Road trips from Buenos Aires: 5 routes by car

Checked: October 8, 2026

Five trips: the Tigre delta (a day trip), San Antonio de Areco (one or two days), Rosario (2–3 days), Mar del Plata and the Atlantic coast (3–4 days) and Colonia in Uruguay (by car ferry or over the bridge, 2–3 days). For Córdoba and its hills, allow at least 6 days. If you rent from RS AVTO, the limit is 300 km per day added up over the whole rental, so it covers every route except Córdoba on a short rental.

How does the mileage limit work?

At RS AVTO you get 300 km per day, added up over the whole rental: 3 days = 900 km, 7 days = 2,100 km, used however you like (drive 700 km on day one and park for the rest). Extra kilometres cost US$0.33 each. To plan, take the round-trip distance and add 15–20% for driving around at your destination.

Road trips from Buenos Aires at a glance

Tigre and the delta — ~35 km. 30–60 min (traffic).
San Antonio de Areco — ~120 km. ~1 h 30.
Rosario — ~300 km. ~3 h 15–3 h 30.
Mar del Plata and the coast — ~415 km. ~5 h.
Colonia (Uruguay) by ferry — ferry, almost no driving. 1–3 h on board.
Colonia via the bridge (Gualeguaychú — Fray Bentos) — ~280 km to Fray Bentos + ~220 km to Colonia. ~3 h 30 + ~3 h 30.
Córdoba and the hills — ~700 km. ~7–8 h. (Distances and times are traffic-free estimates from OpenStreetMap/OSRM, 06.10.2026 — check your route in a navigation app before you go.)

Tigre and the Paraná delta — a day trip

Roads: Panamericana (Acceso Norte) and Ruta 27/Camino Costero, a toll motorway run by Autopistas del Sol (TelePASE accepted). See: Puerto de Frutos market, boat trips through the delta channels, the MAT art museum. Tip: weekend mornings are busy leaving the city — start early and plan parking near Puerto de Frutos.

San Antonio de Areco — gaucho country

Roads: Panamericana, then Ruta Nacional 8 from Pilar; tolls on the Panamericana (Autopistas del Sol, TelePASE). See: the old town, the Puente Viejo bridge, the Ricardo Güiraldes gaucho museum, silversmith workshops, an estancia lunch with asado. Time: one day, or two with a night at an estancia. In November the town is packed for the Día de la Tradición festival.

Rosario — the city on the Paraná

Roads: the Buenos Aires — Rosario motorway (Ruta Nacional 9), with tolls; TelePASE works on the main national highways (telepase.com.ar). See: the Monumento a la Bandera, the riverfront, the islands across the river, Boulevard Oroño. Time: 2–3 days. On a 2-day rental the 600 km allowance is tight — take 3 days or budget for extra km.

Mar del Plata and the Atlantic coast

Roads: Ruta Provincial 2, a toll motorway run by AUBASA (TelePASE accepted). AUBASA has made Autovía 6 TelePASE-only; its site announces no such change for Ruta 2. See: the seafront and casino, the harbour with its sea lions, Chascomús on the way; nearby Miramar, Cariló and Pinamar (via Ruta 11). Time: 3–4 days. January and February are peak season, with heavy traffic on Fridays and Sundays.

Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)

Option A — car ferry from the port of Buenos Aires (Buquebus, Colonia Express): quick, almost no mileage. Option B — by road via Gualeguaychú and the bridge to Fray Bentos, then across Uruguay to Colonia. See: the Barrio Histórico (UNESCO World Heritage), the lighthouse, the waterfront; Montevideo is another ~180 km. Time: 2–3 days (ferry) or 3–4 (loop). Important: a trip to Uruguay must be arranged with RS AVTO in advance; documents and Carta Verde insurance are covered in the article on driving to Uruguay.

Bonus — Córdoba and the hills for a week

Roads: Ruta Nacional 9 via Rosario, about 700 km, motorway most of the way. See: the Jesuit estancias (UNESCO), Villa General Belgrano, the Calamuchita valley, Traslasierra. Time: 6 days or more. Six days at RS AVTO gives you 1,800 km — enough for the round trip and driving around the hills.

Checking a rental car before a long drive

Tolls: many highways now charge without barriers. At RS AVTO, tolls and parking are paid separately.
Headlights: dipped headlights on, day and night, on national highways (Ley 24.449, art. 47); zero alcohol on national roads (Ley 24.449, art. 48 as amended by Ley 27.714) and in Buenos Aires Province — see the traffic rules article.
Licence and papers: passport, licence, car papers and insurance (Ley 24.449, art. 40). A foreign licence is generally recognised for up to 1 year from entry (Russian citizens: first 3 months as a tourist) — see Can I drive in Argentina with a foreign licence?
Fuel: some stretches across the pampas are long — fill up early.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I go by car for a day from Buenos Aires?

Tigre and the delta (~35 km) or San Antonio de Areco (~120 km).

Is the RS AVTO mileage enough for Mar del Plata?

On a 4-day rental, yes: 1,200 km allowed against roughly 950 km of driving. On 3 days it is tight.

Is the limit counted per day?

No. At RS AVTO the 300 km per day is added up over the whole rental.

Can I take the rental car to Colonia?

Yes, if you arrange it with RS AVTO in advance. The car ferry is the simplest way.

How many days for Córdoba?

At least 6: the round trip alone is about 1,400 km, and 6 days at RS AVTO gives you 1,800 km.