Plan on about 10 h 37 min of driving for the 513-mile (826 km) trip from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rocha, 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance | 513 mi (826 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 37 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 20.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Rocha
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.
The San Nicolás de los Arroyos–Rocha drive in a few lines
RN9 (90 mi) and RN12 (49 mi) carry about 27% of the 513 miles. The first 209 miles are in Argentina; the last 304 are in Uruguay. It runs through 9 regions: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rocha
| 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 | 449–513 | 64 | 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)
Places worth a stop between San Nicolás de los Arroyos and Rocha
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 227), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 344), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (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: Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 227), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 227), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 344), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 378), 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.
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.
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.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
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.
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.
Once you reach Rocha
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.
Observatorio Astronómico del CURE
Run by the University of the Republic's eastern campus (CURE), this small observatory in Rocha opened in 2016 and uses a 30 cm reflector telescope under a motorized dome for teaching, research and public outreach.
More drives to Rocha
- Montevideo to Rocha
- Tacuarembó to Rocha
- Salto to Rocha
- Rivera to Rocha
- Buenos Aires to Rocha, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Rocha, 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 does it take to drive from San Nicolás de los Arroyos to Rocha, Uruguay?
About 10 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 513 miles.
How far is Rocha, Uruguay from San Nicolás de los Arroyos by car?
About 513 miles (826 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 Rocha 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 Rocha 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 Rocha?
In order: RN9, RN12, RN14, RN136 and I-B. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between San Nicolás de los Arroyos and Rocha?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 227, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 344, 0.7 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.