Plan on about 6 h 25 min of driving for the 285-mile (458 km) trip from Chuy to Nueva Helvecia, before any stops.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance | 285 mi (458 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Chuy to Nueva Helvecia
I-B (6 mi) carries about 2% of the 285 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Chuy to Nueva Helvecia: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–144 | 144 | Rocha, Maldonado |
| I-B | 144–150 | 6 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 150–167 | 17 | Maldonado, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 167–168 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 168–213 | 45 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 213–216 | 3 | Canelones |
| local roads | 216–247 | 31 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 247–250 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 250–270 | 20 | San José |
| connecting roads | 270–272 | 2 | San José |
| local roads | 272–285 | 13 | San José, Colonia |
- Mile 99 of this route: Rocha → Maldonado (department line)
- Mile 156 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 226 of this route: Canelones → San José (department line)
- Mile 273 of this route: San José → Colonia (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Chuy and Nueva Helvecia
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Santa Teresa National Park (mile 22), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 83), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 214), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 249)
- Nature and outdoors: Santa Teresa National Park (mile 22), La Sirena Beach (mile 41), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 144)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 178), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 214), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 249)
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.
La Sirena Beach
About 2.5 km north of Aguas Dulces, La Sirena is one of Uruguay's two official naturist beaches, backed by vegetated dunes, small marshes, lagoons and pine and acacia woods where coastal birds are common.
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.
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.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Engineer Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker in Estación Atlántida, inaugurated in 1960, joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2021. Look for its wavy brick walls and roof, an openwork brick bell tower and an underground baptistery.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.
More drives to Nueva Helvecia
- Tacuarembó to Nueva Helvecia
- Salto to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Artigas to Nueva Helvecia
- Minas to Nueva Helvecia
- Maldonado to Nueva Helvecia
From Chuy to other places in Uruguay
- Chuy to Barra de Valizas
- Chuy to La Paloma
- Chuy to Atlántida
- Chuy to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Chuy to Conchillas
- Chuy to Martínez, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Chuy to Nueva Helvecia?
About 6 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 285 miles.
What is the driving distance from Chuy to Nueva Helvecia?
About 285 miles (458 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.
Is it safe to drive from Chuy to Nueva Helvecia?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Chuy and Nueva Helvecia?
Closest to the road: Santa Teresa National Park (national park, mile 22, 0.1 mi from the route); Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (astronomical observatory, mile 83, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 214, 0.2 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.