Novo Hamburgo to Artigas, Uruguay is about 392 road miles (631 km): roughly 8 h 46 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 391.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil, Uruguay. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Total distance | 392 mi (631 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 8 h 46 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → BR-290 → BR-158 → BR-293 |
| Border crossing | about mile 391, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Artigas |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 391, from Rio Grande do Sul into Artigas. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Uruguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Uruguay | You can drive on your U.S. license. |
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
How the Novo Hamburgo to Artigas drive plays out
BR-290 (230 mi) and BR-293 (68 mi) carry about 76% of the 392 miles. The first 391 miles are in Brazil; the last 1 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Artigas. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Novo Hamburgo and Artigas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 1–33 | 32 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 33–263 | 230 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 263–323 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-293 | 323–391 | 68 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 391–392 | 1 | Artigas |
- Mile 391 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Artigas (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Novo Hamburgo and Artigas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 7), Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 18), Museu do Carvão (mile 57)
- Nature and outdoors: Jacuí Delta State Park (mile 30)
- Museums and history: Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 7), Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 18), Galeria Chaves (mile 25), Godoy House (mile 25), Museu do Carvão (mile 57)
Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo"
Dedicated to the history of São Leopoldo and German colonization in Rio Grande do Sul, the Museu Histórico Visconde de São Leopoldo keeps a collection of objects, images and documents about the settlers. It is a privately run museum.
Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas
Canoas's history museum and archive keeps photos, newspapers, maps, documents, audiovisual material and objects that tell the story of the city in Rio Grande do Sul.
Galeria Chaves
Between Rua dos Andradas and Rua José Montaury in Porto Alegre's Historic Center, Galeria Chaves is a historic building that houses a shopping arcade.
Godoy House
On Independência Avenue in Porto Alegre, the Godoy House is an Art Nouveau building from 1907, one of the few in that style left in the city.
Jacuí Delta State Park
Created in 1976, Jacuí Delta State Park (Parque Estadual Delta do Jacuí) protects the delta between Porto Alegre, Canoas, Eldorado do Sul and nearby towns, where fishers from Ilha da Pintada still practice traditional fishing.
Museu do Carvão
In the town of Arroio dos Ratos, Rio Grande do Sul, the Museu do Carvão is a history museum set on Rua Professora Silvana Narvaez.
More drives to Artigas
- Paysandú to Artigas
- Montevideo to Artigas
- Maldonado to Artigas
- Córdoba, Argentina to Artigas, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Artigas, Uruguay
- La Plata to Artigas, Uruguay
More drives from Novo Hamburgo
- Novo Hamburgo to Paranaguá
- Novo Hamburgo to Jaraguá do Sul
- Novo Hamburgo to Camboriú
- Novo Hamburgo to Tubarão
- Novo Hamburgo to Bagé
- Novo Hamburgo to Santana do Livramento
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Novo Hamburgo to Artigas, Uruguay?
About 8 h 46 min of driving without stops, over 392 miles.
What is the driving distance from Novo Hamburgo to Artigas, Uruguay?
About 392 miles (631 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.
Where does the Novo Hamburgo to Artigas drive cross the border?
At about mile 391, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Novo Hamburgo into Uruguay?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You can drive on your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 13, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Novo Hamburgo to Artigas, Uruguay?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Novo Hamburgo to Artigas?
In order: BR-116, BR-290, BR-158 and BR-293. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Novo Hamburgo to Artigas?
Closest to the road: Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (museum, mile 7, 0.6 mi from the route); Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (museum, mile 18, 0.1 mi from the route); Museu do Carvão (museum, mile 57, 0.9 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.