By road, Montevideo and Magdalena, Argentina are about 423 miles (681 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 56 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 423 mi (681 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 56 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| 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 16.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Magdalena
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 Magdalena: the shape of the trip
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (40 mi) carry about 21% of the 423 miles. The first 194 miles are in Uruguay; the last 229 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, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Montevideo to Magdalena, 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 |
| RP11 | 392–423 | 31 | 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 Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 326), Teatro Liceo (mile 359)
- Nature and outdoors: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 326), Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 355)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 355), Museo Carlos Gardel, Buenos Aires (mile 359), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 394)
- With kids: Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum (mile 355)
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.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from this spot on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos starting in 1865. In 1924, the Anglo plant began shipping frozen meat from the same site.
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.
Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum
Located in the Caballito neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Argentine Museum is a public museum devoted to the natural sciences.
Museo Carlos Gardel, Buenos Aires
Tango singer, composer and film actor Carlos Gardel once lived in the Buenos Aires house that is now the Museo Casa Carlos Gardel.
Teatro Liceo
Recognized by the city as the oldest theater still standing in Buenos Aires, Teatro Liceo sits at the corner of Rivadavia Avenue and Paraná Street in Montserrat.
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.
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 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 is the drive from Montevideo to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 8 h 56 min of driving without stops, over 423 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Montevideo by car?
About 423 miles (681 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 Magdalena 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 Magdalena 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.
What roads does the drive from Montevideo to Magdalena use?
In order: RN HB, 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 Montevideo and Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 175, 0.8 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 326, 0.2 mi from the route); Teatro Liceo (theater, mile 359, 0.4 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.