Plan on about 12 h 18 min of driving for the 531-mile (855 km) trip from Caxias do Sul to Punta del Este, Uruguay, before any stops. 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Total distance | 531 mi (855 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 18 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, Maldonado |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Punta del Este
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.
Driving Caxias do Sul to Punta del Este: the shape of the trip
BR-471 (138 mi) and BR-116 (124 mi) carry about 49% of the 531 miles. The first 395 miles are in Brazil; the last 136 are in Uruguay. It runs through 3 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha, Maldonado. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Caxias do Sul to Punta del Este
| 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 | 395–517 | 122 | Rocha, Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 517–519 | 2 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 519–531 | 12 | Maldonado |
- Mile 395 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rocha (international border)
- Mile 494 of this route: Rocha → Maldonado (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Punta del Este
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 170), Santa Teresa National Park (mile 418), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 478)
- Nature and outdoors: Santa Teresa National Park (mile 418)
- Museums and history: Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante (mile 58), Catedral da Santíssima Trindade em Porto Alegre (mile 77), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 170), Museu da Baronesa (mile 235), Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (mile 236)
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.
Catedral da Santíssima Trindade em Porto Alegre
On Rua dos Andradas in Porto Alegre, the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity is the seat of the Southern Anglican Diocese and the national cathedral of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil.
Observatory of university federal of Rio Grande do Sul
Part of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, this astronomical observatory in Porto Alegre works as a scientific institution, a museum and a teaching unit.
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.
Museu da Baronesa
Opened in 1982 and run by the Pelotas city culture department, Museu da Baronesa occupies a building listed as municipal heritage in 1985.
Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo
Opened in 1986 on Praça 7 de Julho, across from the Mercado Central in downtown Pelotas, this art museum is part of the Federal University of Pelotas arts center.
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.
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.
Arriving in Punta del Este
Museo Vivo del Títere
In the city of Maldonado, the Museo Vivo del Títere is a puppet museum created in 1998 through an agreement between Uruguay's Ministry of Education and Culture and the Intendencia de Maldonado.
La Mano de Punta del Este
Five human fingers rise out of the sand at Parada 1 on Brava Beach in Punta del Este in La Mano, a sculpture by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal.
Punta del Este Lighthouse
Erected in 1860, Punta del Este Lighthouse stands on the headland of Punta del Este in Uruguay's Maldonado Department.
More drives to Punta del Este
- Paysandú to Punta del Este
- Rivera to Punta del Este
- Durazno to Punta del Este
- Fray Bentos to Punta del Este
- Buenos Aires to Punta del Este, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Punta del Este, 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 Punta del Este, Uruguay?
About 12 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 531 miles.
What is the driving distance from Caxias do Sul to Punta del Este, Uruguay?
About 531 miles (855 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 Punta del Este 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Caxias do Sul to Punta del Este, Uruguay?
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 Punta del Este 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 Punta del Este?
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); Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (astronomical observatory, mile 478, 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.