The Wayro route from Caxias do Sul to Paysandú, Uruguay is 553 miles (890 km), about 12 h 57 min of driving without stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 336.
- 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 | 553 mi (890 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | ERS-122 → RSC-453 → VRS-313 → RSC-287 → BR-158 → BR-290 |
| Border crossing | about mile 336, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Paysandú
The route crosses at about mile 336, 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 Caxias do Sul to Paysandú: the shape of the trip
BR-158 (135 mi) and RSC-287 (95 mi) carry about 42% of the 553 miles. The first 336 miles are in Brazil; the last 217 are in Uruguay. It runs through 5 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Caxias do Sul and Paysandú
| 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 | 258–272 | 14 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 272–336 | 64 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 336–405 | 69 | Rivera, Tacuarembó |
| connecting roads | 405–407 | 2 | Tacuarembó |
| local roads | 407–553 | 146 | Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto |
- Mile 336 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rivera (international border)
- Mile 385 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 429 of this route: Tacuarembó → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 439 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (region line)
- Mile 444 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
Places worth a stop between Caxias do Sul and Paysandú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 7), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (mile 185), Museo del Deporte (mile 405)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Ventoso (mile 12)
- 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), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (mile 185), Museo del Deporte (mile 405)
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.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
Seat of the Archdiocese of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul, this eclectic cathedral mixes neo-Baroque and neoclassical styles; construction started in 1902 under parish priest Caetano Pagliuca, and it opened in 1909.
Museo del Deporte
Located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, the Museo del Deporte preserves and shares the sports history of the Tacuarembó department.
In Paysandú itself
Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú
Paysandú's Catholic parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Benedict of Palermo was named a minor basilica in 1949 and remains an active parish of the city.
Teatro Florencio Sánchez
In the city of Paysandú, Teatro Florencio Sánchez is a theater and movie house that has been declared a national historic monument of Uruguay.
More drives to Paysandú
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Montevideo to Paysandú
- Buenos Aires to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Mar del Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- La Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Berisso to Paysandú, Uruguay
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 Paysandú, Uruguay?
About 12 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 553 miles.
How far is Paysandú, Uruguay from Caxias do Sul by car?
About 553 miles (890 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 Paysandú drive cross the border?
At about mile 336, 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 Paysandú 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.
Which highways go from Caxias do Sul to Paysandú?
In order: ERS-122, RSC-453, VRS-313, 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 Caxias do Sul to Paysandú?
Closest to the road: Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (museum, mile 7, 0.4 mi from the route); Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (cathedral, mile 185, 0.5 mi from the route); Museo del Deporte (sports museum, mile 405, 0.6 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.