Caxias do Sul to La Paloma, Uruguay is about 494 road miles (795 km): roughly 11 h 23 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 395.
- 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance | 494 mi (795 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 23 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → ERS-452 → ERS-122 → ERS-240 → BR-392 → BR-471 |
| Border crossing | about mile 395, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to La Paloma
The route crosses at about mile 395, from Rio Grande do Sul into Rocha. 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 La Paloma
BR-471 (138 mi) and BR-116 (124 mi) carry about 53% of the 494 miles. The first 395 miles are in Brazil; the last 99 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Caxias do Sul to La Paloma, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 2–13 | 11 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-452 | 13–30 | 17 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 30–31 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 31–48 | 17 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-240 | 48–57 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 57–170 | 113 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 170–229 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 229–231 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 231–257 | 26 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-471 | 257–395 | 138 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 395–494 | 99 | Rocha |
- Mile 395 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rocha (international border)
Stops between Caxias do Sul and La Paloma
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 170), Santa Teresa National Park (mile 418)
- Nature and outdoors: Santa Teresa National Park (mile 418)
- Museums and history: Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante (mile 58), Otávio Rocha Viaduct (mile 77), Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo (mile 77), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 170), Catedral São Francisco de Paula (mile 235)
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.
Otávio Rocha Viaduct
In Porto Alegre's city center, the Otávio Rocha Viaduct is an engineering landmark spanning the intersection of Duque de Caxias Street and Borges de Medeiros Avenue.
Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo
The Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo holds an art collection of about 3,000 items at the Arts Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre.
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.
Catedral São Francisco de Paula
Seat of the Archdiocese of Pelotas, the Catedral Metropolitana de Pelotas is a Catholic church in Rio Grande do Sul dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola.
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.
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.
Teatro 25 de Mayo
Rocha's Teatro 25 de Mayo opened in 1910 as an Italian-style theater in the eclectic style, with room for about 400 people. Now a cultural complex, it is a stop on the city's self-guided heritage walk.
When you get to La Paloma
Cabo Santa María
Cabo Santa María (Cabo de Santa María) is a headland on Uruguay's Atlantic coast in Rocha, where the town and port of La Paloma were built.
Cabo Santa María Lighthouse
Erected in 1871, Cabo Santa María Lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic from its headland in Rocha and serves as a landmark of the seaside resort of La Paloma.
La Balconada beach
La Balconada (Playa La Balconada) is one of the main beaches of Rocha, located in La Paloma and known for its sunsets.
More drives to La Paloma
- Maldonado to La Paloma
- Atlántida to La Paloma
- Nueva Helvecia to La Paloma
- Tacuarembó to La Paloma
- Rivera to La Paloma
- Artigas to La Paloma
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 La Paloma, Uruguay?
About 11 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 494 miles.
How far is La Paloma, Uruguay from Caxias do Sul by car?
About 494 miles (795 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 La Paloma drive cross the border?
At about mile 395, 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 La Paloma 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 La Paloma use?
In order: BR-116, ERS-452, ERS-122, ERS-240, BR-392 and BR-471. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Caxias do Sul and La Paloma?
Closest to the road: Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 170, 0.6 mi from the route); Santa Teresa National Park (national park, mile 418, 0.2 mi from the route); Teatro 25 de Mayo (theater, mile 476, 1 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.