Plan on about 8 h 9 min of driving for the 354-mile (570 km) trip from Carmelo to Chuy, before any stops.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance by road | 354 mi (570 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Carmelo to Chuy drive plays out
I-B (5 mi) carries about 1% of the 354 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Carmelo and Chuy
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–83 | 83 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 83–84 | 1 | San José |
| local roads | 84–105 | 21 | San José |
| connecting roads | 105–107 | 2 | San José |
| local roads | 107–204 | 97 | San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 204–209 | 5 | Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 209–210 | 1 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 210–354 | 144 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- Mile 81 of this route: Colonia → San José (department line)
- Mile 129 of this route: San José → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 198 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
- Mile 256 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (department line)
Stops between Carmelo and Chuy
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Departamental de San José (mile 106), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 272), Santa Teresa National Park (mile 332)
- Nature and outdoors: Anchorena Presidential Estate (mile 26), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 209), Laguna José Ignacio (mile 244), Santa Teresa National Park (mile 332)
- Museums and history: Museum of Rosario Mural Art (mile 67), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 106), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 175)
Anchorena Presidential Estate
Located in Colonia Department, 208 km from Montevideo, the Anchorena Presidential Estate is a national park that also serves as a rest residence for Uruguay's president.
Museum of Rosario Mural Art
Rather than a building, the Museum of Rosario Mural Art is a circuit of history-themed murals spread around Rosario, in Uruguay's Colonia department.
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.
Laguna José Ignacio
In Uruguay's Maldonado Department, Laguna José Ignacio is a coastal lagoon kept apart from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbank.
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.
Santa Teresa National Park
Santa Teresa National Park on Rocha's coast was created to frame the colonial Santa Teresa Fortress; its grounds hold more than two million planted trees from five continents, a greenhouse and native wetland and woodland wildlife.
Parque Nacional Laguna Negra
In Rocha department, Laguna Negra National Park protects the waters of Laguna Negra, the Potrerillo de Santa Teresa biological station and part of Santa Teresa National Park north of Route 9.
More drives to Chuy
- Minas to Chuy
- Montevideo to Chuy
- Durazno to Chuy
- Colonia del Sacramento to Chuy
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Chuy
- Paysandú to Chuy
From Carmelo to other places in Uruguay
- Carmelo to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Carmelo to Fray Marcos
- Carmelo to Alejandro Gallinal
- Carmelo to Cariló, Argentina
- Carmelo to Magdalena, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Carmelo to Chuy?
About 8 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 354 miles.
What is the driving distance from Carmelo to Chuy?
About 354 miles (570 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 Carmelo to Chuy 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 Carmelo to Chuy?
Closest to the road: Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 106, 0.7 mi from the route); Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (astronomical observatory, mile 272, 0.3 mi from the route); Santa Teresa National Park (national park, mile 332, 0.3 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.