The Wayro route from Santa Maria, Brazil to Ituzaingó, Argentina is 292 miles (470 km), about 6 h 23 min of driving without stops. You cross from Brazil into Argentina at about mile 188, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Brazil, Argentina. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
- Argentina: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
| Distance by road | 292 mi (470 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-287 → BR-285 → RN121 → RN14 → RN120 → RN12 |
| Border crossing | about mile 188, Brazil → Argentina (Santo Tomé–São Borja) |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
Getting across the Brazil–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 188, at Santo Tomé–São Borja, from Rio Grande do Sul into Corrientes. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| The car, entering Argentina | Argentine customs (ARCA) registers the car's temporary entry. Bring the title or registration, liability insurance valid in Argentina and, if you don't own the car, a power of attorney signed before a notary. A rental car needs the rental company's MERCOSUR circulation authorization (ACM), and the company must be registered with Argentine customs. |
| 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, Argentina (updated July 16, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
Driving Santa Maria to Ituzaingó: the shape of the trip
BR-287 (177 mi) and RN14 (45 mi) carry about 76% of the 292 miles. The first 188 miles are in Brazil; the last 104 are in Argentina. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes. Of the 2 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Santa Maria and Ituzaingó
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-287 | 3–180 | 177 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 180–186 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RN121 | 186–191 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| RN14 | 191–236 | 45 | Corrientes |
| RN120 | 236–272 | 36 | Corrientes |
| RN12 | 272–290 | 18 | Corrientes |
| local roads | 290–292 | 2 | Corrientes |
- Mile 188 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Corrientes (international border)
Stops between Santa Maria and Ituzaingó
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (mile 30)
- Museums and history: Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (mile 30), João Goulart's House (mile 181)
Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha
The Walter Ilha Paleontological and Archaeological Museum is a museum in São Pedro do Sul, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
João Goulart's House
João Goulart's House in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, is a 1927 house where the former Brazilian president lived during his childhood and youth.
More drives to Ituzaingó
- Santa Fe to Ituzaingó
- Ciudad del Este to Ituzaingó, Argentina
- Porto Alegre to Ituzaingó, Argentina
- Caxias do Sul to Ituzaingó, Argentina
- Pelotas to Ituzaingó, Argentina
- São Leopoldo to Ituzaingó, Argentina
More drives from Santa Maria
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Bento Gonçalves
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Erechim
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Guaíra
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Umuarama
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Jaraguá do Sul
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santa Maria, Brazil to Ituzaingó, Argentina?
About 6 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 292 miles.
How far is Ituzaingó, Argentina from Santa Maria, Brazil by car?
About 292 miles (470 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 Santa Maria to Ituzaingó drive cross the border?
At about mile 188, from Brazil into Argentina, at Santo Tomé–São Borja.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santa Maria into Argentina?
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. A valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended. (U.S. State Department, updated July 16, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santa Maria to Ituzaingó drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Santa Maria to Ituzaingó use?
In order: BR-287, BR-285, RN121, RN14, RN120 and RN12. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Maria and Ituzaingó?
Closest to the road: Paleontological and Archaeological Museum Walter Ilha (paleontological museum, mile 30, 0.2 mi from the route); João Goulart's House (museum, mile 181, 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.