Plan on about 5 h 16 min of driving for the 275-mile (442 km) trip from Paysandú to Magdalena, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 6, at the Colón–Paysandú 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.”
| Distance | 275 mi (442 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN135 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 6, Uruguay → Argentina (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Paysandú, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 6, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Paysandú 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 Paysandú to Magdalena
RN14 (94 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 51% of the 275 miles. The first 6 miles are in Uruguay; the last 269 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Paysandú, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Paysandú to Magdalena: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Paysandú, Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 7–15 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 15–109 | 94 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 109–156 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 156–161 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 161–201 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 201–203 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 203–209 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 209–213 | 4 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 213–242 | 29 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 242–244 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 244–274 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 274–275 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 6 of this route: Paysandú → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 139 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 201 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 217 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Stops between Paysandú and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 178), Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 203), Floralis Genérica (mile 208), Museo de Astronomía y Geofísica (mile 245)
- Nature and outdoors: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 178), Buenos Aires Botanical Garden (mile 207)
- Museums and history: Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (mile 203), Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta (mile 204), Santuario Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya (mile 212), Museo de Bellas Artes (mile 245), Museo de Astronomía y Geofísica (mile 245)
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.
Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur
Opened in June 2014 by the Argentine government, the Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands Museum stands on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds in Buenos Aires.
Museo de Arte Español Enrique Larreta
In Buenos Aires's Belgrano neighborhood, the Enrique Larreta Museum is devoted to Spanish art.
Buenos Aires Botanical Garden
In the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden fills a triangular plot bounded by Santa Fe Avenue, Las Heras Avenue and República Árabe Siria Street.
Floralis Genérica
Floralis Genérica is a steel and aluminum flower sculpture in United Nations Square in Buenos Aires, created in 2002 and given to the city by architect Eduardo Catalano.
San José Observatory
The San José Observatory is an amateur astronomy observatory in Buenos Aires, founded in 1913 in a structure first built in 1870.
Santuario Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Pompeya
In the Nueva Pompeya district of southern Buenos Aires, this Catholic parish and Marian shrine is one of Argentina's earliest Neo-Gothic churches.
Museo de Bellas Artes
Founded in 1922, the Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes Emilio Pettoruti is the provincial fine arts museum in La Plata.
Museo de Astronomía y Geofísica
Run by the National University of La Plata's astronomy and geophysics school, the Museo de Astronomía y Geofísica was created in 1997 and opened its permanent exhibit in 2001.
More drives to Magdalena
- Necochea to Magdalena
- Adrogué to Magdalena
- Tigre to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Luján to Magdalena
- San Antonio de Areco to Magdalena
More drives from Paysandú
- Paysandú to Bella Unión
- Paysandú to Artigas
- Paysandú to Carmelo
- Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento
- Paysandú to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Paysandú to Fray Marcos
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Paysandú to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 5 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 275 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Paysandú by car?
About 275 miles (442 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 Paysandú to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 6, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Paysandú 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 Paysandú to Magdalena, 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.
Which highways go from Paysandú to Magdalena?
In order: RN135, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Paysandú and Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 178, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur (museum, mile 203, 0.3 mi from the route); Floralis Genérica (sculpture, mile 208, 0.4 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.