The Wayro route from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Atlántida, Uruguay is 420 miles (676 km), about 8 h 36 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 420 mi (676 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 36 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 |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
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.
What the drive from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Atlántida is like
RN9 (90 mi) and RN12 (49 mi) carry about 33% of the 420 miles. The first 209 miles are in Argentina; the last 211 are in Uruguay. It runs through 7 regions: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Atlántida
| 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 | 346–420 | 74 | San José, Canelones |
- 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)
Where to stop on the way to Atlántida
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 227), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 344), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 378)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 98)
- Museums and history: Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 224), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 227), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 344), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 378)
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.
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.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
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 Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
Arriving in Atlántida
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
More drives to Atlántida
- Paysandú to Atlántida
- Tacuarembó to Atlántida
- Rivera to Atlántida
- Artigas to Atlántida
- Bella Unión to Atlántida
- Durazno to Atlántida
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 does it take to drive from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Atlántida, Uruguay?
About 8 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 420 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Atlántida, Uruguay?
About 420 miles (676 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 Atlántida 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 Atlántida 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 San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Atlántida use?
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 Atlántida?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 227, 0.8 mi from the route); Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 344, 0.9 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 378, 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.