The Wayro route from Nueva Helvecia to Martínez, Argentina is 266 miles (428 km), about 5 h 48 min of driving without stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 112, 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance | 266 mi (428 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 48 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 |
| Border crossing | about mile 112, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to Martínez
The route crosses at about mile 112, 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.
The Nueva Helvecia–Martínez drive in a few lines
RN12 (47 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 31% of the 266 miles. The first 112 miles are in Uruguay; the last 154 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Nueva Helvecia to Martínez
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–111 | 111 | Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 111–113 | 2 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 113–132 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 132–139 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 139–175 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 175–222 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 222–227 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 227–228 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 228–263 | 35 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 263–266 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 31 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 95 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 112 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 206 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
Stops between Nueva Helvecia and Martínez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 93), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 244), Temaikèn (mile 245)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 235), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 244)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 93), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 93), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 134)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 245)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Temaikèn
Temaikèn is a zoo in Belén de Escobar, outside Buenos Aires, and the only zoo in Argentina accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
When you get to Martínez
San Isidro Cathedral
Main church of the Diocese of San Isidro, this cathedral stands on Del Libertador Avenue opposite Plaza Mitre, in the historic quarter of San Isidro in Buenos Aires province.
Museo Pueyrredon
In Acassuso, in the San Isidro district of Buenos Aires Province, this municipal history museum bears the name of Brigadier General Juan Martín de Pueyrredón.
ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination
Set in Buenos Aires on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds, one of the largest clandestine detention, torture and extermination centers of the last dictatorship, this site museum was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2023.
More drives to Martínez
- La Plata to Martínez
- Berisso to Martínez
- Chascomús to Martínez
- Ayacucho, Argentina to Martínez
- Villa Gesell to Martínez
- Mar del Plata to Martínez
More drives from Nueva Helvecia
- Nueva Helvecia to Fray Marcos
- Nueva Helvecia to Alejandro Gallinal
- Nueva Helvecia to Barra de Valizas
- Nueva Helvecia to La Paloma
- Nueva Helvecia to Punta del Diablo
- Nueva Helvecia to Cariló, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Nueva Helvecia to Martínez, Argentina?
About 5 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 266 miles.
What is the driving distance from Nueva Helvecia to Martínez, Argentina?
About 266 miles (428 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 Nueva Helvecia to Martínez drive cross the border?
At about mile 112, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Nueva Helvecia 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 Nueva Helvecia to Martínez, 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 Nueva Helvecia to Martínez use?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6 and RN9. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Nueva Helvecia and Martínez?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 93, 0.7 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 244, 0.3 mi from the route); Temaikèn (zoo, mile 245, 0.5 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.