Plan on about 10 h 37 min of driving for the 507-mile (816 km) trip from Treinta y Tres to Martínez, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 354, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
Full advisory: Uruguay, Argentina. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 507 mi (816 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 |
| Border crossing | about mile 354, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Martínez
The route crosses at about mile 354, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge, from Río Negro into Entre Ríos. 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 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. |
| 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, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); ARCA (Argentine customs). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Treinta y Tres to Martínez is like
RN12 (48 mi) and RN14 (36 mi) carry about 17% of the 507 miles. The first 354 miles are in Uruguay; the last 153 are in Argentina. It runs through 9 regions: Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Treinta y Tres to Martínez: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–147 | 147 | Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 147–148 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 148–181 | 33 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 181–184 | 3 | Canelones |
| local roads | 184–215 | 31 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 215–218 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 218–254 | 36 | San José, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 254–255 | 1 | Colonia |
| local roads | 255–352 | 97 | Soriano, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 352–354 | 2 | Río Negro |
| RN136 | 354–373 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 373–380 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 380–416 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 416–464 | 48 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 464–469 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 469–504 | 35 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 504–507 | 3 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 17 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Lavalleja (region line)
- Mile 128 of this route: Lavalleja → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Canelones → San José (region line)
- Mile 237 of this route: San José → Colonia (region line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (region line)
- Mile 336 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 354 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 447 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Treinta y Tres and Martínez
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Lavalleja (mile 103), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 183), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 334), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 485)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto del Penitente (mile 93), Parque nacional Arequita (mile 102), Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park (mile 477), Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 485)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 147), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 183), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 334)
Salto del Penitente
Parque nacional Arequita
Arequita National Park is a protected natural area in Lavalleja department, southeastern Uruguay, known for Cerro Arequita, its related rock formations and its biodiversity.
Teatro Lavalleja
Teatro Lavalleja is a theater complex in the city of Minas, in the Lavalleja department of Uruguay.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Engineer Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker in Estación Atlántida, inaugurated in 1960, joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2021. Look for its wavy brick walls and roof, an openwork brick bell tower and an underground baptistery.
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.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Since 1960, the Diocese of Mercedes has had its seat at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, the main Catholic church in this Uruguayan city.
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.
Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park
Marsh deer give their name to Ciervo de los Pantanos National Park, a Ramsar Site in Campana, Buenos Aires province, where waterbirds are abundant.
Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar
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.
When you get to Martínez
Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur
Opened in June 2014 by the Argentine government, the Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands Museum stands on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds in Buenos Aires.
ESMA Museum and Site of Memory – Former Clandestine Center of Detention, Torture and Extermination
Set in Buenos Aires on the former Navy Mechanics School grounds, one of the largest clandestine detention, torture and extermination centers of the last dictatorship, this site museum was declared UNESCO World Heritage in 2023.
San Isidro Cathedral
Main church of the Diocese of San Isidro, this cathedral stands on Del Libertador Avenue opposite Plaza Mitre, in the historic quarter of San Isidro in Buenos Aires province.
More drives to Martínez
- La Plata to Martínez
- Berisso to Martínez
- Chascomús to Martínez
- Ayacucho, Argentina to Martínez
- Villa Gesell to Martínez
- Mar del Plata to Martínez
More drives from Treinta y Tres
- Treinta y Tres to Piriápolis
- Treinta y Tres to Fray Marcos
- Treinta y Tres to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Treinta y Tres to Nueva Helvecia
- Treinta y Tres to Trinidad, Uruguay
- Treinta y Tres to Conchillas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Treinta y Tres to Martínez, Argentina?
About 10 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 507 miles.
What is the driving distance from Treinta y Tres to Martínez, Argentina?
About 507 miles (816 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 Treinta y Tres to Martínez drive cross the border?
At about mile 354, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Treinta y Tres 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 Treinta y Tres to Martínez drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Treinta y Tres to Martínez use?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6 and RN9. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Treinta y Tres and Martínez?
Closest to the road: Teatro Lavalleja (theater, mile 103, 0.4 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 183, 0.2 mi from the route); Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 485, 0.3 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.