The Wayro route from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay is 444 miles (715 km), about 9 h 22 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 209, 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: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Total distance | 444 mi (715 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN9 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 209, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Getting across the Argentina–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 209, 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.
On the road from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal
RN9 (90 mi) and RN12 (49 mi) carry about 31% of the 444 miles. The first 209 miles are in Argentina; the last 235 are in Uruguay. It runs through 8 regions: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 4–94 | 90 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 94–95 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 95–144 | 49 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 144–181 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 181–188 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 188–207 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 207–209 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 209–306 | 97 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 306–307 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 307–343 | 36 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 343–346 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 346–444 | 98 | San José, Canelones, Florida |
- Mile 115 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 209 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 226 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 307 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 324 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
- Mile 368 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 381 of this route: Canelones → Florida (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Alejandro Gallinal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 344), Piedra Alta (mile 400)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 98)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 187), Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 224), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 227), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 344), Cathedral of Florida (mile 400), Piedra Alta (mile 400)
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (Parque Nacional Ciervo de los Pantanos) protects about 2,500 hectares of wetlands in Campana, Buenos Aires province, home to the marsh deer that gives it its name and to abundant waterbirds. It is a Ramsar Site.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum
In a 19th-century building in Mercedes' Parque Castillo Mauá, this paleontology museum opened in 1946 around the collection of naturalist Alejandro Berro; a well-preserved glyptodon shell found on a nearby riverbank is a highlight.
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.
Cathedral of Florida
Florida's cathedral basilica is also Uruguay's national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the country's patroness, and keeps the original image; look for its bronze door by sculptor José Belloni and his son Stelio, stained glass and domes.
Piedra Alta
On the banks of the Santa Lucía Chico River outside the city of Florida, Piedra Alta is a rock formation of historic importance that appears on the department's coat of arms and flag.
More drives to Alejandro Gallinal
- Nueva Helvecia to Alejandro Gallinal
- Colonia del Sacramento to Alejandro Gallinal
- Carmelo to Alejandro Gallinal
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal
- Tacuarembó to Alejandro Gallinal
- Paysandú to Alejandro Gallinal
More drives from San Nicolás de los Arroyos
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Tigre
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Adrogué
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Berisso
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Magdalena
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Chascomús
- San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Cariló
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
About 9 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 444 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?
About 444 miles (715 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 San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal drive cross the border?
At about mile 209, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from San Nicolás de los Arroyos 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 San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal 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.
Which highways go from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal?
In order: RN9, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Alejandro Gallinal?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 344, 0.9 mi from the route); Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 400, 0.5 mi from the route); Cathedral of Florida (cathedral, mile 400, 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.