Plan on about 9 h 22 min of driving for the 414-mile (667 km) trip from Paso de los Libres to San Bernardino, Paraguay, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Paraguay at about mile 228.
Full advisory: Argentina, Paraguay. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Paraguay August 19, 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.”
- Paraguay: “Nearly all rural roads are unpaved and may be impassable during rainy periods and the rainy season from October to March.”
| Distance by road | 414 mi (667 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN117 → RN14 → RN120 → RN12 → D022 → PY20 → PY01 → D023 → D012 |
| Border crossing | about mile 228, Argentina → Paraguay |
| Regions on the route | Corrientes, Misiones, Paraguarí, Central, Cordillera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The border on the way to San Bernardino
The route crosses at about mile 228, from Corrientes into Misiones. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Paraguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Paraguay | You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Paraguay | The State Department notes that Paraguay doesn't require vehicle insurance. |
| 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, Paraguay (updated September 17, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Paso de los Libres to San Bernardino drive plays out
RN14 (160 mi) and PY01 (120 mi) carry about 68% of the 414 miles. The first 228 miles are in Argentina; the last 186 are in Paraguay. It runs through 5 regions: Corrientes, Misiones, Paraguarí, Central, Cordillera. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Paso de los Libres to San Bernardino, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Corrientes |
| RN117 | 2–7 | 5 | Corrientes |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 8–168 | 160 | Corrientes |
| RN120 | 168–203 | 35 | Corrientes |
| RN12 | 203–219 | 16 | Corrientes |
| RN120 | 219–229 | 10 | Corrientes, Misiones |
| D022 | 229–239 | 10 | Misiones |
| PY20 | 239–267 | 28 | Misiones |
| PY01 | 267–387 | 120 | Misiones, Paraguarí |
| connecting roads | 387–388 | 1 | Paraguarí |
| D023 | 388–403 | 15 | Paraguarí, Central |
| local roads | 403–407 | 4 | Central |
| connecting roads | 407–409 | 2 | Central |
| D012 | 409–414 | 5 | Central, Cordillera |
- Mile 228 of this route: Corrientes → Misiones (international border)
- Mile 323 of this route: Misiones → Paraguarí (region line)
- Mile 400 of this route: Paraguarí → Central (region line)
- Mile 411 of this route: Central → Cordillera (region line)
- Mile 414 of this route: Cordillera → Central (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Paso de los Libres and San Bernardino
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Mission San Ignacio Guazú (mile 286)
- Nature and outdoors: Ypoá National Park (mile 367)
- Museums and history: Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé (mile 64), Mission San Ignacio Guazú (mile 286)
Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé
In the town of La Cruz, Corrientes, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé was one of the missions the Jesuits founded in their Province of Paraguay during Spanish colonial rule.
Mission San Ignacio Guazú
San Ignacio Guazú was one of the missions the Society of Jesus founded in the Jesuit province of Paraguay, located in the city of San Ignacio Guazú in Misiones department.
Ypoá National Park
Ypoá National Park is a protected area in Paraguay that takes in Lake Ypoá.
Mbatovi ecoreserve
Mbatoví Ecoreserve (Ecorreserva Mbatoví) is a private protected area in Paraguay, registered as the country's first environmental easement and approved by the national tourism secretariat as an ecological tourist reserve.
When you get to San Bernardino
Ypacaraí Lake
Roughly 50 km east of Asunción, Ypacaraí Lake is a major body of water in Paraguay that drains northwest through the Salado River into the Paraguay River.
More drives to San Bernardino
More drives from Paso de los Libres
- Paso de los Libres to Magdalena
- Paso de los Libres to Chascomús
- Paso de los Libres to Capilla del Monte
- Paso de los Libres to Yaguarón, Paraguay
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Paso de los Libres to San Bernardino, Paraguay?
About 9 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 414 miles.
How far is San Bernardino, Paraguay from Paso de los Libres by car?
About 414 miles (667 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 Paso de los Libres to San Bernardino drive cross the border?
At about mile 228, from Argentina into Paraguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Paso de los Libres into Paraguay?
No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. (U.S. State Department, updated September 17, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Paso de los Libres to San Bernardino, Paraguay?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Paraguay Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Paso de los Libres to San Bernardino use?
In order: RN117, RN14, RN120, RN12, D022, PY20, PY01, D023 and D012. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Paso de los Libres and San Bernardino?
Closest to the road: Mission Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Acaraguá y Mbororé (jesuit mission ruins, mile 64, 2 mi from the route); Mission San Ignacio Guazú (jesuit mission ruins, mile 286, 0.4 mi from the route); Mbatovi ecoreserve (nature area, mile 389, 4 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.