Fray Bentos to Río Branco is about 434 road miles (698 km): roughly 9 h 16 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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 | 434 mi (698 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 16 min |
| Departments on the route | Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Fray Bentos to Río Branco drive plays out
It runs through 8 departments: Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres, Cerro Largo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Fray Bentos and Río Branco
| 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 | 208–434 | 226 | Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres, Cerro Largo |
- 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 227 of this route: Canelones → Lavalleja (department line)
- Mile 337 of this route: Lavalleja → Treinta y Tres (department line)
- Mile 408 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Cerro Largo (department line)
What to see on the way from Fray Bentos to Río Branco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 21), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 137), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 171), Cathedral of Minas (mile 252)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Arequita (mile 252), Salto del Penitente (mile 262)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 21), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 21), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 137), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 171), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 208), Cathedral of Minas (mile 252)
Cathedral of Mercedes
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 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.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
Cathedral of Minas
Minas's main Catholic church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception served as the seat of the Diocese of Minas from 1960 to 2020.
Parque nacional Arequita
Arequita National Park is a protected natural area in Lavalleja department, southeastern Uruguay, known for Cerro Arequita, its related rock formations and its biodiversity.
Salto del Penitente
Quebrada de los Cuervos
Crossed by the Yerbal Chico creek, the Quebrada de los Cuervos is a ravine in Treinta y Tres department and a natural protected area in Uruguay.
More drives to Río Branco
- Rivera to Río Branco
- Montevideo to Río Branco
- Salto to Río Branco
- Paysandú to Río Branco
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Río Branco
- Buenos Aires to Río Branco, Uruguay
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 does it take to drive from Fray Bentos to Río Branco?
About 9 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 434 miles.
What is the driving distance from Fray Bentos to Río Branco?
About 434 miles (698 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.
Is it safe to drive from Fray Bentos to Río Branco?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Fray Bentos and Río Branco?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 21, 0.7 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 171, 0.1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Minas (cathedral, mile 252, 0.6 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.