Melo to Minas is about 172 road miles (277 km): roughly 3 h 48 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: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance | 172 mi (277 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 3 h 48 min |
| Departments on the route | Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Melo–Minas drive in a few lines
It runs through 3 departments: Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Melo to Minas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–172 | 172 | Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja |
- Mile 32 of this route: Cerro Largo → Treinta y Tres (department line)
- Mile 87 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Lavalleja (department line)
Stops between Melo and Minas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 70)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto del Penitente (mile 162)
- Museums and history: Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 70)
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.
Museo Agustín Araújo
Treinta y Tres's departmental fine arts museum, the Museo Agustín Araújo is a public museum in the city of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
Salto del Penitente
Arriving in Minas
Teatro Lavalleja
Teatro Lavalleja is a theater complex in the city of Minas, in the Lavalleja department of Uruguay.
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.
More drives to Minas
- Tacuarembó to Minas
- Rivera to Minas
- Salto to Minas
- Artigas to Minas
- Montevideo to Minas
- Buenos Aires to Minas, Uruguay
From Melo to other places in Uruguay
- Melo to Punta del Diablo
- Melo to Barra de Valizas
- Melo to La Paloma
- Melo to Piriápolis
- Melo to Fray Marcos
- Melo to Veinticinco de Agosto
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Melo to Minas?
About 3 h 48 min of driving without stops, over 172 miles.
How far is Minas from Melo by car?
About 172 miles (277 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 Melo to Minas 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 Melo and Minas?
Closest to the road: Quebrada de los Cuervos (ravine, mile 65, 4 mi from the route); Museo Agustín Araújo (museum, mile 70, 0.8 mi from the route); Salto del Penitente (waterfall, mile 162, 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.