The Wayro route from Maldonado to Santana do Livramento, Brazil is 375 miles (604 km), about 7 h 50 min of driving without stops. You cross from Uruguay into Brazil at about mile 375.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Uruguay, Brazil. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
- Brazil: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 375 mi (604 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Border crossing | about mile 375, Uruguay → Brazil |
| Regions on the route | Maldonado, Canelones, Florida, Durazno, Tacuarembó, Rivera, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The border on the way to Santana do Livramento
The route crosses at about mile 375, from Rivera into Rio Grande do Sul. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); U.S. State Department, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Maldonado–Santana do Livramento drive in a few lines
I-B (18 mi) carries about 5% of the 375 miles. The first 375 miles are in Uruguay; the last 0 are in Brazil. It runs through 7 regions: Maldonado, Canelones, Florida, Durazno, Tacuarembó, Rivera, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Maldonado to Santana do Livramento
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–9 | 9 | Maldonado |
| I-B | 9–27 | 18 | Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 27–28 | 1 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 28–44 | 16 | Maldonado, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 44–45 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 45–56 | 11 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 56–57 | 1 | Canelones |
| local roads | 57–89 | 32 | Canelones |
| connecting roads | 89–91 | 2 | Canelones |
| local roads | 91–375 | 284 | Canelones, Florida, Durazno, Tacuarembó, Rivera |
- Mile 34 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Canelones → Florida (region line)
- Mile 168 of this route: Florida → Durazno (region line)
- Mile 217 of this route: Durazno → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 325 of this route: Tacuarembó → Rivera (region line)
- Mile 375 of this route: Rivera → Rio Grande do Sul (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Santana do Livramento
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Politeama (mile 91), Piedra Alta (mile 122), Cathedral of Florida (mile 122), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 177), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 305)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 19), Chorro de Agua Fría (mile 280)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 56), Piedra Alta (mile 122), Cathedral of Florida (mile 122), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 177), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 305)
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.
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.
Teatro Politeama
Canelones' Teatro Politeama opened in 1921 and reopened in 2014 as the Complejo Cultural Politeama Teatro Atahualpa del Cioppo. Uruguay declared the theater a National Historic Monument in 2022.
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.
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.
Casa de Rivera, Durazno
Facing Plaza Independencia in Durazno, the Casa de Fructuoso Rivera (Casa de Rivera) is one of the town's main heritage sites and now houses the department's historical museum.
Chorro de Agua Fría
In Uruguay's Tacuarembó Department, Chorro de Agua Fría is a waterfall that drops roughly 14 meters, the highest uninterrupted fall in the country.
Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar
The Museo del Indio y del Gaucho, a museum of the Indigenous people and the gaucho, is located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
More drives to Santana do Livramento
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Santana do Livramento
- Bento Gonçalves to Santana do Livramento
- Passo Fundo to Santana do Livramento
- São Leopoldo to Santana do Livramento
- Novo Hamburgo to Santana do Livramento
- Caxias do Sul to Santana do Livramento
More drives from Maldonado
- Maldonado to Nueva Helvecia
- Maldonado to Colonia del Sacramento
- Maldonado to Carmelo
- Maldonado to Tacuarembó
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Maldonado to Artigas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Maldonado to Santana do Livramento, Brazil?
About 7 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 375 miles.
What is the driving distance from Maldonado to Santana do Livramento, Brazil?
About 375 miles (604 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 Maldonado to Santana do Livramento drive cross the border?
At about mile 375, from Uruguay into Brazil.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Maldonado into Brazil?
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. If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 06, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Maldonado to Santana do Livramento drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Maldonado to Santana do Livramento?
Closest to the road: Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 122, 0.4 mi from the route); Casa de Rivera, Durazno (historic house museum, mile 177, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (museum, mile 305, 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.