Paraná to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay is about 552 road miles (889 km): roughly 11 h 37 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 201, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
Full advisory: Argentina, Uruguay. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Total distance | 552 mi (889 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN12 → RP39 → RP20 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 201, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Argentina into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 201, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Entre Ríos into Río Negro. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Paraná to Treinta y Tres drive plays out
RN12 (93 mi) and RP20 (55 mi) carry about 27% of the 552 miles. The first 201 miles are in Argentina; the last 351 are in Uruguay. It runs through 8 regions: Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Paraná to Treinta y Tres
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 4–97 | 93 | Entre Ríos |
| RP39 | 97–123 | 26 | Entre Ríos |
| RP20 | 123–178 | 55 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 178–198 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 198–201 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 201–297 | 96 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 297–298 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 298–334 | 36 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 334–337 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 337–552 | 215 | San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres |
- Mile 201 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 216 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 298 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 315 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
- Mile 359 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 424 of this route: Canelones → Lavalleja (region line)
- Mile 535 of this route: Lavalleja → Treinta y Tres (region line)
What to see on the way from Paraná to Treinta y Tres
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 218), Teatro Macció (mile 335), Cathedral of Minas (mile 449)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Arequita (mile 450), Salto del Penitente (mile 460)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 179), Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 215), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 218), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 405), Cathedral of Minas (mile 449)
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
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.
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.
Teatro Macció
San José de Mayo's Teatro Bartolomé Macció is a traditional theater, regarded as the city's most important building architecturally and declared a Historic Monument of Uruguay in 1984.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
Cathedral of Minas
Minas's main Catholic church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception served as the seat of the Diocese of Minas from 1960 to 2020.
Parque nacional Arequita
Arequita National Park is a protected natural area in Lavalleja department, southeastern Uruguay, known for Cerro Arequita, its related rock formations and its biodiversity.
Salto del Penitente
Once you reach Treinta y Tres
Museo Agustín Araújo
Treinta y Tres's departmental fine arts museum, the Museo Agustín Araújo is a public museum in the city of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
More drives to Treinta y Tres
- Montevideo to Treinta y Tres
- Rivera to Treinta y Tres
- Colonia del Sacramento to Treinta y Tres
- Salto to Treinta y Tres
- Fray Bentos to Treinta y Tres
- Buenos Aires to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay
More drives from Paraná
- Paraná to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- Paraná to Pergamino
- Paraná to Arrecifes
- Paraná to San Antonio de Areco
- Paraná to Luján
- Paraná to Tigre
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Paraná to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay?
About 11 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 552 miles.
How far is Treinta y Tres, Uruguay from Paraná by car?
About 552 miles (889 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 Paraná to Treinta y Tres drive cross the border?
At about mile 201, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Paraná into Uruguay?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You can drive on your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 13, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Paraná to Treinta y Tres, Uruguay?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Paraná to Treinta y Tres use?
In order: RN12, RP39, RP20 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Paraná to Treinta y Tres?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 218, 0.7 mi from the route); Teatro Macció (theater, mile 335, 0.8 mi from the route); Cathedral of Minas (cathedral, mile 449, 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.