The Wayro route from Bento Gonçalves to Rivera, Uruguay is 321 miles (517 km), about 7 h 28 min of driving without stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 319.
- 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance by road | 321 mi (517 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-470 → RSC-453 → RSC-287 → BR-158 → BR-290 |
| Border crossing | about mile 319, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Crossing from Brazil into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 319, from Rio Grande do Sul into Rivera. 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.
Driving Bento Gonçalves to Rivera: the shape of the trip
BR-158 (134 mi) and RSC-287 (95 mi) carry about 71% of the 321 miles. The first 319 miles are in Brazil; the last 2 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Bento Gonçalves to Rivera: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-470 | 1–7 | 6 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 7–67 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 67–162 | 95 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 162–167 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 167–171 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 171–242 | 71 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 242–256 | 14 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 256–319 | 63 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 319–321 | 2 | Rivera |
- Mile 319 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rivera (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Rivera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (mile 169), Theatro Treze de Maio (mile 169)
- Museums and history: St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul (mile 81), Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (mile 105), Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (mile 169)
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul
Facing Getúlio Vargas Square in central Santa Cruz do Sul, St. John the Baptist Cathedral is the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.
Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum
In the town of Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum is part of the Paleorrota Geopark and offers information about the region.
Aqueduto de Candelária
In Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aqueduto de Candelária stands in the Linha Curitiba area. It was commissioned by João Kochenborger, one of the first German immigrants to reach the municipality, in 1862.
Planetário Professor José Mariano da Rocha Filho
Founded in 1971 at the Federal University of Santa Maria, this planetarium seats 120 people and has used a Digistar 4 digital projector since 2011.
Educational Museum Gama D'Eça
The Gama D'Eça Educational Museum sits at Rua do Acampamento 81 in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul.
Theatro Treze de Maio
Facing Praça Saldanha Marinho in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Theatro Treze de Maio is a theater protected as a municipal heritage property.
More drives to Rivera
- Montevideo to Rivera
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Buenos Aires to Rivera, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Rivera, Uruguay
- La Plata to Rivera, Uruguay
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Bento Gonçalves to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 7 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 321 miles.
What is the driving distance from Bento Gonçalves to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 321 miles (517 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 Rivera drive cross the border?
At about mile 319, 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Bento Gonçalves to Rivera drive?
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 Rivera use?
In order: BR-470, RSC-453, RSC-287, BR-158 and BR-290. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Bento Gonçalves to Rivera?
Closest to the road: Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (museum, mile 105, 1 mi from the route); Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (didactic museum, mile 169, 0.4 mi from the route); Theatro Treze de Maio (theater, mile 169, 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.