Lages to Río Branco, Uruguay is about 454 road miles (731 km): roughly 11 h 43 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 453.
- 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance by road | 454 mi (731 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → VRS-815 → BR-453 → RSC-453 → ERS-122 → ERS-240 |
| Border crossing | about mile 453, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Brazil–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 453, from Rio Grande do Sul into Cerro Largo. 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.
Driving Lages to Río Branco: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (279 mi) and ERS-122 (37 mi) carry about 70% of the 454 miles. The first 453 miles are in Brazil; the last 1 are in Uruguay. It runs through 3 regions: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Lages to Río Branco
| 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 |
| BR-116 | 367–451 | 84 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 451–454 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo |
- Mile 40 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (region line)
- Mile 453 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Cerro Largo (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Río Branco
- 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), Museu Ambiência Casa de Pedra (mile 138), Museu dos Capuchinhos (mile 138), Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 146), Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo (mile 215), Godoy House (mile 215), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 228), 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).
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 dos Capuchinhos
In Caxias do Sul, the Museu dos Capuchinhos is a history and art museum tied to the Capuchin Order, created because the story of the Capuchin Province of Rio Grande do Sul was being forgotten.
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.
Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo
The Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo holds an art collection of about 3,000 items at the Arts Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre.
Godoy House
On Independência Avenue in Porto Alegre, the Godoy House is an Art Nouveau building from 1907, one of the few in that style left in the city.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
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.
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
- Fray Bentos to Río Branco
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 does it take to drive from Lages to Río Branco, Uruguay?
About 11 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 454 miles.
How far is Río Branco, Uruguay from Lages by car?
About 454 miles (731 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 Río Branco drive cross the border?
At about mile 453, 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Lages to Río Branco, Uruguay?
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 Río Branco use?
In order: BR-116, VRS-815, BR-453, RSC-453, ERS-122 and ERS-240. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Lages and Río Branco?
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.