Salto to Magdalena, Argentina is about 353 road miles (568 km): roughly 6 h 39 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 10, at Concordia–Salto.
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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance | 353 mi (568 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 39 min |
| Main roads, in order | RNA015 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 10, Uruguay → Argentina (Concordia–Salto) |
| Regions on the route | Salto, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 10, at Concordia–Salto, from Salto 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.
What the drive from Salto to Magdalena is like
RN14 (166 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 60% of the 353 miles. The first 10 miles are in Uruguay; the last 343 are in Argentina. It runs through 4 regions: Salto, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 7 are within a mile of the road.
Salto to Magdalena: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | Salto |
| RNA015 | 10–21 | 11 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 21–187 | 166 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 187–234 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 234–239 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 239–279 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 279–281 | 2 | Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 281–288 | 7 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 288–291 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 291–321 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 321–322 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 322–352 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 352–353 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 10 of this route: Salto → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 218 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 280 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 296 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Salto and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Termas de Salto Grande (mile 9), El Palmar National Park (mile 64), Temaikèn (mile 257), Galileo Galilei Planetarium (mile 285), Teatro Maipo (mile 288), Santo Domingo Convent (mile 289), Curutchet House (mile 324)
- Nature and outdoors: Termas de Salto Grande (mile 9), El Palmar National Park (mile 64)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of Narek Cathedral, Buenos Aires (mile 285), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 324), Curutchet House (mile 324)
- With kids: Temaikèn (mile 257)
Termas de Salto Grande
On the Uruguayan shore of the Salto Grande dam's lake in Salto department, Termas de Salto Grande is a hot spring complex.
El Palmar National Park
Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.
Temaikèn
Temaikèn is a zoo in Belén de Escobar, outside Buenos Aires, and the only zoo in Argentina accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Galileo Galilei Planetarium
The Galileo Galilei Planetarium, known locally simply as Planetario, sits in Parque Tres de Febrero in the Palermo district of Buenos Aires.
Our Lady of Narek Cathedral, Buenos Aires
On Charcas Street in Buenos Aires, the Armenian Cathedral of Our Lady of Narek is an Armenian Catholic church following the Armenian rite in full communion with the Pope.
Teatro Maipo
Founded in 1908 by entrepreneur Charles Seguin and first called the Scala Theater, Teatro Maipo is a historic theater in downtown Buenos Aires.
Santo Domingo Convent
Dating from colonial times, the Santo Domingo Convent in Buenos Aires's Monserrat neighborhood saw fighting during the British invasions of the Río de la Plata.
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.
Curutchet House
The Curutchet House in La Plata, Argentina, is a building designed by the architect Le Corbusier.
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 Salto
- Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Salto to Carmelo
- Salto to Colonia del Sacramento
- Salto to Nueva Helvecia
- Salto to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Salto to Fray Marcos
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Salto to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 6 h 39 min of driving without stops, over 353 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Salto by car?
About 353 miles (568 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 Salto to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 10, from Uruguay into Argentina, at Concordia–Salto.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Salto 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 Salto 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 Salto to Magdalena use?
In order: RNA015, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Salto to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 64, 0.1 mi from the route); Galileo Galilei Planetarium (planetarium, mile 285, 0.4 mi from the route); Teatro Maipo (theater, mile 288, 0.2 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.