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 95–96 | 1 | Colonia |
| local roads | 96–193 | 97 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 193–195 | 2 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 195–214 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 214–221 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 221–257 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 257–304 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 304–309 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 309–349 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 349–352 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 352–358 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 358–361 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 361–391 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 391–392 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP13 | 392–395 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 395–398 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 15 of this route: Montevideo → San José (region line)
- Mile 78 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 96 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 177 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 288 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 349 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 366 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Stops between Montevideo and Berisso
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Parque de la Memoria (mile 353), Teatro Nacional Cervantes (mile 359), Women's Museum of Argentina (mile 359)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque de la Memoria (mile 353)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta (mile 353), Women's Museum of Argentina (mile 359)
- With kids: Parque Lecocq (mile 14), The Children's Republic (mile 388)
Parque Lecocq
Next to Santiago Vázquez, northwest of Montevideo, Parque Lecocq is a zoo with mammals and birds, breeding programs, and grounds bordering the Santa Lucía wetlands.
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
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.
Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta
In Buenos Aires's Belgrano neighborhood, the Enrique Larreta Museum is devoted to Spanish art.
Parque de la Memoria
Facing the Río de la Plata at the northern end of Buenos Aires' Belgrano section, Parque de la Memoria is a public memorial to the victims of Argentina's 1976–1983 military regime.
Teatro Nacional Cervantes
The Teatro Nacional Cervantes in Buenos Aires is Argentina's national stage, a theater for drama and comedy.
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.
The Children's Republic
Spread over 131 acres in La Plata, The Children's Republic is a theme park with 35 scale-model buildings.
In Berisso itself
Museo de Bellas Artes
Founded in 1922, the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes Emilio Pettoruti is the provincial fine arts museum in La Plata.
La Plata Astronomical Observatory
The La Plata Astronomical Observatory sits in the city of La Plata, capital of Buenos Aires Province, and is registered with the IAU under code 839.
La Plata Museum
Part of the National University of La Plata's natural sciences faculty, the La Plata Museum is a natural history museum in the city of La Plata.
More drives to Berisso
- Luján to Berisso
- Pergamino to Berisso
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Berisso
- Rosario, Argentina to Berisso
- Santa Fe to Berisso
- Gualeguaychú to Berisso
More drives from Montevideo
- Montevideo to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Montevideo to Piriápolis
- Montevideo to Florida, Uruguay
- Montevideo to Minas
- Montevideo to Conchillas
- Montevideo to Mercedes, Uruguay
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Montevideo to Berisso, Argentina?
About 8 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
How far is Berisso, Argentina from Montevideo by car?
About 398 miles (640 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 Montevideo to Berisso drive cross the border?
At about mile 194, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Montevideo 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 Montevideo to Berisso 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 Montevideo to Berisso?
In order: RN HB, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP13. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montevideo and Berisso?
Closest to the road: Parque de la Memoria (memorial park, mile 353, 0.5 mi from the route); Teatro Nacional Cervantes (theater, mile 359, 0.1 mi from the route); Women's Museum of Argentina (museum, mile 359, 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.