Plan on about 10 h 31 min of driving for the 490-mile (788 km) trip from Criciúma to Chuy, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 489.
- 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.”
| Distance | 490 mi (788 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-290 → BR-116 → BR-392 → BR-471 |
| Border crossing | about mile 489, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 489, 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.
How the Criciúma to Chuy drive plays out
BR-471 (136 mi) and BR-101 (98 mi) carry about 48% of the 490 miles. The first 489 miles are in Brazil; the last 1 are in Uruguay. It runs through 3 regions: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Criciúma and Chuy
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-101 | 11–109 | 98 | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 109–111 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 111–170 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 170–264 | 94 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 264–324 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 324–326 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 326–352 | 26 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-471 | 352–488 | 136 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 488–490 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
- Mile 55 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (region line)
- Mile 489 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rocha (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Criciúma and Chuy
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Morro de Osório Protected Area (mile 112), Museu Municipal Agostinho Martha (mile 157), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 265)
- Nature and outdoors: Guarita State Park (mile 59), Itapeva State Park (mile 59)
- Museums and history: Museu Municipal Agostinho Martha (mile 157), Museu do Comando Militar do Sul (mile 171), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 265), Catedral São Francisco de Paula (mile 330), Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (mile 330)
Guarita State Park
Officially Parque Estadual José Lutzenberger, Guarita State Park in Rio Grande do Sul protects a promontory on the South Atlantic Ocean.
Itapeva State Park
Itapeva State Park is a protected area managed at the state level in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, one of the parks in the state system.
Morro de Osório Protected Area
Created in 1994, the Morro de Osório Environmental Protection Area is a municipal conservation unit of Osório, Rio Grande do Sul, originally covering about 6,896 acres.
Museu Municipal Agostinho Martha
At Rua Nossa Senhora dos Anjos 547 in central Gravataí, the Agostinho Martha Municipal Museum covers local history and art; it was created in 1974 and organized in 1981.
Museu do Comando Militar do Sul
Also known as the Army Museum, the Museu do Comando Militar do Sul sits on Rua dos Andradas in Porto Alegre's historic center and presents the history of the Brazilian Army.
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.
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.
More drives to Chuy
- Minas to Chuy
- Montevideo to Chuy
- Durazno to Chuy
- Colonia del Sacramento to Chuy
- Carmelo to Chuy
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Chuy
More drives from Criciúma
- Criciúma to Camboriú
- Criciúma to Bento Gonçalves
- Criciúma to Jaraguá do Sul
- Criciúma to Paranaguá
- Criciúma to Francisco Beltrão
- Criciúma to Guarapuava
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Criciúma to Chuy, Uruguay?
About 10 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 490 miles.
How far is Chuy, Uruguay from Criciúma by car?
About 490 miles (788 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 Criciúma to Chuy drive cross the border?
At about mile 489, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Criciúma 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 Criciúma to Chuy 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 Criciúma to Chuy use?
In order: BR-101, BR-290, BR-116, BR-392 and BR-471. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Criciúma to Chuy?
Closest to the road: Morro de Osório Protected Area (environmental protection area, mile 112, 0.8 mi from the route); Museu Municipal Agostinho Martha (museum, mile 157, 0.6 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 265, 0.5 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.