Plan on about 10 h 37 min of driving for the 469-mile (755 km) trip from Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 467.
- 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Total distance | 469 mi (755 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | ERS-122 → RSC-453 → VRS-313 → RSC-287 → BR-158 → BR-290 → BR-472 |
| Border crossing | about mile 467, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Artigas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 467, from Rio Grande do Sul into Artigas. 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 Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión
BR-290 (161 mi) and RSC-287 (95 mi) carry about 55% of the 469 miles. The first 467 miles are in Brazil; the last 2 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Artigas. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 1–5 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 5–10 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 10–14 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| VRS-313 | 14–23 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 23–24 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 24–83 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 83–178 | 95 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 178–183 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 183–187 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 187–258 | 71 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 258–419 | 161 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 419–422 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-472 | 422–464 | 42 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 464–465 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 465–469 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul, Artigas |
- Mile 467 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Artigas (international border)
Stops between Caxias do Sul and Bella Unión
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 7), Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (mile 185), Theatro Treze de Maio (mile 185), Parque Estadual do Espinilho (mile 460)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Ventoso (mile 12), Parque Estadual do Espinilho (mile 460)
- Museums and history: Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 7), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul (mile 97), Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (mile 121), Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (mile 185)
Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp
A few kilometers from central Caxias do Sul, in the Forqueta district, the Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp is a history museum themed on grapes and wine.
Salto Ventoso
Salto Ventoso is a waterfall in Farroupilha, Brazil, and a tourist attraction of regional importance.
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.
Parque Estadual do Espinilho
Created in 1975 and expanded in 2002 to about 1,617 hectares, Espinilho State Park is a protected area in Barra do Quaraí, in the far southwest of Rio Grande do Sul.
More drives to Bella Unión
- Paysandú to Bella Unión
- Florida, Uruguay to Bella Unión
- Minas to Bella Unión
- Montevideo to Bella Unión
- Maldonado to Bella Unión
- Rocha to Bella Unión
More drives from Caxias do Sul
- Caxias do Sul to Francisco Beltrão
- Caxias do Sul to Campo Mourão
- Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Caxias do Sul to Paranaguá
- Caxias do Sul to Itajaí
- Caxias do Sul to Blumenau
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión, Uruguay?
About 10 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 469 miles.
What is the driving distance from Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión, Uruguay?
About 469 miles (755 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 Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión drive cross the border?
At about mile 467, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Caxias do Sul 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 Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión 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 Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión use?
In order: ERS-122, RSC-453, VRS-313, RSC-287, BR-158, BR-290 and BR-472. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Caxias do Sul to Bella Unión?
Closest to the road: Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (museum, mile 7, 0.4 mi from the route); Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (didactic museum, mile 185, 0.4 mi from the route); Theatro Treze de Maio (theater, mile 185, 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.