The Wayro route from Trinidad, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina is 344 miles (553 km), about 7 h 16 min of driving without stops. You cross from Uruguay into Argentina at about mile 114, 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Distance | 344 mi (553 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 16 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN136 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 114, Uruguay → Argentina (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Flores, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The border on the way to Magdalena
The route crosses at about mile 114, 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.
The Trinidad–Magdalena drive in a few lines
RN12 (47 mi) and RN9 (39 mi) carry about 25% of the 344 miles. The first 114 miles are in Uruguay; the last 230 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Flores, Río Negro, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Trinidad and Magdalena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–112 | 112 | Flores, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 112–115 | 3 | Río Negro, Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 115–134 | 19 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 134–141 | 7 | Entre Ríos |
| RN14 | 141–177 | 36 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 177–224 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 224–229 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 229–230 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 230–269 | 39 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 269–272 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 272–278 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 278–281 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 281–311 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 311–313 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 313–342 | 29 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 342–344 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 34 of this route: Flores → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 114 of this route: Río Negro → Entre Ríos (international border)
- Mile 208 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 269 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 286 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Trinidad and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 246), Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography (mile 280), Curutchet House (mile 314)
- Nature and outdoors: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (mile 246), Buenos Aires Botanical Garden (mile 275)
- Museums and history: Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 135), Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography (mile 280), Cathedral of La Plata (mile 314), Curutchet House (mile 314)
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015, the old Anglo meatpacking plant stands on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos, where frozen meat shipments began in 1924.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gualeguaychú in Argentina.
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.
Buenos Aires Botanical Garden
In the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Buenos Aires Botanical Garden fills a triangular plot bounded by Santa Fe Avenue, Las Heras Avenue and República Árabe Siria Street.
Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography
Overseen by the University of Buenos Aires Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, the Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography is an ethnography museum in Buenos Aires.
Cathedral of La Plata
Facing Plaza Moreno and City Hall at the geographic center of La Plata, this neo-Gothic cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
Curutchet House
The Curutchet House in La Plata, Argentina, is a building designed by the architect Le Corbusier.
More drives to Magdalena
- Necochea to Magdalena
- Adrogué to Magdalena
- Tigre to Magdalena
- Buenos Aires to Magdalena
- Luján to Magdalena
- San Antonio de Areco to Magdalena
More drives from Trinidad
- Trinidad, Uruguay to Fray Marcos
- Trinidad, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal
- Trinidad, Uruguay to Bella Unión
- Trinidad, Uruguay to Chuy
- Trinidad, Uruguay to Cariló, Argentina
- Trinidad, Uruguay to Chuí, Brazil
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Trinidad, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 7 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 344 miles.
What is the driving distance from Trinidad, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 344 miles (553 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 Trinidad to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 114, from Uruguay into Argentina, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Trinidad 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Trinidad, Uruguay to Magdalena, Argentina?
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.
Which highways go from Trinidad to Magdalena?
In order: RN136, RN14, RN12, RP6, RN9, AV1-N, RN1 and RP11. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Trinidad to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: Japanese Garden, Belén de Escobar (japanese garden, mile 246, 0.2 mi from the route); Juan B. Ambrosetti Museum of Ethnography (ethnographic museum, mile 280, 0.6 mi from the route); Curutchet House (historic house, mile 314, 0.8 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.