Plan on about 11 h 1 min of driving for the 498-mile (801 km) trip from Rio Grande to Chajarí, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Argentina at about mile 384, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
- Argentina: “Drivers should prepare in advance when taking long road trips and make sure to have adequate insurance coverage.”
| Distance by road | 498 mi (801 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-392 → BR-293 → RSC-377 → BR-290 → RN117 → RN14 |
| Border crossing | about mile 384, Brazil → Argentina (Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana) |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes, Entre Ríos |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Getting across the Brazil–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 384, 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.
How the Rio Grande to Chajarí drive plays out
BR-293 (274 mi) and RN14 (101 mi) carry about 75% of the 498 miles. The first 384 miles are in Brazil; the last 114 are in Argentina. It runs through 3 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes, Entre Ríos. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Rio Grande and Chajarí
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 7–37 | 30 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 37–40 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-293 | 40–314 | 274 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-377 | 314–339 | 25 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 339–384 | 45 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 384–385 | 1 | Corrientes |
| RN117 | 385–393 | 8 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 393–494 | 101 | Corrientes, Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 494–498 | 4 | Entre Ríos |
- Mile 384 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Corrientes (international border)
- Mile 487 of this route: Corrientes → Entre Ríos (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Chajarí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ponte do Império (mile 68), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 383)
- Museums and history: Museu da Baronesa (mile 34), Ponte do Império (mile 68), Palacete Pedro Osório (mile 147), Museu da Gravura Brasileira (mile 147), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 383)
Theatro Sete de Abril
Opened in 1834 in Pelotas, Theatro Sete de Abril dates from the charqueada (salted beef) economic cycle, when Pelotas was among Brazil's wealthiest cities.
Museu da Baronesa
Opened in 1982 and run by the Pelotas city culture department, Museu da Baronesa occupies a building listed as municipal heritage in 1985.
Ponte do Império
Ponte do Império is a bridge in Piratini, on the boundary with Cerrito in Rio Grande do Sul, built between 1868 and 1870 by contractor Hygino Corrêa Durão.
Palacete Pedro Osório
Palacete Pedro Osório is a building in Bagé, in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state, listed as protected heritage by IPHAE.
Museu da Gravura Brasileira
Founded in 1977, the Museu da Gravura Brasileira is an art museum in Bagé that keeps works by local, Brazilian and international artists.
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.
More drives to Chajarí
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Chajarí
- Buenos Aires to Chajarí
- La Plata to Chajarí
- Berisso to Chajarí
- Córdoba, Argentina to Chajarí
- Villa Carlos Paz to Chajarí
More drives from Rio Grande
- Rio Grande to Bagé
- Rio Grande to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Rio Grande to Santana do Livramento
- Rio Grande to Bento Gonçalves
- Rio Grande to Erechim
- Rio Grande to Tubarão
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rio Grande to Chajarí, Argentina?
About 11 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 498 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio Grande to Chajarí, Argentina?
About 498 miles (801 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 Rio Grande to Chajarí drive cross the border?
At about mile 384, from Brazil into Argentina, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande to Chajarí drive?
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.
Which highways go from Rio Grande to Chajarí?
In order: BR-392, BR-293, RSC-377, BR-290, RN117 and RN14. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Rio Grande to Chajarí?
Closest to the road: Theatro Sete de Abril (theater, mile 34, 1 mi from the route); Ponte do Império (historic bridge, mile 68, 0.1 mi from the route); St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (cathedral, mile 383, 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.