Rio Grande to Mercedes, Argentina is about 463 road miles (745 km): roughly 10 h 25 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 463 mi (745 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-392 → BR-293 → RSC-377 → BR-290 → RN117 → RN14 → RN123 |
| Border crossing | about mile 384, Brazil → Argentina (Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana) |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The border on the way to Mercedes
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.
The Rio Grande–Mercedes drive in a few lines
BR-293 (274 mi) and RN123 (63 mi) carry about 73% of the 463 miles. The first 384 miles are in Brazil; the last 79 are in Argentina. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Rio Grande to Mercedes
| 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 | 385–392 | 7 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 392–397 | 5 | Corrientes |
| RN123 | 397–460 | 63 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 460–463 | 3 | Corrientes |
- Mile 384 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Corrientes (international border)
What to see on the way from Rio Grande to Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ponte do Império (mile 68), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 383), Itá Pucú (mile 455)
- Nature and outdoors: Itá Pucú (mile 455)
- Museums and history: Catedral São Francisco de Paula (mile 34), Ponte do Império (mile 68), Palacete Pedro Osório (mile 147), Museu da Gravura Brasileira (mile 147), St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 383), Itá Pucú (mile 455)
Catedral São Francisco de Paula
Seat of the Archdiocese of Pelotas, the Catedral Metropolitana de Pelotas is a Catholic church in Rio Grande do Sul dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola.
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.
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 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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Rio Grande to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 10 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 463 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rio Grande to Mercedes, Argentina?
About 463 miles (745 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 Mercedes 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Rio Grande 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.
Which highways go from Rio Grande to Mercedes?
In order: BR-392, BR-293, RSC-377, BR-290, RN117, RN14 and RN123. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Rio Grande to Mercedes?
Closest to the road: 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); Itá Pucú (natural monument, mile 455, 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.