Plan on about 4 h 51 min of driving for the 171-mile (275 km) trip from Melo to Punta del Diablo, 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 by road | 171 mi (275 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 51 min |
| Departments on the route | Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The Melo–Punta del Diablo drive in a few lines
It runs through 4 departments: Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha. Of the 3 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Melo to Punta del Diablo: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–171 | 171 | Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha |
- Mile 32 of this route: Cerro Largo → Treinta y Tres (department line)
- Mile 87 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Lavalleja (department line)
- Mile 104 of this route: Lavalleja → Rocha (department line)
Stops between Melo and Punta del Diablo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 70)
- 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.
Parque Nacional Laguna Negra
In Rocha department, Laguna Negra National Park protects the waters of Laguna Negra, the Potrerillo de Santa Teresa biological station and part of Santa Teresa National Park north of Route 9.
Once you reach Punta del Diablo
Santa Teresa National Park
Santa Teresa National Park on Rocha's coast was created to frame the colonial Santa Teresa Fortress; its grounds hold more than two million planted trees from five continents, a greenhouse and native wetland and woodland wildlife.
More drives to Punta del Diablo
- La Paloma to Punta del Diablo
- Nueva Helvecia to Punta del Diablo
- Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo
- Tacuarembó to Punta del Diablo
- Rivera to Punta del Diablo
- Salto to Punta del Diablo
From Melo to other places in Uruguay
- Melo to Minas
- Melo to Barra de Valizas
- Melo to La Paloma
- Melo to Piriápolis
- Melo to Fray Marcos
- Melo to Veinticinco de Agosto
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Melo to Punta del Diablo?
About 4 h 51 min of driving without stops, over 171 miles.
How far is Punta del Diablo from Melo by car?
About 171 miles (275 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 Punta del Diablo drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Melo to Punta del Diablo?
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); Parque Nacional Laguna Negra (nature area, mile 155, 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.