The Wayro route from Resistencia to Mercedes, Uruguay is 482 miles (776 km), about 9 h 30 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 464, 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 should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance | 482 mi (776 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | RP63 → RN16 → RN12 → RN123 → RN119 → RN14 → RP20 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 464, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Chaco, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Crossing from Argentina into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 464, 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.
Driving Resistencia to Mercedes: the shape of the trip
RN14 (206 mi) and RN12 (98 mi) carry about 63% of the 482 miles. The first 464 miles are in Argentina; the last 18 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Chaco, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Resistencia to Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Chaco |
| RP63 | 4–8 | 4 | Chaco |
| RN16 | 8–11 | 3 | Chaco |
| local roads | 11–16 | 5 | Corrientes |
| RN12 | 16–114 | 98 | Corrientes |
| RN123 | 114–160 | 46 | Corrientes |
| RN119 | 160–227 | 67 | Corrientes |
| connecting roads | 227–228 | 1 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 228–434 | 206 | Corrientes, Entre Ríos |
| RP20 | 434–441 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 441–460 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 460–464 | 4 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 464–482 | 18 | Río Negro, Soriano |
- Mile 11 of this route: Chaco → Corrientes (region line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Corrientes → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 464 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 480 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Corrientes Cathedral (mile 12), El Palmar National Park (mile 357)
- Nature and outdoors: Iberá National Park (mile 73), El Palmar National Park (mile 357)
- Museums and history: Corrientes Cathedral (mile 12), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 442)
Corrientes Cathedral
Corrientes Cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Corrientes and part of the Archdiocese of Corrientes.
Iberá National Park
In the northeastern province of Corrientes, Iberá National Park borders the 5,530 square-kilometer Iberá Provincial Park to the southeast.
El Palmar National Park
Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, serves as the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from this spot on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos starting in 1865. In 1924, the Anglo plant began shipping frozen meat from the same site.
Once you reach Mercedes
Cathedral of Mercedes
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
Calera Real del Dacá
On the eastern edge of Mercedes beside the Dacá stream, the ruins of the Calera Real lime works date to 1722 and are considered the region's first industrial site; recent works added visitor circuits, lighting and interpretive signs.
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.
More drives to Mercedes
- Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Artigas to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Montevideo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Melo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Uruguay
More drives from Resistencia
- Resistencia to Mercedes, Argentina
- Resistencia to Paso de los Libres
- Resistencia to Paraná
- Resistencia to Colón, Argentina
- Resistencia to San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- Resistencia to Pergamino
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Resistencia to Mercedes, Uruguay?
About 9 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 482 miles.
What is the driving distance from Resistencia to Mercedes, Uruguay?
About 482 miles (776 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 Resistencia to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 464, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Resistencia 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 Resistencia to Mercedes 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.
Which highways go from Resistencia to Mercedes?
In order: RP63, RN16, RN12, RN123, RN119, RN14, RP20 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Resistencia to Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Corrientes Cathedral (cathedral, mile 12, 0.5 mi from the route); El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 357, 0.2 mi from the route); Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 442, 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.