By road, Montevideo and La Plata, Argentina are about 395 miles (635 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 16 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: “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.”
| Total distance | 395 mi (635 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 |
| 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 15.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to La Plata
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.
What the drive from Montevideo to La Plata is like
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 22% of the 395 miles. The first 194 miles are in Uruguay; the last 201 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.
Roads you'll take from Montevideo to La Plata
| 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 |
| local roads | 391–395 | 4 | 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)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Montevideo and La Plata
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Evita Museum (mile 355), Avenida Theatre (mile 359), Women's Museum of Argentina (mile 359)
- Nature and outdoors: Buenos Aires Botanical Garden (mile 355)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 215), Museo Histórico Cornelio de Saavedra (mile 350), Evita Museum (mile 355), Women's Museum of Argentina (mile 359)
- With kids: Parque Lecocq (mile 14)
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
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
Buenos Aires Botanical Garden
In the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden fills a triangular plot bounded by Santa Fe Avenue, Las Heras Avenue and República Árabe Siria Street.
Evita Museum
In Palermo, Buenos Aires, at 2988 Lafinur Street, the Evita Museum covers the life and legacy of Eva Duarte de Perón and her work through the Eva Perón Foundation.
Avenida Theatre
The Avenida Theatre is a theater venue in the city of Buenos Aires, 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.
In La Plata itself
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.
Basílica de San Ponciano
On Calle 48 in La Plata, Basílica de San Ponciano is a Catholic church named a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1997 and a diocesan sanctuary in 2019.
Basílica del Sagrado Corazón
The Basílica del Sagrado Corazón stands in La Plata at 58 and 9 streets and Diagonal 73, belongs to the Archdiocese of La Plata, and hosted the city's first Mass for deaf people.
More drives to La Plata
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 La Plata, Argentina?
About 8 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 395 miles.
How far is La Plata, Argentina from Montevideo by car?
About 395 miles (635 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 La Plata 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Montevideo to La Plata, 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 Montevideo to La Plata use?
In order: RN HB, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N and RN1. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montevideo and La Plata?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 175, 0.8 mi from the route); Avenida Theatre (theater, mile 359, 0.2 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.