By road, Porto Alegre and Mercedes, Argentina are about 473 miles (761 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 55 min of driving. You cross from Brazil into Argentina at about mile 395, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil, Argentina. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 473 mi (761 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → BR-290 → RN117 → RN14 → RN123 |
| Border crossing | about mile 395, Brazil → Argentina (Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana) |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Crossing from Brazil into Argentina
The route crosses at about mile 395, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana, from Rio Grande do Sul into Corrientes. 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 Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Porto Alegre to Mercedes: the shape of the trip
BR-290 (381 mi) and RN123 (62 mi) carry about 94% of the 473 miles. The first 395 miles are in Brazil; the last 78 are in Argentina. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Porto Alegre and Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 4–14 | 10 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 14–395 | 381 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RN117 | 395–402 | 7 | Corrientes |
| connecting roads | 402–403 | 1 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 403–408 | 5 | Corrientes |
| RN123 | 408–470 | 62 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 470–473 | 3 | Corrientes |
- Mile 395 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Corrientes (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu do Carvão (mile 38), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 394)
- Nature and outdoors: Jacuí Delta State Park (mile 11), Itá Pucú (mile 467)
- Museums and history: Museu do Carvão (mile 38), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 394), Itá Pucú (mile 467)
Jacuí Delta State Park
Created in 1976, Jacuí Delta State Park (Parque Estadual Delta do Jacuí) protects the delta between Porto Alegre, Canoas, Eldorado do Sul and nearby towns, where fishers from Ilha da Pintada still practice traditional fishing.
Museu do Carvão
In the town of Arroio dos Ratos, Rio Grande do Sul, the Museu do Carvão is a history museum set on Rua Professora Silvana Narvaez.
St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana
Uruguaiana's St. Ann Cathedral grew out of the parish of Santana, created in 1846 together with the town, and was built between 1861 and 1874.
Itá Pucú
More drives to Mercedes
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Argentina
- La Plata to Mercedes, Argentina
- Berisso to Mercedes, Argentina
- Chascomús to Mercedes, Argentina
- Formosa, Argentina to Mercedes, Argentina
- Resistencia to Mercedes, Argentina
More drives from Porto Alegre
- Porto Alegre to Bento Gonçalves
- Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul
- Porto Alegre to Erechim
- Porto Alegre to Chapecó
- Porto Alegre to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Porto Alegre to Ponta Grossa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Porto Alegre to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 9 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 473 miles.
What is the driving distance from Porto Alegre to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 473 miles (761 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 Porto Alegre to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 395, from Brazil into Argentina, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Porto Alegre 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 Porto Alegre to Mercedes, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Porto Alegre to Mercedes use?
In order: BR-116, BR-290, RN117, RN14 and RN123. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Porto Alegre and Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Museu do Carvão (museum, mile 38, 0.9 mi from the route); St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (cathedral, mile 394, 0.7 mi from the route); Itá Pucú (natural monument, mile 467, 1 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.