Plan on about 8 h 9 min of driving for the 365-mile (587 km) trip from Fray Bentos to Punta del Diablo, 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.”
| Total distance | 365 mi (587 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Fray Bentos–Punta del Diablo drive in a few lines
I-B (6 mi) carries about 2% of the 365 miles. It runs through 7 departments: Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Fray Bentos and Punta del Diablo
| 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 | 140–207 | 67 | San José, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 207–208 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 208–236 | 28 | Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 236–242 | 6 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 242–365 | 123 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- 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 231 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
- Mile 288 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (department line)
Places worth a stop between Fray Bentos and Punta del Diablo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 21), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 137), Teatro 25 de Mayo (mile 305)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna del Cisne (mile 207), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 242), La Sirena Beach (mile 345)
- Museums and history: Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 17), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 21), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 137), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 208)
Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum
In a 19th-century building in Mercedes' Parque Castillo Mauá, this paleontology museum opened in 1946 around the collection of naturalist Alejandro Berro; a well-preserved glyptodon shell found on a nearby riverbank is a highlight.
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.
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.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
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.
Teatro 25 de Mayo
Rocha's Teatro 25 de Mayo opened in 1910 as an Italian-style theater in the eclectic style, with room for about 400 people. Now a cultural complex, it is a stop on the city's self-guided heritage walk.
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.
Arriving in Punta del Diablo
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
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 Alejandro Gallinal
- Fray Bentos to Piriápolis
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Fray Bentos to Punta del Diablo?
About 8 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 365 miles.
How far is Punta del Diablo from Fray Bentos by car?
About 365 miles (587 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 Punta del Diablo 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 Punta del Diablo?
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); Teatro 25 de Mayo (theater, mile 305, 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.