Plan on about 8 h 55 min of driving for the 485-mile (780 km) trip from Uruguaiana to Magdalena, Argentina, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Argentina at about mile 2, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil, Argentina. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Argentina July 10, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
- Argentina: “Drivers in Argentina tend to be aggressive, especially in Buenos Aires, and often ignore traffic regulations.”
| Total distance | 485 mi (780 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 55 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN117 → RN14 → RN12 → RP6 → RN9 → AV1-N → RN1 → RP11 |
| Border crossing | about mile 2, Brazil → Argentina (Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana) |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Brazil–Argentina border
The route crosses at about mile 2, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana, 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.
The Uruguaiana–Magdalena drive in a few lines
RN14 (308 mi) and RN12 (47 mi) carry about 73% of the 485 miles. The first 2 miles are in Brazil; the last 483 are in Argentina. It runs through 5 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Uruguaiana to Magdalena: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul, Corrientes |
| RN117 | 3–11 | 8 | Corrientes |
| RN14 | 11–319 | 308 | Corrientes, Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 319–366 | 47 | Entre Ríos, Buenos Aires |
| RP6 | 366–371 | 5 | Buenos Aires |
| RN9 | 371–411 | 40 | Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 411–413 | 2 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| AV1-N | 413–419 | 6 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 419–422 | 3 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires |
| RN1 | 422–452 | 30 | Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires |
| connecting roads | 452–454 | 2 | Buenos Aires |
| RP11 | 454–484 | 30 | Buenos Aires |
| local roads | 484–485 | 1 | Buenos Aires |
- Mile 2 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Corrientes (international border)
- Mile 105 of this route: Corrientes → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 349 of this route: Entre Ríos → Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 411 of this route: Buenos Aires → Ciudad de Buenos Aires (region line)
- Mile 427 of this route: Ciudad de Buenos Aires → Buenos Aires (region line)
Places worth a stop between Uruguaiana and Magdalena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): El Palmar National Park (mile 196), San Nicolás de Bari Basilica, Buenos Aires (mile 419), Avenida Theatre (mile 420), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 423), La Plata Astronomical Observatory (mile 455), Museo de Astronomía y Geofísica (mile 455)
- Nature and outdoors: El Palmar National Park (mile 196)
- Museums and history: Sarmiento Historical Museum (mile 414), San Nicolás de Bari Basilica, Buenos Aires (mile 419), Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (mile 423), Museo de Astronomía y Geofísica (mile 455)
- With kids: The Children's Republic (mile 449)
El Palmar National Park
Set off National Route 14 in Entre Ríos, between Colón and Concordia, El Palmar National Park protects groves of yatay palms along with gallery forest, savanna and grassland.
Sarmiento Historical Museum
In the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires, the Sarmiento Historical Museum covers the Generation of '80 and the life of President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, with sections on Nicolás Avellaneda and the 1880 federalization.
Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi
An equestrian statue of Italian military and political figure Giuseppe Garibaldi, this monument stands on Plaza Italia in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires.
San Nicolás de Bari Basilica, Buenos Aires
Built in the French academic style, this Buenos Aires basilica honors Saint Nicholas of Bari; the original 1733 chapel on Corrientes was demolished in 1931 to widen Diagonal Norte.
Avenida Theatre
The Avenida Theatre is a theater venue in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken
Established in 1971, Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken in Buenos Aires traces Argentine cinema through about 90,000 film reels plus photos, posters, scripts, costumes and film equipment.
The Children's Republic
Spread over 131 acres in La Plata, The Children's Republic is a theme park with 35 scale-model buildings.
La Plata Astronomical Observatory
The La Plata Astronomical Observatory sits in the city of La Plata, capital of Buenos Aires Province, and is registered with the IAU under code 839.
Museo de Astronomía y Geofísica
Run by the National University of La Plata's astronomy and geophysics school, the Museo de Astronomía y Geofísica was created in 1997 and opened its permanent exhibit in 2001.
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 Uruguaiana
- Uruguaiana to Erechim
- Uruguaiana to Chuí
- Uruguaiana to Berisso, Argentina
- Uruguaiana to Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina
- Uruguaiana to Chascomús, Argentina
- Uruguaiana to Adrogué, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Uruguaiana to Magdalena, Argentina?
About 8 h 55 min of driving without stops, over 485 miles.
How far is Magdalena, Argentina from Uruguaiana by car?
About 485 miles (780 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 Uruguaiana to Magdalena drive cross the border?
At about mile 2, from Brazil into Argentina, at Paso de los Libres–Uruguaiana.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Uruguaiana 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 Uruguaiana to Magdalena, Argentina?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Argentina Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Uruguaiana to Magdalena use?
In order: RN117, 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 Uruguaiana to Magdalena?
Closest to the road: El Palmar National Park (national park of Argentina, mile 196, 0.1 mi from the route); San Nicolás de Bari Basilica, Buenos Aires (basilica, mile 419, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken (film museum, mile 423, 0.2 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.