Artigas to La Paloma is about 492 road miles (792 km): roughly 10 h 44 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 492 mi (792 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Artigas, Salto, Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Artigas–La Paloma drive in a few lines
I-B (6 mi) carries about 1% of the 492 miles. It runs through 9 departments: Artigas, Salto, Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Artigas to La Paloma: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–84 | 84 | Artigas, Salto, Rivera |
| connecting roads | 84–85 | 1 | Rivera |
| local roads | 85–376 | 291 | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 376–377 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 377–405 | 28 | Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 405–411 | 6 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 411–492 | 81 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- Mile 45 of this route: Artigas → Salto (department line)
- Mile 58 of this route: Salto → Rivera (department line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (department line)
- Mile 217 of this route: Tacuarembó → Durazno (department line)
- Mile 265 of this route: Durazno → Florida (department line)
- Mile 331 of this route: Florida → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 400 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
- Mile 457 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (department line)
What to see on the way from Artigas to La Paloma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo de Artes Visuales de Tacuarembó (mile 127), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 255), Cathedral of Florida (mile 310), Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida (mile 310), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 472)
- Nature and outdoors: Chorro de Agua Fría (mile 153), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 411)
- Museums and history: Museo de Artes Visuales de Tacuarembó (mile 127), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 255), Cathedral of Florida (mile 310), Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida (mile 310), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 377)
Museo de Artes Visuales de Tacuarembó
The Museum of Visual Arts of Tacuarembó (Museo de Artes Visuales) is a museum in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Chorro de Agua Fría
In Uruguay's Tacuarembó Department, Chorro de Agua Fría is a waterfall that drops roughly 14 meters, the highest uninterrupted fall in the country.
Casa de Rivera, Durazno
Facing Plaza Independencia in Durazno, the Casa de Fructuoso Rivera (Casa de Rivera) is one of the town's main heritage sites and now houses the department's historical museum.
Cathedral of Florida
Florida's cathedral basilica is also Uruguay's national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the country's patroness, and keeps the original image; look for its bronze door by sculptor José Belloni and his son Stelio, stained glass and domes.
Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida
This history museum is located in the central part of Florida, capital of the Uruguayan department of the same name, on Rivera street.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station
Near Piriápolis in Maldonado, this breeding station for native wildlife on Cerro Pan de Azúcar is surrounded by native vegetation and offers guided visits, including a native wildlife trail and a path up the hill.
Observatorio Astronómico del CURE
Run by the University of the Republic's eastern campus (CURE), this small observatory in Rocha opened in 2016 and uses a 30 cm reflector telescope under a motorized dome for teaching, research and public outreach.
When you get to La Paloma
Cabo Santa María
Cabo Santa María (Cabo de Santa María) is a headland on Uruguay's Atlantic coast in Rocha, where the town and port of La Paloma were built.
Cabo Santa María Lighthouse
Erected in 1871, Cabo Santa María Lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic from its headland in Rocha and serves as a landmark of the seaside resort of La Paloma.
La Balconada beach
La Balconada (Playa La Balconada) is one of the main beaches of Rocha, located in La Paloma and known for its sunsets.
More drives to La Paloma
- Maldonado to La Paloma
- Atlántida to La Paloma
- Nueva Helvecia to La Paloma
- Tacuarembó to La Paloma
- Rivera to La Paloma
- Durazno to La Paloma
From Artigas to other places in Uruguay
- Artigas to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Artigas to Carmelo
- Artigas to Colonia del Sacramento
- Artigas to Conchillas
- Artigas to Nueva Helvecia
- Artigas to Veinticinco de Agosto
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Artigas to La Paloma?
About 10 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 492 miles.
What is the driving distance from Artigas to La Paloma?
About 492 miles (792 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Artigas to La Paloma drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Artigas to La Paloma?
Closest to the road: Museo de Artes Visuales de Tacuarembó (museum, mile 127, 0.7 mi from the route); Casa de Rivera, Durazno (historic house museum, mile 255, 0.3 mi from the route); Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (astronomical observatory, mile 472, 0.4 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.