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Buenos Aires and Montevideo are about 200 kilometers apart in a straight line, but the road trip can exceed 570 kilometers and take up to 8 hours and 30 minutes; see how long the journey takes by plane, ferry, car, and bus.

Published on 21/06/2026 at 19:17
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Although Buenos Aires and Montevideo are separated by approximately 200 kilometers in a straight line, the travel time varies greatly: the direct flight takes about 50 minutes, the ferry can take 2 hours and 30 minutes, while the land route exceeds 570 kilometers and requires several hours of travel.

Buenos Aires and Montevideo are about 200 kilometers in a straight line, separated by the Rio de la Plata. Despite the proximity between the capitals of Argentina and Uruguay, the travel time changes depending on the chosen mode of transport.

Plane makes the journey in less than an hour

Direct flights between Buenos Aires and Montevideo take approximately 50 minutes. The air route is about 219 kilometers and usually departs from Aeroparque Jorge Newbery to Carrasco International Airport.

However, the passenger needs to add to the planning the travel to the airports, immigration control, baggage check-in, and boarding. Therefore, the time saving might be less than the flight duration suggests.

Ferry directly connects the two capitals

The ferry is one of the most practical alternatives, as it crosses the Rio de la Plata without requiring the long road detour. The fastest direct trip takes approximately two hours and 30 minutes, which can vary depending on the vessel, the service contracted, and the navigation conditions.

There are combined options, where the traveler goes by boat to Colonia del Sacramento and completes the journey to Montevideo by bus.

Road route is much longer

The journey made entirely by road is not just 200 or 220 kilometers. Since there is no bridge directly connecting Buenos Aires to Montevideo, the route can reach approximately 570 kilometers, depending on the path.

The driver needs to go around the Rio de la Plata, head towards Gualeguaychú, cross the border via the General San Martín international bridge, and enter Uruguay through Fray Bentos.

By car, the trip takes about six to seven hours, not considering stops or queues at immigration. By bus, the journey can last approximately eight hours and 30 minutes. Thus, the ferry offers a balance between speed, practicality, and central connection.

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Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Journalist specializing in a wide variety of topics, such as cars, technology, politics, naval industry, geopolitics, renewable energy, and economics. Active since 2015, with prominent publications on major news portals. My background in Information Technology Management from Faculdade de Petrolina (Facape) adds a unique technical perspective to my analyses and reports. With over 10,000 articles published in renowned outlets, I always aim to provide detailed information and relevant insights for the reader.

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