San Nicolás de los Arroyos to La Paloma, Uruguay is about 529 road miles (852 km): roughly 11 h 3 min at the wheel if you don't stop. 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.”
| Total distance | 529 mi (852 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 3 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN9 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 → I-B |
| 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, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to La Paloma
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 La Paloma: the shape of the trip
RN9 (90 mi) and RN12 (49 mi) carry about 26% of the 529 miles. The first 209 miles are in Argentina; the last 320 are in Uruguay. It runs through 9 regions: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
San Nicolás de los Arroyos to La Paloma: 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 | 346–413 | 67 | San José, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 413–414 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 414–442 | 28 | Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 442–448 | 6 | Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 448–449 | 1 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 449–529 | 80 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- 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 437 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (region line)
- Mile 495 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (region line)
What to see on the way from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to La Paloma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 227), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 344), Teatro Politeama (mile 378)
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 98), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 448), Laguna José Ignacio (mile 482)
- Museums and history: Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 224), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 227), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 344), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 414)
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.
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
Since 1960, the Diocese of Mercedes has had its seat at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, the main Catholic church in this Uruguayan city.
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.
Teatro Politeama
Canelones' Teatro Politeama opened in 1921 and reopened in 2014 as the Complejo Cultural Politeama Teatro Atahualpa del Cioppo. Uruguay declared the theater a National Historic Monument in 2022.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station
Near Piriápolis in Maldonado, this breeding station for native wildlife on Cerro Pan de Azúcar is surrounded by native vegetation and offers guided visits, including a native wildlife trail and a path up the hill.
Laguna José Ignacio
In Uruguay's Maldonado Department, Laguna José Ignacio is a coastal lagoon kept apart from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbank.
Teatro 25 de Mayo
Rocha's Teatro 25 de Mayo opened in 1910 as an Italian-style theater in the eclectic style, with room for about 400 people. Now a cultural complex, it is a stop on the city's self-guided heritage walk.
When you get to La Paloma
Cabo Santa María
Cabo Santa María (Cabo de Santa María) is a headland on Uruguay's Atlantic coast in Rocha, where the town and port of La Paloma were built.
Cabo Santa María Lighthouse
Erected in 1871, Cabo Santa María Lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic from its headland in Rocha and serves as a landmark of the seaside resort of La Paloma.
La Balconada beach
La Balconada (Playa La Balconada) is one of the main beaches of Rocha, located in La Paloma and known for its sunsets.
More drives to La Paloma
- Maldonado to La Paloma
- Atlántida to La Paloma
- Nueva Helvecia to La Paloma
- Tacuarembó to La Paloma
- Rivera to La Paloma
- Artigas to La Paloma
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 La Paloma, Uruguay?
About 11 h 3 min of driving without stops, over 529 miles.
How far is La Paloma, Uruguay from San Nicolás de los Arroyos by car?
About 529 miles (852 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 La Paloma 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.)
Is it safe to drive from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to La Paloma, 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.
What roads does the drive from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to La Paloma use?
In order: RN9, RN12, RN14, RN136 and I-B. 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 La Paloma?
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); Teatro Politeama (theater, mile 378, 0.3 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.