By road, Rivera and Magdalena, Argentina are about 485 miles (780 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 0 min of driving. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 216, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
Full advisory: Uruguay, Argentina. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance by road | 485 mi (780 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 0 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN135 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 216, Uruguay → Argentina (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to Magdalena
The route crosses at about mile 216, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Paysandú into Entre Ríos. 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 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. |
| 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, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Rivera to Magdalena drive plays out
RN14 (94 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 29% of the 485 miles. The first 216 miles are in Uruguay; the last 269 are in Argentina. It runs through 7 regions: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Rivera to Magdalena, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–69 | 69 | Rivera, Tacuarembó |
| connecting roads | 69–71 | 2 | Tacuarembó |
| local roads | 71–217 | 146 | Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto, Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 217–225 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 225–319 | 94 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 319–366 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 366–371 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 371–411 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 411–413 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 413–419 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 419–423 | 4 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 423–452 | 29 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 452–454 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 454–484 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 484–485 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 49 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Tacuarembó → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 216 of this route: Paysandú → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 349 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 411 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 428 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
What to see on the way from Rivera to Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 69), Torre Monumental (mile 419), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 423), La Plata Museum (mile 455)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 69), Sarmiento Historical Museum (mile 414), Torre Monumental (mile 419), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 423), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 455), La Plata Museum (mile 455)
- With kids: The Children's Republic (mile 450)
Cathedral of Tacuarembó
Saint Fructuosus Cathedral is the main Catholic church of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1960.
Sarmiento Historical Museum
In the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Sarmiento Historical Museum covers the Generation of '80 and the life of President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, with sections on Nicolás Avellaneda and the 1880 federalization.
Torre Monumental
Formerly called Torre de los Ingleses, Torre Monumental is a clock tower in the Retiro area of Buenos Aires, standing in Plaza Fuerza Aérea Argentina.
Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken
Established in 1971, Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken in Buenos Aires traces Argentine cinema through about 90,000 film reels plus photos, posters, scripts, costumes and film equipment.
The Children's Republic
Spread over 131 acres in La Plata, The Children's Republic is a theme park with 35 scale-model buildings.
Cathedral of La Plata
Facing Plaza Moreno and City Hall at the geographic center of La Plata, this neo-Gothic cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
La Plata Museum
Part of the National University of La Plata's natural sciences faculty, the La Plata Museum is a natural history museum in the city of La Plata.
More drives to Magdalena
- Necochea to Magdalena
- Adrogué to Magdalena
- Tigre to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Luján to Magdalena
- San Antonio de Areco to Magdalena
More drives from Rivera
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Rivera to Carmelo
- Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Veinticinco de Agosto
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rivera to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 10 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 485 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Rivera by car?
About 485 miles (780 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 Rivera to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 216, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Rivera 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 Rivera to Magdalena drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Rivera to Magdalena use?
In order: RN135, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rivera and Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Torre Monumental (monument, mile 419, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (film museum, mile 423, 0.1 mi from the route); La Plata Museum (museum, mile 455, 0.4 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.