The Wayro route from Mercedes, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal is 217 miles (350 km), about 5 h 1 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 217 mi (350 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 1 min |
| Departments on the route | Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
What the drive from Mercedes to Alejandro Gallinal is like
It runs through 5 departments: Soriano, Colonia, San José, Canelones, Florida. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Mercedes to Alejandro Gallinal, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–116 | 116 | Soriano, Colonia, San José |
| connecting roads | 116–119 | 3 | San José |
| local roads | 119–217 | 98 | San José, Canelones, Florida |
- Mile 80 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (department line)
- Mile 98 of this route: Colonia → San José (department line)
- Mile 141 of this route: San José → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 154 of this route: Canelones → Florida (department line)
Places worth a stop between Mercedes and Alejandro Gallinal
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 117), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 117), Piedra Alta (mile 173)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 117), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 117), Cathedral of Florida (mile 173), Piedra Alta (mile 173)
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.
Museo Departamental de San José
Set in central San José de Mayo, the Museo Departamental de San José is a history and fine arts museum that also runs a library, archives and cultural programs.
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.
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.
More drives to Alejandro Gallinal
- Nueva Helvecia to Alejandro Gallinal
- Colonia del Sacramento to Alejandro Gallinal
- Carmelo to Alejandro Gallinal
- Tacuarembó to Alejandro Gallinal
- Paysandú to Alejandro Gallinal
- Salto to Alejandro Gallinal
From Mercedes to other places in Uruguay
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Cabo Polonio
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Chuy
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Río Branco
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Tigre, Argentina
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Villa Gesell, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Mercedes, Uruguay to Alejandro Gallinal?
About 5 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 217 miles.
How far is Alejandro Gallinal from Mercedes, Uruguay by car?
About 217 miles (350 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 Mercedes to Alejandro Gallinal 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 Mercedes and Alejandro Gallinal?
Closest to the road: Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 117, 0.7 mi from the route); Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 117, 0.9 mi from the route); Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 173, 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.