The Wayro route from Minas to Fray Bentos is 252 miles (406 km), about 5 h 41 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 | 252 mi (406 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 41 min |
| Departments on the route | Lavalleja, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
What the drive from Minas to Fray Bentos is like
It runs through 6 departments: Lavalleja, Canelones, San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Minas to Fray Bentos, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–78 | 78 | Lavalleja, Canelones |
| connecting roads | 78–81 | 3 | Canelones |
| local roads | 81–112 | 31 | Canelones, San José |
| connecting roads | 112–116 | 4 | San José |
| local roads | 116–252 | 136 | San José, Colonia, Soriano, Río Negro |
- Mile 25 of this route: Lavalleja → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 91 of this route: Canelones → San José (department line)
- Mile 135 of this route: San José → Colonia (department line)
- Mile 152 of this route: Colonia → Soriano (department line)
- Mile 234 of this route: Soriano → Río Negro (department line)
Stops between Minas and Fray Bentos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 114), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 232)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna del Cisne (mile 45)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 44), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 114), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 232), Calera Real del Dacá (mile 232)
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Engineer Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker in Estación Atlántida, inaugurated in 1960, joined UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2021. Look for its wavy brick walls and roof, an openwork brick bell tower and an underground baptistery.
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 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.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Since 1960, the Diocese of Mercedes has had its seat at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, the main Catholic church in this Uruguayan city.
Calera Real del Dacá
On the eastern edge of Mercedes beside the Dacá stream, the ruins of the Calera Real lime works date to 1722 and are considered the region's first industrial site; recent works added visitor circuits, lighting and interpretive signs.
Once you reach Fray Bentos
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015, the old Anglo meatpacking plant stands on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos, where frozen meat shipments began in 1924.
Miguel Young Theatre, Fray Bentos
The Miguel Young Theatre in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, was built in 1913 to plans by Antonio Llambías de Olivar.
Museo Luis Alberto Solari
Museo Luis Alberto Solari is a fine arts museum in Fray Bentos, capital of Uruguay's Río Negro department, welcoming the general public, students and foreign visitors.
More drives to Fray Bentos
- Florida, Uruguay to Fray Bentos
- Rivera to Fray Bentos
- Rocha to Fray Bentos
- Melo to Fray Bentos
- Buenos Aires to Fray Bentos, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Fray Bentos, Uruguay
From Minas to other places in Uruguay
- Minas to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Minas to Nueva Helvecia
- Minas to Colonia del Sacramento
- Minas to Conchillas
- Minas to Carmelo
- Minas to Bella Unión
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Minas to Fray Bentos?
About 5 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 252 miles.
How far is Fray Bentos from Minas by car?
About 252 miles (406 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.
Is it safe to drive from Minas to Fray Bentos?
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 Minas to Fray Bentos?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 114, 0.9 mi from the route); Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 232, 0.8 mi from the route); Calera Real del Dacá (ruins, mile 232, 2 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.