Criciúma to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay is about 517 road miles (832 km): roughly 11 h 12 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 490.
- 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 by road | 517 mi (832 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 12 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-290 → BR-116 → BR-392 → BR-471 |
| Border crossing | about mile 490, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 490, 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.
The Criciúma–Punta del Diablo drive in a few lines
BR-471 (137 mi) and BR-101 (98 mi) carry about 45% of the 517 miles. The first 490 miles are in Brazil; the last 27 are in Uruguay. It runs through 3 regions: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Criciúma to Punta del Diablo
| 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 | 352–489 | 137 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 489–517 | 28 | Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
- Mile 55 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (region line)
- Mile 490 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rocha (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Punta del Diablo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): 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 da Brigada Militar (mile 171), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 185), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 265)
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.
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.
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.
Museu da Brigada Militar
Founded in 1985 and opened to the public in 1987, the Museu da Brigada Militar in Porto Alegre preserves and presents the history of the state's Brigada Militar.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
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.
Theatro Sete de Abril
Opened in 1834 in Pelotas, Theatro Sete de Abril dates from the charqueada (salted beef) economic cycle, when Pelotas was among Brazil's wealthiest cities.
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.
In Punta del Diablo itself
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.
More drives to Punta del Diablo
- La Paloma to Punta del Diablo
- Nueva Helvecia to Punta del Diablo
- Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo
- Tacuarembó to Punta del Diablo
- Rivera to Punta del Diablo
- Salto to Punta del Diablo
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 Punta del Diablo, Uruguay?
About 11 h 12 min of driving without stops, over 517 miles.
How far is Punta del Diablo, Uruguay from Criciúma by car?
About 517 miles (832 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 Punta del Diablo drive cross the border?
At about mile 490, 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Criciúma to Punta del Diablo, 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.
Which highways go from Criciúma to Punta del Diablo?
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 Punta del Diablo?
Closest to the road: 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); Theatro Sete de Abril (theater, mile 329, 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.