The Wayro route from Montevideo to Mercedes, Argentina is 474 miles (763 km), about 9 h 15 min of driving without stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 239, at the Colón–Paysandú 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 should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance | 474 mi (763 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB → RN135 → RN14 → RN119 |
| Border crossing | about mile 239, Uruguay → Argentina (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Entre Ríos, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 239, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Paysandú 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 Mercedes: the shape of the trip
RN14 (158 mi) and RN119 (66 mi) carry about 47% of the 474 miles. The first 239 miles are in Uruguay; the last 235 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Entre Ríos, Corrientes. Of the 6 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Montevideo and Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Montevideo |
| RN HB | 3–6 | 3 | Montevideo |
| local roads | 6–240 | 234 | Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 240–248 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 248–406 | 158 | Entre Ríos, Corrientes |
| RN119 | 406–472 | 66 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 472–474 | 2 | Corrientes |
- Mile 15 of this route: Montevideo → San José (region line)
- Mile 91 of this route: San José → Flores (region line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Flores → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 206 of this route: Río Negro → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 239 of this route: Paysandú → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 368 of this route: Entre Ríos → Corrientes (region line)
Stops between Montevideo and Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 60), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 60), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), El Palmar National Park (mile 277)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), El Palmar National Park (mile 277)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 60), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 60), Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 231)
- 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.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice
Off Route 3 near Trinidad, the Dr. Rodolfo Tálice Ecopark (Reserva de Flora y Fauna Dr. Rodolfo Talice) is a fenced wildlife reserve where axis deer, greater rheas and pampas deer roam free alongside other species.
Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú
Paysandú's Catholic parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Benedict of Palermo was named a minor basilica in 1949 and remains an active parish of the city.
El Palmar National Park
Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.
More drives to Mercedes
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Argentina
- La Plata to Mercedes, Argentina
- Berisso to Mercedes, Argentina
- Chascomús to Mercedes, Argentina
- Formosa, Argentina to Mercedes, Argentina
- Resistencia to Mercedes, 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 Mercedes, Argentina?
About 9 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 474 miles.
What is the driving distance from Montevideo to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 474 miles (763 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 Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 239, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Colón–Paysandú 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 Mercedes 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 Mercedes?
In order: RN HB, RN135, RN14 and RN119. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montevideo and Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 60, 0.7 mi from the route); Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 122, 0.2 mi from the route); El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 277, 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.