Bella Unión to Cabo Polonio is about 547 road miles (880 km): roughly 11 h 50 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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance | 547 mi (880 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Artigas, Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Bella Unión to Cabo Polonio
I-B (5 mi) carries about 1% of the 547 miles. It runs through 9 departments: Artigas, Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Bella Unión to Cabo Polonio: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–425 | 425 | Artigas, Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 425–430 | 5 | Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 430–431 | 1 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 431–547 | 116 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- Mile 37 of this route: Artigas → Salto (department line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (department line)
- Mile 185 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (department line)
- Mile 240 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (department line)
- Mile 301 of this route: Flores → San José (department line)
- Mile 350 of this route: San José → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 420 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
- Mile 477 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (department line)
Stops between Bella Unión and Cabo Polonio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Termas del Daymán (mile 92), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 268)
- Nature and outdoors: Termas del Daymán (mile 92), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 268), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 431), La Sirena Beach (mile 536)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Salto (mile 88), Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología (mile 88), Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 159), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 331), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 397)
Cathedral of Salto
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is Salto's main Catholic church and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1939.
Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología
In Uruguay's Salto department, the Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología shows how changing technology has shaped daily life in Uruguay and elsewhere.
Termas del Daymán
Termas del Daymán is a hot springs center on the banks of the Daymán River, about 10 kilometers from the city of Salto.
Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú
Paysandú's Catholic parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Benedict of Palermo was named a minor basilica in 1949 and remains an active parish of the city.
Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice
Off Route 3 near Trinidad, the Dr. Rodolfo Tálice Ecopark (Reserva de Flora y Fauna Dr. Rodolfo Talice) is a fenced wildlife reserve where axis deer, greater rheas and pampas deer roam free alongside other species.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
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.
La Sirena Beach
About 2.5 km north of Aguas Dulces, La Sirena is one of Uruguay's two official naturist beaches, backed by vegetated dunes, small marshes, lagoons and pine and acacia woods where coastal birds are common.
In Cabo Polonio itself
Parque nacional Cabo Polonio
Part of Uruguay's national protected areas system since 2009, Cabo Polonio National Park spans 25,820 hectares of coastline, ocean and offshore islands.
Cabo Polonio Lighthouse
Standing on the Cabo Polonio headland in Uruguay's Rocha department, this lighthouse looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and was built in 1881.
Dunes of Cabo Polonio
Inside Cabo Polonio National Park in Uruguay's Rocha department, a band of natural sand dunes runs along the Atlantic Ocean.
More drives to Cabo Polonio
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Cabo Polonio
- Rivera to Cabo Polonio
- Paysandú to Cabo Polonio
- Salto to Cabo Polonio
- Durazno to Cabo Polonio
- Fray Bentos to Cabo Polonio
From Bella Unión to other places in Uruguay
- Bella Unión to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Bella Unión to Fray Marcos
- Bella Unión to Piriápolis
- Bella Unión to Atlántida
- Bella Unión to Alejandro Gallinal
- Bella Unión to Barra de Valizas
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Bella Unión to Cabo Polonio?
About 11 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 547 miles.
How far is Cabo Polonio from Bella Unión by car?
About 547 miles (880 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 Bella Unión to Cabo Polonio drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Bella Unión and Cabo Polonio?
Closest to the road: Termas del Daymán (hot spring, mile 92, 0.2 mi from the route); Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 268, 0.2 mi from the route); Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 331, 2 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.