Plan on about 8 h 18 min of driving for the 377-mile (607 km) trip from Montevideo to Rosario, 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance | 377 mi (607 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB → RN136 → RP16 → RN12 → RP11 → RN174 |
| 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, Santa Fe |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
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 Rosario is like
RP11 (64 mi) and RP16 (41 mi) carry about 28% of the 377 miles. The first 194 miles are in Uruguay; the last 183 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Montevideo, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Santa Fe. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Montevideo and Rosario
| 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 |
| connecting roads | 214–217 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 217–222 | 5 | Entre Ríos |
| RP16 | 222–263 | 41 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 263–268 | 5 | Entre Ríos |
| RP11 | 268–332 | 64 | Entre Ríos |
| RN174 | 332–369 | 37 | Entre Ríos, Santa Fe |
| connecting roads | 369–370 | 1 | Santa Fe |
| local roads | 370–377 | 7 | Santa Fe |
- 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 367 of this route: Entre Ríos → Santa Fe (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Montevideo and Rosario
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 216), Abadía del Niño Dios (mile 332), Balneario La Florida (mile 368)
- Nature and outdoors: Balneario La Florida (mile 368)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 58), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 175), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 175), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 216)
- 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.
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
The former Anglo meatpacking plant on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos began shipping frozen meat in 1924, on the site where Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from 1865. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
Abadía del Niño Dios
Abadía del Niño Dios is a Benedictine monastery in Victoria, Entre Ríos Province. Founded in 1899, it was the first Benedictine foundation in Hispanic America.
Balneario La Florida
Rosario's municipal riverside beach area runs nearly 4 kilometers along the Paraná River, from the Rosario-Victoria Bridge to Parque Alem, and dates to around 1940.
Arriving in Rosario
Museum of Contemporary Art of Rosario
Devoted to contemporary art, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Rosario is an annex of the Juan B. Castagnino Fine Arts Museum in Rosario, Santa Fe province, Argentina.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Rosario
Rosario's Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary is a minor basilica dedicated to the city's Virgin of the Rosary and serves as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Rosario.
Firma y Odilo Estévez Municipal Decorative Art Museum
Once the Estévez family home in Rosario, this house was donated to the city and turned into the Firma y Odilo Estévez Municipal Decorative Art Museum.
More drives to Rosario
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 Rosario, Argentina?
About 8 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 377 miles.
How far is Rosario, Argentina from Montevideo by car?
About 377 miles (607 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 Rosario 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 Rosario, 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 Rosario use?
In order: RN HB, RN136, RP16, RN12, RP11 and RN174. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Montevideo and Rosario?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 175, 0.8 mi from the route); Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 216, 0.7 mi from the route); Abadía del Niño Dios (monastery, mile 332, 0.6 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.