Montevideo to Salto is about 304 road miles (490 km): roughly 6 h 26 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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 | 304 mi (490 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 26 min |
| Main roads, in order | RN HB |
| Departments on the route | Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Salto |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Montevideo–Salto drive in a few lines
RN HB (3 mi) carries about 1% of the 304 miles. It runs through 6 departments: Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Salto. Of the 6 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Montevideo to Salto
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Montevideo |
| RN HB | 3–6 | 3 | Montevideo |
| local roads | 6–304 | 298 | Montevideo, San José, Flores, Río Negro, Paysandú, Salto |
- 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)
Where to stop on the way to Salto
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Lecocq (mile 14), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 60), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 60), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), Termas del Guaviyú (mile 270)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 122), Termas del Guaviyú (mile 270)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 60), Museo Departamental de San José (mile 60), Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 232)
- 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.
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.
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.
Arriving in Salto
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.
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.
Teatro Larrañaga
Teatro Larrañaga is the main performing arts venue in the city of Salto, Uruguay.
More drives to Salto
- Buenos Aires to Salto, Uruguay
- Córdoba, Argentina to Salto, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Salto, Uruguay
- Mar del Plata to Salto, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Salto, Uruguay
- Resistencia to Salto, 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 Salto?
About 6 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 304 miles.
How far is Salto from Montevideo by car?
About 304 miles (490 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 Salto?
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 Salto?
Closest to the road: Museo Departamental de San José (history museum, mile 60, 0.7 mi from the route); 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). 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.