By road, Erechim and Rivera, Uruguay are about 378 miles (609 km) apart, or roughly 8 h 54 min of driving. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 377.
- 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance by road | 378 mi (609 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | ERS-135 → BR-285 → BR-158 → BR-290 |
| Border crossing | about mile 377, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Getting across the Brazil–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 377, 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.
What the drive from Erechim to Rivera is like
BR-158 (231 mi) and BR-285 (78 mi) carry about 82% of the 378 miles. The first 377 miles are in Brazil; the last 1 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Erechim to Rivera
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-135 | 3–47 | 44 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 47–125 | 78 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 125–221 | 96 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 221–229 | 8 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 229–300 | 71 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 300–313 | 13 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 313–377 | 64 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 377–378 | 1 | Rivera |
- Mile 377 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rivera (international border)
Stops between Erechim and Rivera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Theatro Treze de Maio (mile 226), Museum Vincente Pallotti (mile 228)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida, Passo Fundo (mile 50), Museu do Automobilismo Brasileiro (mile 51), Museu Erico Verissimo (mile 149), Museum Vincente Pallotti (mile 228)
Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida, Passo Fundo
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Passo Fundo, dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, is the Catholic church that holds the seat of the Archdiocese of Passo Fundo.
Museu do Automobilismo Brasileiro
Starting from businessman Paulo Afonso Trevisan's collection of race cars, this Passo Fundo museum gathers photos, films and documents on the history of Brazilian motor racing.
Museu Erico Verissimo
In Cruz Alta, the house and museum of writer Érico Veríssimo (Casa e Museu Érico Veríssimo) displays his personal belongings, books, photos, drafts and original manuscripts.
Theatro Treze de Maio
Facing Praça Saldanha Marinho in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Theatro Treze de Maio is a theater protected as a municipal heritage property.
Museum Vincente Pallotti
On Avenida Presidente Vargas in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Vicente Pallotti Museum shares a complex with Palotina College.
More drives to Rivera
- Montevideo to Rivera
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Buenos Aires to Rivera, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Rivera, Uruguay
- La Plata to Rivera, Uruguay
More drives from Erechim
- Erechim to Campo Mourão
- Erechim to Santana do Livramento
- Erechim to Chuí
- Erechim to Mercedes, Argentina
- Erechim to Tacuarembó, Uruguay
- Erechim to Melo, Uruguay
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Erechim to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 8 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 378 miles.
What is the driving distance from Erechim to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 378 miles (609 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 Erechim to Rivera drive cross the border?
At about mile 377, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Erechim 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 Erechim to Rivera 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 Erechim to Rivera use?
In order: ERS-135, BR-285, BR-158 and BR-290. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Erechim and Rivera?
Closest to the road: Museu Erico Verissimo (museum, mile 149, 1 mi from the route); Theatro Treze de Maio (theater, mile 226, 0.2 mi from the route); Museum Vincente Pallotti (museum, mile 228, 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.