The Wayro route from Santa Rosa to Mercedes, Uruguay is 506 miles (814 km), about 10 h 15 min of driving without stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 487, 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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance by road | 506 mi (814 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 15 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN5 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 487, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | La Pampa, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Mercedes
The route crosses at about mile 487, 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.
What the drive from Santa Rosa to Mercedes is like
RN5 (338 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 76% of the 506 miles. The first 487 miles are in Argentina; the last 19 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: La Pampa, Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Santa Rosa to Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | La Pampa |
| RN5 | 1–339 | 338 | La Pampa, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 339–341 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 341–375 | 34 | Buenos Aires |
| RN12 | 375–422 | 47 | Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 422–459 | 37 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 459–465 | 6 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 465–485 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 485–487 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 487–506 | 19 | Río Negro, Soriano |
- Mile 54 of this route: La Pampa → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 392 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 487 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 503 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
What to see on the way from Santa Rosa to Mercedes
- Nature and outdoors: Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 365)
- Museums and history: Museum of Contemporary Art Raúl Lozza (mile 260), Museo Pompeo Boggio (mile 280), Mercedes Cathedral (mile 317), Provincial Museum Complex «Enrique Udaondo» (mile 336), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 464)
Museum of Contemporary Art Raúl Lozza
Opened on October 27, 2003, in Alberti, Buenos Aires Province, this museum began with works donated by artist Raúl Lozza, co-founder of the Arte Concreto-Invención movement, and has permanent and temporary galleries and an auditorium.
Museo Pompeo Boggio
At the corner of Bolívar and Salta streets in Chivilcoy, Buenos Aires Province, Museo Pompeo Boggio is the town's municipal museum, run by the local culture department.
Mercedes Cathedral
The Catholic cathedral and minor basilica of Mercedes, Buenos Aires Province, serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Mercedes-Luján.
Basilica of Our Lady of Luján
The Basilica of Our Lady of Luján is a Catholic church in Luján, Buenos Aires province, dedicated to Our Lady of Luján, the patron saint of Argentina.
Provincial Museum Complex «Enrique Udaondo»
In Luján, the Complejo Museográfico Provincial Enrique Udaondo brings together the Colonial and Historical Museum, the Transport Museum, and the Automobile Hall in one complex.
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, serves as the cathedral 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.
When you get to Mercedes
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.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
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.
More drives to Mercedes
- Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Artigas to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Montevideo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Melo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Uruguay
More drives from Santa Rosa
- Santa Rosa to Tigre
- Santa Rosa to Berisso
- Santa Rosa to Gualeguaychú
- Santa Rosa to Rawson
- Santa Rosa to Capilla del Monte
- Santa Rosa to Villa Carlos Paz
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Rosa to Mercedes, Uruguay?
About 10 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 506 miles.
How far is Mercedes, Uruguay from Santa Rosa by car?
About 506 miles (814 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 Rosa to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 487, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santa Rosa 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 Santa Rosa to Mercedes, 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.
Which highways go from Santa Rosa to Mercedes?
In order: RN5, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Rosa and Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Mercedes Cathedral (cathedral, mile 317, 2 mi from the route); Provincial Museum Complex «Enrique Udaondo» (museum, mile 336, 1 mi from the route); Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 464, 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.