Plan on about 4 h 52 min of driving for the 234-mile (376 km) trip from Montevideo to Paysandú, before any stops.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance | 234 mi (376 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 52 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB |
| Departments on the route | Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Driving Montevideo to Paysandú: the shape of the trip
RN HB (3 mi) carries about 1% of the 234 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú. Of the 3 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Montevideo and Paysandú
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Montevideo |
| RN HB | 3–6 | 3 | Montevideo |
| local roads | 6–234 | 228 | Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú |
- 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)
What to see on the way from Montevideo to Paysandú
- 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)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 60)
- 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.
In Paysandú itself
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.
Teatro Florencio Sánchez
In the city of Paysandú, Teatro Florencio Sánchez is a theater and movie house that has been declared a national historic monument of Uruguay.
More drives to Paysandú
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Buenos Aires to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Mar del Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- La Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Berisso to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Porto Alegre to Paysandú, Uruguay
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 Paysandú?
About 4 h 52 min of driving without stops, over 234 miles.
How far is Paysandú from Montevideo by car?
About 234 miles (376 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 Paysandú?
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 Paysandú?
Closest to the road: Parque Lecocq (zoo, mile 14, 0.9 mi from the route); Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 60, 0.9 mi from the route); Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 122, 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.