The Wayro route from Piriápolis to Martínez, Argentina is 396 miles (638 km), about 8 h 23 min of driving without stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 244, 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 by road | 396 mi (638 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 |
| Border crossing | about mile 244, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Uruguay into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 244, 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.
Driving Piriápolis to Martínez: the shape of the trip
RN12 (48 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 21% of the 396 miles. The first 244 miles are in Uruguay; the last 152 are in Argentina. It runs through 8 regions: Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Piriápolis to Martínez, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–25 | 25 | Maldonado, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 25–26 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 26–71 | 45 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 71–73 | 2 | Canelones |
| local roads | 73–105 | 32 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 105–108 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 108–144 | 36 | San José, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 144–145 | 1 | Colonia |
| local roads | 145–242 | 97 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 242–244 | 2 | Río Negro |
| RN136 | 244–263 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 263–270 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 270–306 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 306–354 | 48 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 354–359 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 359–394 | 35 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 394–396 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 14 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 84 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 127 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 145 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 244 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 337 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
Places worth a stop between Piriápolis and Martínez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 73), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 107), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 107), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 375), Temaikèn (mile 376)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna del Cisne (mile 37), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 367), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 375)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 37), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 73), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 107), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 107), Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 227)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 376)
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
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.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
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.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
Marsh deer give their name to Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park, a Ramsar Site in Campana, Buenos Aires province, where waterbirds are abundant.
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
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.
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.
Parque Natural Municipal Ribera Norte
On the Río de la Plata shore in Acassuso, San Isidro, Ribera Norte is a municipal nature park protecting green space within greater Buenos Aires.
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 Piriápolis
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Piriápolis to Martínez, Argentina?
About 8 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 396 miles.
What is the driving distance from Piriápolis to Martínez, Argentina?
About 396 miles (638 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 Piriápolis to Martínez drive cross the border?
At about mile 244, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Piriápolis 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Piriápolis to Martínez drive?
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 Piriápolis 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 Piriápolis and Martínez?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 73, 0.1 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 375, 0.2 mi from the route); Temaikèn (zoo, mile 376, 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.