Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay Road Trip: Border & Stops

By admin, 13 October, 2026

Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay is about 386 road miles (622 km): roughly 8 h 27 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 152, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Argentina — Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions; Uruguay — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution

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.”
TemaikènJapanese Garden, Belén de EscobarCiervo de los Pantanos National ParkAlejandro Berro Paleontology MuseumCalera Real del DacáCathedral of San José de MayoMuseo Departamental de San JoséCathedral of FloridaPiedra AltaArgentina–Uruguay borderTigreAlejandro Gallinal
Route from Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots) and the approximate Argentina–Uruguay border crossing (red square).
Distance by road386 mi (622 km)
Drive time without stops8 h 27 min
Main roads, in orderRP24 → RN9 → RP6 → RN12 → RN14 → RN136
Border crossingabout mile 152, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge)
Regions on the routeBuenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 15.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

Crossing from Argentina into Uruguay

The route crosses at about mile 152, 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 UruguayYou 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 ArgentinaA valid U.S. license usually works; an International Driving Permit is recommended.
Rental carCross 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.

On the road from Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal

RN12 (47 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 22% of the 386 miles. The first 152 miles are in Argentina; the last 234 are in Uruguay. It runs through 8 regions: Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.

The route from Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal, road by road

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miRegion
local roads0–11Buenos Aires
RP241–76Buenos Aires
RN97–3528Buenos Aires
RP635–405Buenos Aires
RN1240–8747Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos
RN1487–12336Entre Ríos
local roads123–1307Entre Ríos
RN136130–14919Entre Ríos
connecting roads149–1523Entre Ríos
local roads152–285133Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José
connecting roads285–2883San José
local roads288–38698San José, Canelones, Florida
  • Mile 57 of this route: Buenos Aires → Entre Ríos (region line)
  • Mile 152 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
  • Mile 168 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
  • Mile 249 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (region line)
  • Mile 267 of this route: Colonia → San José (region line)
  • Mile 310 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
  • Mile 323 of this route: Canelones → Florida (region line)

Breaking up the drive: stops between Tigre and Alejandro Gallinal

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Temaikèn (mile 18), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 19), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 286), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 286), Piedra Alta (mile 342)
  • Nature and outdoors: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 19), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 27)
  • Museums and history: Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 167), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 170), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 286), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 286), Cathedral of Florida (mile 342), Piedra Alta (mile 342)
  • With kids: Temaikèn (mile 18)

Temaikèn

Mile 18 · Zoo · 0.6 mi from the route

Temaikèn is a zoo in Belén de Escobar, outside Buenos Aires, and the only zoo in Argentina accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar

Mile 19 · Japanese garden · 0.2 mi from the route

Landscape engineer Yasuo Inomata designed this Japanese garden in Belén de Escobar in 1969, and the local Japanese community donated it to the city. Red, white and spotted koi swim in its 1,000-square-meter pond.

Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park

Mile 27 · National park · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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

Mile 167 · Paleontological museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Calera Real del Dacá

Mile 170 · Ruins · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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 San José de Mayo

Mile 286 · Cathedral · 0.9 mi from the route

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.

Museo Departamental de San José

Mile 286 · History museum · 0.7 mi from the route

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 Florida

Mile 342 · Cathedral · 1 mi from the route

Florida's cathedral basilica is also Uruguay's national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the country's patroness, and keeps the original image; look for its bronze door by sculptor José Belloni and his son Stelio, stained glass and domes.

Piedra Alta

Mile 342 · Historic site · 0.6 mi from the route

On the banks of the Santa Lucía Chico River outside the city of Florida, Piedra Alta is a rock formation of historic importance that appears on the department's coat of arms and flag.

More drives to Alejandro Gallinal

More drives from Tigre

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?

About 8 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 386 miles.

What is the driving distance from Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal, Uruguay?

About 386 miles (622 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 Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal drive cross the border?

At about mile 152, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.

What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Tigre 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 Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal, 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 Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal use?

In order: RP24, RN9, RP6, RN12, RN14 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

Where can you stop on the way from Tigre to Alejandro Gallinal?

Closest to the road: Temaikèn (zoo, mile 18, 0.6 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 19, 0.2 mi from the route); Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 342, 0.6 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.