Plan on about 5 h 38 min of driving for the 255-mile (411 km) trip from Montevideo to Río Branco, 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 by road | 255 mi (411 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 38 min |
| Departments on the route | Montevideo, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Montevideo to Río Branco drive plays out
It runs through 5 departments: Montevideo, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres, Cerro Largo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Montevideo to Río Branco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–255 | 255 | Montevideo, Canelones, Lavalleja, Treinta y Tres, Cerro Largo |
- Mile 14 of this route: Montevideo → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 49 of this route: Canelones → Lavalleja (department line)
- Mile 160 of this route: Lavalleja → Treinta y Tres (department line)
- Mile 230 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Cerro Largo (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Río Branco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Minas (mile 73), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 176)
- Nature and outdoors: Laguna del Cisne (mile 27), Parque nacional Arequita (mile 75), Salto del Penitente (mile 84)
- Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 30), Cathedral of Minas (mile 73), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 176)
Bañados de Carrasco
Spread between Montevideo and Canelones, the Bañados de Carrasco are a wetland system in the Carrasco Creek basin and one of the main wetlands of the Montevideo metro area.
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.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
Cathedral of Minas
Minas's main Catholic church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception served as the seat of the Diocese of Minas from 1960 to 2020.
Parque nacional Arequita
Arequita National Park is a protected natural area in Lavalleja department, southeastern Uruguay, known for Cerro Arequita, its related rock formations and its biodiversity.
Salto del Penitente
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.
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.
More drives to Río Branco
- Rivera to Río Branco
- Salto to Río Branco
- Paysandú to Río Branco
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Río Branco
- Fray Bentos to Río Branco
- Buenos Aires to Río Branco, 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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Montevideo to Río Branco?
About 5 h 38 min of driving without stops, over 255 miles.
How far is Río Branco from Montevideo by car?
About 255 miles (411 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 Montevideo to Río Branco 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 Montevideo and Río Branco?
Closest to the road: Bañados de Carrasco (swamp, mile 11, 3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Minas (cathedral, mile 73, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Agustín Araújo (museum, mile 176, 0.8 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.