Plan on about 7 h 16 min of driving for the 340-mile (547 km) trip from Montevideo to Luján, Argentina, before any stops. 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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance by road | 340 mi (547 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RP47 |
| 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Border crossing: what to bring for 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.
Driving Montevideo to Luján: the shape of the trip
RN12 (47 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 24% of the 340 miles. The first 194 miles are in Uruguay; the last 146 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Montevideo, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Montevideo to Luján, 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 | 304–331 | 27 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 331–333 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP47 | 333–338 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 338–340 | 2 | 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)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Montevideo and Luján
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 314)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 175), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 215)
- 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
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
Calera Real del Dacá
On the eastern edge of Mercedes beside the Dacá stream, the ruins of the Calera Real lime works date to 1722 and are considered the region's first industrial site; recent works added visitor circuits, lighting and interpretive signs.
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.
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.
In Luján itself
Basilica of Our Lady of Luján
The Basilica of Our Lady of Luján is a Catholic church in Luján, Buenos Aires province, dedicated to Our Lady of Luján, the patron saint of Argentina.
Museum of Fine Arts Fernán Félix de Amador
Luján's Museum of Fine Arts is named after Fernán Félix de Amador, the Argentine writer, poet and journalist born in the city.
Provincial Museum Complex «Enrique Udaondo»
In Luján, the Complejo Museográfico Provincial Enrique Udaondo brings together the Colonial and Historical Museum, the Transport Museum, and the Automobile Hall in one complex.
More drives to Luján
- Buenos Aires to Luján
- La Plata to Luján
- Bahía Blanca to Luján
- Paraná to Luján
- San Luis to Luján
- Salto to Luján, Argentina
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 Luján, Argentina?
About 7 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 340 miles.
What is the driving distance from Montevideo to Luján, Argentina?
About 340 miles (547 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 Luján 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 Luján, 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 Montevideo to Luján?
In order: RN HB, RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6 and RP47. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montevideo and Luján?
Closest to the road: Parque Lecocq (zoo, mile 14, 0.9 mi from the route); Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 58, 0.9 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 175, 0.8 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.