The Wayro route from Lages to Chuy, Uruguay is 534 miles (859 km), about 12 h 57 min of driving without stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 533.
- 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 534 mi (859 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → VRS-815 → BR-453 → RSC-453 → ERS-122 → ERS-240 → BR-392 → BR-471 |
| Border crossing | about mile 533, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Chuy
The route crosses at about mile 533, 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.
What the drive from Lages to Chuy is like
BR-116 (195 mi) and BR-471 (137 mi) carry about 62% of the 534 miles. The first 533 miles are in Brazil; the last 1 are in Uruguay. It runs through 3 regions: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Lages to Chuy
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-116 | 4–85 | 81 | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 85–103 | 18 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| VRS-815 | 103–107 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 107–121 | 14 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-453 | 121–142 | 21 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 142–149 | 7 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 149–186 | 37 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-240 | 186–194 | 8 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 194–308 | 114 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 308–367 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 367–370 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 370–395 | 25 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-471 | 395–532 | 137 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 532–534 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
- Mile 40 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (region line)
- Mile 533 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rocha (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Chuy
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 146), Salto Ventoso (mile 156), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 308)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Ventoso (mile 156)
- Museums and history: National Monument to the Immigrant (mile 133), St. Theresa's Cathedral, Caxias do Sul (mile 137), Museu Ambiência Casa de Pedra (mile 138), Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 146), Galeria Chaves (mile 216), Museu do Trabalho (mile 216), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 308)
National Monument to the Immigrant
Standing at the entrance to Caxias do Sul on BR-116, the National Monument to the Immigrant is listed by Brazil's national heritage institute (IPHAN).
St. Theresa's Cathedral, Caxias do Sul
St. Theresa's Cathedral is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Caxias do Sul, in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state.
Museu Ambiência Casa de Pedra
Known simply as Casa de Pedra, this history museum in Caxias do Sul opened in 1975 during the centenary of Italian immigration to Rio Grande do Sul and preserves everyday objects of immigrant families.
Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp
A few kilometers from central Caxias do Sul, in the Forqueta district, the Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp is a history museum themed on grapes and wine.
Salto Ventoso
Salto Ventoso is a waterfall in Farroupilha, Brazil, and a tourist attraction of regional importance.
Galeria Chaves
Between Rua dos Andradas and Rua José Montaury in Porto Alegre's Historic Center, Galeria Chaves is a historic building that houses a shopping arcade.
Museu do Trabalho
Founded in 1982 on Rua dos Andradas in Porto Alegre, Museu do Trabalho is a private museum and cultural center with machines, photographs and documents on the lives of companies and workers.
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.
More drives to Chuy
- Minas to Chuy
- Montevideo to Chuy
- Durazno to Chuy
- Colonia del Sacramento to Chuy
- Carmelo to Chuy
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Chuy
More drives from Lages
- Lages to Tubarão
- Lages to Santa Cruz do Sul
- Lages to Paranaguá
- Lages to Ourinhos
- Lages to Itanhaém
- Lages to Itapetininga
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Lages to Chuy, Uruguay?
About 12 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 534 miles.
How far is Chuy, Uruguay from Lages by car?
About 534 miles (859 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 Lages to Chuy drive cross the border?
At about mile 533, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Lages 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 Lages to Chuy 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 Lages to Chuy use?
In order: BR-116, VRS-815, BR-453, RSC-453, ERS-122, ERS-240, 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 Lages to Chuy?
Closest to the road: Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (museum, mile 146, 0.6 mi from the route); Salto Ventoso (waterfall, mile 156, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 308, 0.5 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.