The Wayro route from Fray Bentos to Alejandro Gallinal is 238 miles (383 km), about 5 h 31 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance | 238 mi (383 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 31 min |
| Departments on the route | Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The Fray Bentos–Alejandro Gallinal drive in a few lines
It runs through 6 departments: Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Fray Bentos and Alejandro Gallinal
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–100 | 100 | Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 100–101 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 101–137 | 36 | Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 137–140 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 140–238 | 98 | San José, Canelones, Florida |
- Mile 19 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (department line)
- Mile 101 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (department line)
- Mile 118 of this route: Colonia → San José (department line)
- Mile 162 of this route: San José → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 174 of this route: Canelones → Florida (department line)
Stops between Fray Bentos and Alejandro Gallinal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 21), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 137), Piedra Alta (mile 193)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 21), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 21), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 137), Cathedral of Florida (mile 193), Piedra Alta (mile 193)
Cathedral of Mercedes
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
Calera Real del Dacá
On the eastern edge of Mercedes beside the Dacá stream, the ruins of the Calera Real lime works date to 1722 and are considered the region's first industrial site; recent works added visitor circuits, lighting and interpretive signs.
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.
Cathedral of Florida
Florida's cathedral basilica is also Uruguay's national shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the country's patroness, and keeps the original image; look for its bronze door by sculptor José Belloni and his son Stelio, stained glass and domes.
Piedra Alta
On the banks of the Santa Lucía Chico River outside the city of Florida, Piedra Alta is a rock formation of historic importance that appears on the department's coat of arms and flag.
More drives to Alejandro Gallinal
- Nueva Helvecia to Alejandro Gallinal
- Colonia del Sacramento to Alejandro Gallinal
- Carmelo to Alejandro Gallinal
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal
- Tacuarembó to Alejandro Gallinal
- Paysandú to Alejandro Gallinal
From Fray Bentos to other places in Uruguay
- Fray Bentos to Conchillas
- Fray Bentos to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Fray Bentos to Atlántida
- Fray Bentos to Fray Marcos
- Fray Bentos to Piriápolis
- Fray Bentos to Punta del Este
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fray Bentos to Alejandro Gallinal?
About 5 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 238 miles.
How far is Alejandro Gallinal from Fray Bentos by car?
About 238 miles (383 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Fray Bentos to Alejandro Gallinal drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Fray Bentos to Alejandro Gallinal?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 21, 0.7 mi from the route); Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 137, 0.9 mi from the route); Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 193, 0.4 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.