The Wayro route from Rosario, Argentina to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay is 547 miles (880 km), about 11 h 59 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 185, 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance | 547 mi (880 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 59 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN174 → RP11 → RN12 → RP16 → RN136 → I-B |
| Border crossing | about mile 185, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 185, 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.
The Rosario–Punta del Diablo drive in a few lines
RP11 (64 mi) and RP16 (41 mi) carry about 19% of the 547 miles. The first 185 miles are in Argentina; the last 362 are in Uruguay. It runs through 9 regions: Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Rosario and Punta del Diablo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Santa Fe |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | Santa Fe |
| RN174 | 8–45 | 37 | Santa Fe, Entre Ríos |
| RP11 | 45–109 | 64 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 109–114 | 5 | Entre Ríos |
| RP16 | 114–155 | 41 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 155–160 | 5 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 160–163 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 163–182 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 182–185 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 185–281 | 96 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 281–282 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 282–318 | 36 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 318–321 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 321–388 | 67 | San José, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 388–389 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 389–418 | 29 | Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 418–423 | 5 | Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 423–424 | 1 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 424–547 | 123 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- Mile 11 of this route: Santa Fe → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 185 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 201 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 282 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 300 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
- Mile 343 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 412 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (region line)
- Mile 470 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (region line)
What to see on the way from Rosario to Punta del Diablo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Abadía del Niño Dios (mile 45), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 161), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 202), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 319)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 423), Laguna José Ignacio (mile 457), La Sirena Beach (mile 527)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 161), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 202), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 202), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 319)
Abadía del Niño Dios
Abadía del Niño Dios is a Benedictine monastery in Victoria, Entre Ríos Province. Founded in 1899, it was the first Benedictine foundation in Hispanic America.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
In Gualeguaychú, Argentina, the Roman Catholic diocese has its cathedral church at St. Joseph's, also known as Gualeguaychú Cathedral.
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.
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.
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.
Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station
Near Piriápolis in Maldonado, this breeding station for native wildlife on Cerro Pan de Azúcar is surrounded by native vegetation and offers guided visits, including a native wildlife trail and a path up the hill.
Laguna José Ignacio
In Uruguay's Maldonado Department, Laguna José Ignacio is a coastal lagoon kept apart from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbank.
La Sirena Beach
About 2.5 km north of Aguas Dulces, La Sirena is one of Uruguay's two official naturist beaches, backed by vegetated dunes, small marshes, lagoons and pine and acacia woods where coastal birds are common.
Once you reach Punta del Diablo
Santa Teresa National Park
Santa Teresa National Park on Rocha's coast was created to frame the colonial Santa Teresa Fortress; its grounds hold more than two million planted trees from five continents, a greenhouse and native wetland and woodland wildlife.
More drives to Punta del Diablo
- La Paloma to Punta del Diablo
- Nueva Helvecia to Punta del Diablo
- Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo
- Tacuarembó to Punta del Diablo
- Rivera to Punta del Diablo
- Salto to Punta del Diablo
More drives from Rosario
- Rosario, Argentina to La Plata
- Rosario, Argentina to Berisso
- Rosario, Argentina to Magdalena
- Rosario, Argentina to Chascomús
- Rosario, Argentina to Cariló
- Rosario, Argentina to Villa Gesell
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rosario, Argentina to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay?
About 11 h 59 min of driving without stops, over 547 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rosario, Argentina to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay?
About 547 miles (880 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 Rosario to Punta del Diablo drive cross the border?
At about mile 185, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Rosario 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 Rosario to Punta del Diablo 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.
What roads does the drive from Rosario to Punta del Diablo use?
In order: RN174, RP11, RN12, RP16, RN136 and I-B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Rosario and Punta del Diablo?
Closest to the road: Abadía del Niño Dios (monastery, mile 45, 0.6 mi from the route); Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 161, 0.8 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 202, 0.7 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.