During brain wiring, mRNAs are trafficked into axons and growth cones where they are differentially translated in response to extrinsic signals. Differential control of local protein synthesis mediates neuronal compartment-specific behaviors that aid axon guidance. Yet little is understood about how specific mRNAs are selected for translation. Here we have investigated the local role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in mRNA-specific translation during axon pathfinding of Xenopus laevis retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons. Profiling experiments revealed a rich repertoire of axonal miRNAs in developing RGC axons and identified miR-182 as one of the most abundant. Loss of miR182 impairs Slit2-induced growth cone repulsion and causes RGC axon targeting defects in vivo. To aid miRNA target prediction, we also profiled mRNA expression in RGC axons. Our results show that miR-182 targets cofilin1 mRNA in RGC growth cones and modulates its local translation in response to Slit2. Overall design: Two biological replicates, one condition