Plan on about 6 h 25 min of driving for the 287-mile (462 km) trip from Posadas to Santa Maria, Brazil, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Brazil at about mile 100, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Argentina, Brazil. Advisory issued: Argentina July 10, 2026; Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Brazil: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 287 mi (462 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN105 → RN14 → RN121 → BR-285 → BR-287 |
| Border crossing | about mile 100, Argentina → Brazil (Santo Tomé–São Borja) |
| Regions on the route | Misiones, Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Crossing from Argentina into Brazil
The route crosses at about mile 100, at Santo Tomé–São Borja, from Corrientes into Rio Grande do Sul. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); U.S. State Department, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from Posadas to Santa Maria
BR-287 (176 mi) and RN14 (67 mi) carry about 85% of the 287 miles. The first 100 miles are in Argentina; the last 187 are in Brazil. It runs through 3 regions: Misiones, Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Posadas and Santa Maria
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Misiones |
| RN105 | 3–29 | 26 | Misiones |
| RN14 | 29–96 | 67 | Misiones, Corrientes |
| RN121 | 96–101 | 5 | Corrientes, Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 101–107 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-287 | 107–283 | 176 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 283–287 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 35 of this route: Misiones → Corrientes (region line)
- Mile 100 of this route: Corrientes → Rio Grande do Sul (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Posadas and Santa Maria
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola (mile 30), Mission San José de Itacuá (mile 30), Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (mile 257)
- Museums and history: Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola (mile 30), Mission San José de Itacuá (mile 30), Museu Getúlio Vargas (mile 106), Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (mile 257)
Parque ecológico Candelaria
Near the town of Candelaria in southern Misiones, the Parque ecológico Candelaria was created for wildlife conservation, environmental education and recreational tourism.
Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola
Built in 1895, Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola stands at the corner of Centenario and 9 de Julio avenues in San José.
Mission San José de Itacuá
Remains of the Jesuit mission of San José de Itacuá lie outside the town of San José in Misiones. Founded by José Cataldino in 1633, it was refounded in 1660 and destroyed in 1817.
Museu Getúlio Vargas
In São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, the Museu Getúlio Vargas preserves the home of former president Getúlio Vargas and is dedicated to his memory.
Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha
The Walter Ilha Paleontological and Archaeological Museum is a museum in São Pedro do Sul, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
When you get to Santa Maria
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
Seat of the Archdiocese of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul, this eclectic cathedral mixes neo-Baroque and neoclassical styles; construction started in 1902 under parish priest Caetano Pagliuca, and it opened in 1909.
Theatro Treze de Maio
Facing Praça Saldanha Marinho in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Theatro Treze de Maio is a theater protected as a municipal heritage property.
Educational Museum Gama D'Eça
The Gama D'Eça Educational Museum sits at Rua do Acampamento 81 in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul.
More drives to Santa Maria
- Porto Alegre to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Joinville to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Itajaí to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Blumenau to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Florianópolis to Santa Maria, Brazil
More drives from Posadas
- Posadas to Paso de los Libres
- Posadas to Pedro Juan Caballero, Paraguay
- Posadas to Filadelfia, Paraguay
- Posadas to Neuland, Paraguay
- Posadas to San Bernardino, Paraguay
- Posadas to Mercedes, Uruguay
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Posadas to Santa Maria, Brazil?
About 6 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 287 miles.
What is the driving distance from Posadas to Santa Maria, Brazil?
About 287 miles (462 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 Posadas to Santa Maria drive cross the border?
At about mile 100, from Argentina into Brazil, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Posadas into Brazil?
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. If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 06, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Posadas to Santa Maria drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions; Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Posadas to Santa Maria?
In order: RN105, RN14, RN121, BR-285 and BR-287. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Posadas and Santa Maria?
Closest to the road: Museo Provincial San Ignacio de Loyola (museum, mile 30, 0.9 mi from the route); Mission San José de Itacuá (jesuit mission ruins, mile 30, 0.9 mi from the route); Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (paleontological museum, mile 257, 0.2 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.