The Wayro route from Montevideo to San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Argentina is 401 miles (646 km), about 8 h 13 min of driving without 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: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 401 mi (646 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB → RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RN9 |
| 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 16.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
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.
On the road from Montevideo to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
RN9 (90 mi) and RN12 (49 mi) carry about 35% of the 401 miles. The first 194 miles are in Uruguay; the last 207 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Montevideo, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Montevideo to San Nicolás de los Arroyos: the road sequence
| 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 | 257–306 | 49 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 306–307 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 307–397 | 90 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 397–401 | 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)
What to see on the way from Montevideo to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- 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)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 304)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 58), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 58), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 175), Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 178), 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.
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.
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.
Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum
In a 19th-century building in Mercedes' Parque Castillo Mauá, this paleontology museum opened in 1946 around the collection of naturalist Alejandro Berro; a well-preserved glyptodon shell found on a nearby riverbank is a highlight.
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, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos) protects about 2,500 hectares of wetlands in Campana, Buenos Aires province, home to the marsh deer that gives it its name and to abundant waterbirds. It is a Ramsar Site.
Once you reach San Nicolás de los Arroyos
Casa del Acuerdo
In San Nicolás de los Arroyos, the Casa del Acuerdo is a national museum in the house where the 1852 San Nicolás Agreement was signed, a National Historic Monument since 1957.
More drives to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- Buenos Aires to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- La Plata to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- Mar del Plata to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- Santa Fe to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- Paraná to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- Corrientes to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
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 San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Argentina?
About 8 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 401 miles.
How far is San Nicolás de los Arroyos, Argentina from Montevideo by car?
About 401 miles (646 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 San Nicolás de los Arroyos 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 San Nicolás de los Arroyos, 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 San Nicolás de los Arroyos use?
In order: RN HB, RN136, RN14, RN12 and RN9. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Montevideo to San Nicolás de los Arroyos?
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); Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 58, 0.9 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.