Plan on about 6 h 27 min of driving for the 305-mile (491 km) trip from Maldonado to Tacuarembó, before any stops.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance | 305 mi (491 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Maldonado, Canelones, Florida, Durazno, Tacuarembó |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Maldonado to Tacuarembó is like
I-B (18 mi) carries about 6% of the 305 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Maldonado, Canelones, Florida, Durazno, Tacuarembó. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Maldonado and Tacuarembó
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 91–305 | 214 | Canelones, Florida, Durazno, Tacuarembó |
- Mile 34 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Canelones → Florida (department line)
- Mile 168 of this route: Florida → Durazno (department line)
- Mile 217 of this route: Durazno → Tacuarembó (department line)
Stops between Maldonado and Tacuarembó
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 91), Piedra Alta (mile 122), Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida (mile 123), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 177)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 19), Laguna del Cisne (mile 57), Chorro de Agua Fría (mile 280)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 56), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 91), Piedra Alta (mile 122), Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida (mile 123), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 177)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida
This history museum is located in the central part of Florida, capital of the Uruguayan department of the same name, on Rivera street.
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.
In Tacuarembó itself
Cathedral of Tacuarembó
Saint Fructuosus Cathedral is the main Catholic church of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1960.
Museo del Deporte
Located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, the Museo del Deporte preserves and shares the sports history of the Tacuarembó department.
Museo de Geociencias
More drives to Tacuarembó
- Montevideo to Tacuarembó
- Buenos Aires to Tacuarembó, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Tacuarembó, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Tacuarembó, Uruguay
- Paraná to Tacuarembó, Uruguay
- La Plata to Tacuarembó, Uruguay
From Maldonado to other places in Uruguay
- Maldonado to Nueva Helvecia
- Maldonado to Colonia del Sacramento
- Maldonado to Carmelo
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Maldonado to Artigas
- Maldonado to Bella Unión
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Maldonado to Tacuarembó?
About 6 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 305 miles.
How far is Tacuarembó from Maldonado by car?
About 305 miles (491 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 Maldonado to Tacuarembó drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Maldonado and Tacuarembó?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 91, 0.7 mi from the route); 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). 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.