The Wayro route from Montevideo to Bella Unión is 390 miles (627 km), about 8 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance by road | 390 mi (627 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB |
| Departments on the route | Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Salto, Artigas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Montevideo–Bella Unión drive in a few lines
RN HB (3 mi) carries about 1% of the 390 miles. It runs through 7 departments: Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Salto, Artigas. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Montevideo to Bella Unión: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Montevideo |
| RN HB | 3–6 | 3 | Montevideo |
| local roads | 6–390 | 384 | Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Salto, Artigas |
- Mile 15 of this route: Montevideo → San José (department line)
- Mile 91 of this route: San José → Flores (department line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Flores → Río Negro (department line)
- Mile 206 of this route: Río Negro → Paysandú (department line)
- Mile 297 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (department line)
- Mile 353 of this route: Salto → Artigas (department line)
Places worth a stop between Montevideo and Bella Unión
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 60), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), Termas del Guaviyú (mile 270), Termas del Daymán (mile 298)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), Termas del Guaviyú (mile 270), Termas del Daymán (mile 298)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 60), Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 231), Cathedral of Salto (mile 302), Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología (mile 302)
- With kids: Parque Lecocq (mile 14)
Parque Lecocq
Next to Santiago Vázquez, northwest of Montevideo, Parque Lecocq is a zoo with mammals and birds, breeding programs, and grounds bordering the Santa Lucía wetlands.
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.
Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice
Off Route 3 near Trinidad, the Dr. Rodolfo Tálice Ecopark (Reserva de Flora y Fauna Dr. Rodolfo Talice) is a fenced wildlife reserve where axis deer, greater rheas and pampas deer roam free alongside other species.
Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú
Paysandú's Catholic parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Benedict of Palermo was named a minor basilica in 1949 and remains an active parish of the city.
Termas del Guaviyú
Next to Guaviyú Creek at kilometer 432 of Route 3 in Paysandú department, Termas del Guaviyú is a hot spring complex in northwestern Uruguay.
Termas del Daymán
Termas del Daymán is a hot springs center on the banks of the Daymán River, about 10 kilometers from the city of Salto.
Cathedral of Salto
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist is Salto's main Catholic church and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1939.
Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología
In Uruguay's Salto department, the Museo del Hombre y la Tecnología shows how changing technology has shaped daily life in Uruguay and elsewhere.
More drives to Bella Unión
- Paysandú to Bella Unión
- Florida, Uruguay to Bella Unión
- Minas to Bella Unión
- Maldonado to Bella Unión
- Rocha to Bella Unión
- Trinidad, Uruguay to Bella Unión
From Montevideo to other places in Uruguay
- Montevideo to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Montevideo to Piriápolis
- Montevideo to Florida, Uruguay
- Montevideo to Minas
- Montevideo to Conchillas
- Montevideo to Mercedes, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Montevideo to Bella Unión?
About 8 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 390 miles.
What is the driving distance from Montevideo to Bella Unión?
About 390 miles (627 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 Montevideo to Bella Unión?
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 Montevideo to Bella Unión?
Closest to the road: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 122, 0.2 mi from the route); Termas del Guaviyú (hot spring, mile 270, 0.6 mi from the route); Termas del Daymán (hot spring, mile 298, 0.2 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.