Plan on about 7 h 24 min of driving for the 347-mile (558 km) trip from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Durazno, Uruguay, before any 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 | 347 mi (558 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 24 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, Flores, Durazno |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The border on the way to Durazno
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.
Driving San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Durazno: the shape of the trip
RN9 (90 mi) and RN12 (49 mi) carry about 40% of the 347 miles. The first 209 miles are in Argentina; the last 138 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Flores, Durazno. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Durazno
| 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 | 209–347 | 138 | Río Negro, Flores, Durazno |
- Mile 115 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 209 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 291 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (region line)
- Mile 343 of this route: Flores → Durazno (region line)
Places worth a stop between San Nicolás de los Arroyos and Durazno
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 319)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 98), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 319)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 187)
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
About 2,500 hectares of wetlands in Campana, Buenos Aires province, are protected as Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park. It's a Ramsar Site and home to the marsh deer and plenty of waterbirds.
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
The former Anglo meatpacking plant on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos began shipping frozen meat in 1924, on the site where Liebig exported meat extract and corned beef from 1865. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015.
Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice
Off Route 3 near Trinidad, the Dr. Rodolfo Tálice Ecopark (Reserva de Flora y Fauna Dr. Rodolfo Talice) is a fenced wildlife reserve where axis deer, greater rheas and pampas deer roam free alongside other species.
Arriving in Durazno
Casa de Rivera, Durazno
Facing Plaza Independencia in Durazno, the Casa de Fructuoso Rivera (Casa de Rivera) is one of the town's main heritage sites and now houses the department's historical museum.
More drives to Durazno
- Montevideo to Durazno
- Maldonado to Durazno
- Artigas to Durazno
- Buenos Aires to Durazno, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Durazno, Uruguay
- Mar del Plata to Durazno, Uruguay
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 Durazno, Uruguay?
About 7 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 347 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Durazno, Uruguay?
About 347 miles (558 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 Durazno 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 Durazno 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 Durazno use?
In order: RN9, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Nicolás de los Arroyos and Durazno?
Closest to the road: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 187, 1 mi from the route); Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay (industrial heritage site, mile 209, 5 mi from the route); Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 319, 0.1 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.