Plan on about 8 h 32 min of driving for the 470-mile (757 km) trip from Villa Carlos Paz to Mercedes, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Argentina into Uruguay at about mile 451, 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: “Gas stations are often far apart and not always easily identified from the main roadway.”
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 470 mi (757 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 32 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN20 → RN A019 → RN9 → RNA008 → RN174 → RP11 → RN12 → RP16 → RN136 |
| Border crossing | about mile 451, Argentina → Uruguay (the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge) |
| Regions on the route | Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.8 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 451, 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.
Driving Villa Carlos Paz to Mercedes: the shape of the trip
RN9 (240 mi) and RP11 (65 mi) carry about 65% of the 470 miles. The first 451 miles are in Argentina; the last 19 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Córdoba, Santa Fe, Entre Ríos, Río Negro, Soriano. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Villa Carlos Paz and Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Córdoba |
| RN20 | 2–15 | 13 | Córdoba |
| connecting roads | 15–17 | 2 | Córdoba |
| RN A019 | 17–29 | 12 | Córdoba |
| RN9 | 29–269 | 240 | Córdoba, Santa Fe |
| RNA008 | 269–275 | 6 | Santa Fe |
| RN174 | 275–311 | 36 | Santa Fe, Entre Ríos |
| RP11 | 311–376 | 65 | Entre Ríos |
| RN12 | 376–380 | 4 | Entre Ríos |
| RP16 | 380–422 | 42 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 422–427 | 5 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 427–429 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| RN136 | 429–449 | 20 | Entre Ríos |
| connecting roads | 449–451 | 2 | Entre Ríos |
| local roads | 451–470 | 19 | Río Negro, Soriano |
- Mile 208 of this route: Córdoba → Santa Fe (region line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Santa Fe → Entre Ríos (region line)
- Mile 451 of this route: Entre Ríos → Río Negro (international border)
- Mile 467 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (region line)
Places worth a stop between Villa Carlos Paz and Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Tecnológico Aeroespacial (mile 17), Balneario La Florida (mile 275), Abadía del Niño Dios (mile 311), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 428)
- Nature and outdoors: Balneario La Florida (mile 275)
- Museums and history: Museo Tecnológico Aeroespacial (mile 17), Museo Palacio Dionisi (mile 22), Gualeguaychú Cathedral (mile 428)
- With kids: Paraná River Aquarium (mile 273)
Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba
Named a World Heritage Site in 2000, the Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba are a group of buildings and sites once used by the Jesuits across Córdoba province.
Museo Tecnológico Aeroespacial
Run by the Argentine Air Force in Río Cuarto, the Museo Tecnológico Aeroespacial opened in 1999 and displays weapons, sensors, equipment and aircraft that served with the force.
Museo Palacio Dionisi
The Museo Palacio Dionisi is the provincial photography museum, located in the Nueva Córdoba neighborhood of the city of Córdoba.
Paraná River Aquarium
The Paraná River Aquarium in Rosario is a public aquarium built as a scientific and educational center focused on the river.
Balneario La Florida
Rosario's municipal riverside beach area runs nearly 4 kilometers along the Paraná River, from the Rosario-Victoria Bridge to Parque Alem, and dates to around 1940.
Abadía del Niño Dios
Abadía del Niño Dios is a Benedictine monastery in Victoria, Entre Ríos Province. Founded in 1899, it was the first Benedictine foundation in Hispanic America.
Gualeguaychú Cathedral
St. Joseph's Cathedral, also called Gualeguaychú Cathedral, is the mother 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.
Arriving in 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.
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.
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.
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 Villa Carlos Paz
- Villa Carlos Paz to Capilla del Monte
- Villa Carlos Paz to Arrecifes
- Villa Carlos Paz to San Antonio de Areco
- Villa Carlos Paz to Tigre
- Villa Carlos Paz to Martínez
- Villa Carlos Paz to Colón, Argentina
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Villa Carlos Paz to Mercedes, Uruguay?
About 8 h 32 min of driving without stops, over 470 miles.
How far is Mercedes, Uruguay from Villa Carlos Paz by car?
About 470 miles (757 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 Villa Carlos Paz to Mercedes drive cross the border?
At about mile 451, from Argentina into Uruguay, at the Gualeguaychú–Fray Bentos bridge.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Villa Carlos Paz 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Villa Carlos Paz to Mercedes drive?
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 Villa Carlos Paz to Mercedes use?
In order: RN20, RN A019, RN9, RNA008, RN174, RP11, RN12, RP16 and RN136. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Villa Carlos Paz and Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Museo Tecnológico Aeroespacial (museum, mile 17, 0.2 mi from the route); Abadía del Niño Dios (monastery, mile 311, 0.6 mi from the route); Gualeguaychú Cathedral (cathedral, mile 428, 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.