San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rivera, Uruguay is about 450 road miles (724 km): roughly 9 h 24 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 234, at the Colón–Paysandú 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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Total distance | 450 mi (724 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN9 → RNA008 → RN174 → RP26 → RN12 → RP39 → RN14 → RN135 |
| Border crossing | about mile 234, Argentina → Uruguay (the Colón–Paysandú bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Argentina into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 234, at the Colón–Paysandú bridge, from Entre Ríos into Paysandú. 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 Rivera: the shape of the trip
RP39 (64 mi) and RN174 (38 mi) carry about 23% of the 450 miles. The first 234 miles are in Argentina; the last 216 are in Uruguay. It runs through 7 regions: Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rivera: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 4–39 | 35 | Buenos Aires, Santa Fe |
| RNA008 | 39–50 | 11 | Santa Fe |
| RN174 | 50–88 | 38 | Santa Fe, Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 88–91 | 3 | Entre Ríos |
| RP26 | 91–116 | 25 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 116–145 | 29 | Entre Ríos |
| RP39 | 145–209 | 64 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 209–225 | 16 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 225–226 | 1 | Entre Ríos |
| RN135 | 226–233 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 233–450 | 217 | Entre Ríos, Paysandú, Salto, Tacuarembó, Rivera |
- Mile 8 of this route: Buenos Aires → Santa Fe (region line)
- Mile 53 of this route: Santa Fe → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 234 of this route: Entre Ríos → Paysandú (international border)
- Mile 342 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 348 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 358 of this route: Paysandú → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 401 of this route: Tacuarembó → Rivera (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Rivera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Balneario La Florida (mile 51), Abadía del Niño Dios (mile 87), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 364), Museo de Geociencias (mile 381), Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 383)
- Nature and outdoors: Balneario La Florida (mile 51), Pozo Hondo (mile 362)
- Museums and history: Museo del Deporte Santafesino (mile 39), San José palace (mile 195), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 364), Museo de Geociencias (mile 381)
- With kids: Paraná River Aquarium (mile 49), Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 383)
Museo del Deporte Santafesino
Set inside Parque Héroes de Malvinas on Avenida Ayacucho in Rosario, Museo del Deporte Santafesino is a sports museum just a few blocks from Lionel Messi's childhood home.
Paraná River Aquarium
The Paraná River Aquarium in Rosario is a public aquarium built as a scientific and educational center focused on the river.
Balneario La Florida
Rosario's municipal riverside beach area runs nearly 4 kilometers along the Paraná River, from the Rosario-Victoria Bridge to Parque Alem, and dates to around 1940.
Abadía del Niño Dios
Abadía del Niño Dios is a Benedictine monastery in Victoria, Entre Ríos Province. Founded in 1899, it was the first Benedictine foundation in Hispanic America.
San José palace
San José Palace was the home of Justo José de Urquiza, president of the Argentine Confederation from 1854 to 1860, and now houses the Justo José de Urquiza Museum and National Monument.
Pozo Hondo
Pozo Hondo is a waterfall in Uruguay's Tacuarembó department, located between the towns of Valle Edén and Tambores.
Museo Carlos Gardel
Dedicated to the life and work of Carlos Gardel, this museum is in Valle Edén, Tacuarembó department, 21 kilometers from the city of Tacuarembó.
Museo de Geociencias
Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba
Reachable from Route 5 at kilometer 390, the Mauricio López Lomba reserve is a wildlife reserve in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
More drives to Rivera
- Montevideo to Rivera
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Buenos Aires to Rivera, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Rivera, Uruguay
- La Plata to Rivera, 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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 9 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 450 miles.
What is the driving distance from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 450 miles (724 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 Rivera drive cross the border?
At about mile 234, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Colón–Paysandú 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 Rivera 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 Rivera use?
In order: RN9, RNA008, RN174, RP26, RN12, RP39, RN14 and RN135. 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 Rivera?
Closest to the road: Abadía del Niño Dios (monastery, mile 87, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Carlos Gardel (museum, mile 364, 0.5 mi from the route); Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 383, 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.