The Wayro route from Novo Hamburgo to Rivera, Uruguay is 329 miles (529 km), about 7 h 25 min of driving without stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 327.
- 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
- Uruguay: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance by road | 329 mi (529 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → BR-290 → BR-158 |
| Border crossing | about mile 327, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 327, from Rio Grande do Sul into Rivera. 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.
The Novo Hamburgo–Rivera drive in a few lines
BR-290 (230 mi) and BR-158 (64 mi) carry about 89% of the 329 miles. The first 327 miles are in Brazil; the last 2 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Novo Hamburgo to Rivera
| 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 | 263–327 | 64 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 327–329 | 2 | Rivera |
- Mile 327 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rivera (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Novo Hamburgo and Rivera
- 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), Farol Santander Porto Alegre (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.
Farol Santander Porto Alegre
Formerly Santander Cultural, Farol Santander Porto Alegre is a cultural center run by Banco Santander in a historic building on Alfândega Square.
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 Rivera
- Montevideo to Rivera
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Buenos Aires to Rivera, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Rivera, Uruguay
- La Plata to Rivera, 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 does it take to drive from Novo Hamburgo to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 7 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 329 miles.
How far is Rivera, Uruguay from Novo Hamburgo by car?
About 329 miles (529 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 Rivera drive cross the border?
At about mile 327, 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Novo Hamburgo to Rivera drive?
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.
What roads does the drive from Novo Hamburgo to Rivera use?
In order: BR-116, BR-290 and BR-158. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Novo Hamburgo to Rivera?
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.