Plan on about 9 h 32 min of driving for the 450-mile (724 km) trip from Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 214, 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: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Total distance | 450 mi (724 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN8 → RN193 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 214, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Getting across the Argentina–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 214, 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.
What the drive from Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal is like
RN8 (76 mi) and RN12 (50 mi) carry about 28% of the 450 miles. The first 214 miles are in Argentina; the last 236 are in Uruguay. It runs through 8 regions: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Buenos Aires |
| RN8 | 4–80 | 76 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 80–81 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN193 | 81–100 | 19 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 100–150 | 50 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 150–186 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 186–193 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 193–212 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 212–214 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 214–311 | 97 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 311–312 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 312–349 | 37 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 349–351 | 2 | San José |
| local roads | 351–450 | 99 | San José, Canelones, Florida |
- Mile 120 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 214 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 231 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 312 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 329 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
- Mile 373 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 386 of this route: Canelones → Florida (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Pergamino and Alejandro Gallinal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gu͏̈iraldes (mile 69), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 232), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 349), Piedra Alta (mile 405)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 103)
- Museums and history: Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gu͏̈iraldes (mile 69), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 192), Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 229), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 232), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 349), Cathedral of Florida (mile 405), Piedra Alta (mile 405)
Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gu͏̈iraldes
In San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires province, the Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Güiraldes spreads ten exhibit rooms across the 97-hectare Parque Criollo, opened in 1938, and presents Argentina's past, especially that of Buenos Aires province.
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.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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
Since 1960, the Diocese of Mercedes has had its seat at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, the main Catholic church in this Uruguayan city.
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.
Cathedral of Florida
Florida's cathedral basilica is also Uruguay's national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the country's patroness, and keeps the original image; look for its bronze door by sculptor José Belloni and his son Stelio, stained glass and domes.
Piedra Alta
On the banks of the Santa Lucía Chico River outside the city of Florida, Piedra Alta is a rock formation of historic importance that appears on the department's coat of arms and flag.
More drives to Alejandro Gallinal
- Nueva Helvecia to Alejandro Gallinal
- Colonia del Sacramento to Alejandro Gallinal
- Carmelo to Alejandro Gallinal
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal
- Tacuarembó to Alejandro Gallinal
- Paysandú to Alejandro Gallinal
More drives from Pergamino
- Pergamino to Adrogué
- Pergamino to Berisso
- Pergamino to Magdalena
- Pergamino to Chascomús
- Pergamino to Sierra de La Ventana
- Pergamino to Capilla del Monte
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
About 9 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
What is the driving distance from Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
About 450 miles (724 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 Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal drive cross the border?
At about mile 214, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Pergamino 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal drive?
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 Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal use?
In order: RN8, RN193, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Pergamino to Alejandro Gallinal?
Closest to the road: Parque Criollo y Museo Gauchesco Ricardo Gu͏̈iraldes (museum, mile 69, 0.6 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 232, 0.8 mi from the route); Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 405, 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.