Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay is about 408 road miles (656 km): roughly 8 h 44 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 192, at the Colón–Paysandú 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance by road | 408 mi (656 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN174 → RP26 → RN12 → RP39 → RN14 → RN135 |
| Border crossing | about mile 192, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The border on the way to Rivera
The route crosses at about mile 192, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Entre Ríos into Paysandú. 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–Rivera drive in a few lines
RP39 (64 mi) and RN174 (38 mi) carry about 25% of the 408 miles. The first 192 miles are in Argentina; the last 216 are in Uruguay. It runs through 6 regions: Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Rosario and Rivera
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Santa Fe |
| connecting roads | 7–8 | 1 | Santa Fe |
| RN174 | 8–46 | 38 | Santa Fe, Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 46–48 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| RP26 | 48–73 | 25 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 73–103 | 30 | Entre Ríos |
| RP39 | 103–167 | 64 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 167–183 | 16 | Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 183–191 | 8 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 191–408 | 217 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera |
- Mile 11 of this route: Santa Fe → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 192 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
- Mile 300 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 306 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 316 of this route: Paysandú → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 359 of this route: Tacuarembó → Rivera (region line)
Stops between Rosario and Rivera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Balneario La Florida (mile 6), Abadía del Niño Dios (mile 45), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 322), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 339)
- Nature and outdoors: Balneario La Florida (mile 6), Pozo Hondo (mile 320)
- Museums and history: San José palace (mile 153), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 322), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 339)
Balneario La Florida
Rosario's municipal riverside beach area runs nearly 4 kilometers along the Paraná River, from the Rosario-Victoria Bridge to Parque Alem, and dates to around 1940.
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.
San José palace
San José Palace was the home of Justo José de Urquiza, president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860, and now houses the Justo José de Urquiza Museum and National Monument.
Pozo Hondo
Pozo Hondo is a waterfall in Uruguay's Tacuarembó department, located between the towns of Valle Edén and Tambores.
Museo Carlos Gardel
Dedicated to the life and work of Carlos Gardel, this museum is in Valle Edén, Tacuarembó department, 21 kilometers from the city of Tacuarembó.
Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar
The Museo del Indio y del Gaucho, a museum of the Indigenous people and the gaucho, is located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
More drives to Rivera
- Montevideo to Rivera
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Buenos Aires to Rivera, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Rivera, Uruguay
- La Plata to Rivera, Uruguay
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rivera, Uruguay
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 does it take to drive from Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 8 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 408 miles.
How far is Rivera, Uruguay from Rosario, Argentina by car?
About 408 miles (656 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 Rivera drive cross the border?
At about mile 192, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay?
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 Rosario to Rivera?
In order: RN174, RP26, RN12, RP39, RN14 and RN135. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Rosario to Rivera?
Closest to the road: Balneario La Florida (beach, mile 6, 0.5 mi from the route); Abadía del Niño Dios (monastery, mile 45, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Carlos Gardel (museum, mile 322, 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.