The Wayro route from Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco, Uruguay is 311 miles (501 km), about 7 h 44 min of driving without stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 310.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil, Uruguay. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance | 311 mi (501 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-470 → ERS-446 → ERS-122 → ERS-240 → BR-116 |
| Border crossing | about mile 310, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Brazil into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 310, from Rio Grande do Sul into Cerro Largo. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Uruguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Uruguay | You can drive on your U.S. license. |
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco
BR-116 (196 mi) and ERS-122 (24 mi) carry about 71% of the 311 miles. The first 310 miles are in Brazil; the last 1 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-470 | 1–10 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-446 | 10–19 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 19–43 | 24 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-240 | 43–52 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 52–165 | 113 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 165–225 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 225–308 | 83 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 308–311 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo |
- Mile 310 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Cerro Largo (international border)
What to see on the way from Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 54), Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 65), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 166)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Ventoso (mile 17), Jacuí Delta State Park (mile 78)
- Museums and history: Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante (mile 53), Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 54), Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 65), Farol Santander Porto Alegre (mile 73), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 85), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 166)
Salto Ventoso
Salto Ventoso is a waterfall in Farroupilha, Brazil, and a tourist attraction of regional importance.
Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante
The Casa da Feitoria in São Leopoldo, in the Rio dos Sinos valley, housed a royal hemp-linen farm from 1788 until March 1824 and is also known as the Casa do Imigrante.
Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo"
Dedicated to the history of São Leopoldo and German colonization in Rio Grande do Sul, the Museu Histórico Visconde de São Leopoldo keeps a collection of objects, images and documents about the settlers. It is a privately run museum.
Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas
Canoas's history museum and archive keeps photos, newspapers, maps, documents, audiovisual material and objects that tell the story of the city in Rio Grande do Sul.
Farol Santander Porto Alegre
Formerly Santander Cultural, Farol Santander Porto Alegre is a cultural center run by Banco Santander in a historic building on Alfândega Square.
Porto Alegre Public Market
Porto Alegre's oldest public market, the Public Market downtown is a historic landmark and meeting point with many coffee shops and restaurants.
Jacuí Delta State Park
Created in 1976, Jacuí Delta State Park (Parque Estadual Delta do Jacuí) protects the delta between Porto Alegre, Canoas, Eldorado do Sul and nearby towns, where fishers from Ilha da Pintada still practice traditional fishing.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
More drives to Río Branco
- Rivera to Río Branco
- Montevideo to Río Branco
- Salto to Río Branco
- Paysandú to Río Branco
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Río Branco
- Fray Bentos to Río Branco
More drives from Bento Gonçalves
- Bento Gonçalves to Guaíra
- Bento Gonçalves to Tubarão
- Bento Gonçalves to Santana do Livramento
- Bento Gonçalves to Chuí
- Bento Gonçalves to Mercedes, Argentina
- Bento Gonçalves to Maldonado, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco, Uruguay?
About 7 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 311 miles.
How far is Río Branco, Uruguay from Bento Gonçalves by car?
About 311 miles (501 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.
Where does the Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco drive cross the border?
At about mile 310, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Bento Gonçalves into Uruguay?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You can drive on your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 13, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco, Uruguay?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco use?
In order: BR-470, ERS-446, ERS-122, ERS-240 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Bento Gonçalves to Río Branco?
Closest to the road: Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (museum, mile 54, 0.5 mi from the route); Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (museum, mile 65, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 166, 0.5 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.