By road, Oruro and Tarija are about 406 miles (654 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 41 min of driving.
Full advisory: Bolivia. Advisory issued: Bolivia August 18, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Bolivia: “Some vehicles are not well maintained and may not have lights working at night.”
| Distance | 406 mi (654 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 41 min |
| Main roads, in order | F1 |
| Departments on the route | Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Tarija |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
How the Oruro to Tarija drive plays out
F1 (403 mi) carries about 99% of the 406 miles. It runs through 4 departments: Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Tarija. Of the 3 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Oruro and Tarija
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Oruro |
| F1 | 1–404 | 403 | Oruro, Potosí, Chuquisaca, Tarija |
| local roads | 404–406 | 2 | Tarija |
- Mile 144 of this route: Oruro → Potosí (department line)
- Mile 253 of this route: Potosí → Chuquisaca (department line)
- Mile 349 of this route: Chuquisaca → Tarija (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Oruro and Tarija
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 19), National Mint of Bolivia (mile 193), Khari Khari Lakes (mile 194)
- Nature and outdoors: Khari Khari Lakes (mile 194)
- Museums and history: Machacamarca Railway museum (mile 19), National Mint of Bolivia (mile 193)
Machacamarca Railway museum
The Machacamarca Railway Museum (Museo Ferroviario de Machacamarca) is a railway museum in the municipality of Machacamarca, in Bolivia's Oruro department.
National Mint of Bolivia
The former Mint of Potosí struck much of the silver that crossed the Spanish Main as coins of the Spanish dollar, once a major world currency.
Khari Khari Lakes
About 8 km east of Potosí, the Khari Khari Lakes are two closely connected artificial lakes, San Ildefonso and San Pablo, set in the Khari Khari mountain range.
When you get to Tarija
Catedral de San Bernardo
Also called the Metropolitan Cathedral of Tarija, the Catedral de San Bernardo is the city's main Catholic church, near Plaza Luis de Fuentes in southern Bolivia.
Paleontological, Archaeological and Historical Museum of Tarija
One block from Plaza Luis de Fuentes y Vargas, Tarija's paleontological and archaeological museum opened in 1959 and is run by the Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho.
More drives to Tarija
From Oruro to other places in Bolivia
- Oruro to Chulumani
- Oruro to Rurrenabaque
- Oruro to San Ignacio de Moxos
- Oruro to Villa Tunari
- Oruro to Tarabuco
- Oruro to San Pedro de Quemes Canton
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Oruro to Tarija?
About 9 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 406 miles.
How far is Tarija from Oruro by car?
About 406 miles (654 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 Oruro to Tarija drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Bolivia Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Oruro to Tarija?
Closest to the road: Machacamarca Railway museum (railway museum, mile 19, 0.4 mi from the route); National Mint of Bolivia (museum, mile 193, 0.4 mi from the route); Khari Khari Lakes (lakes, mile 194, 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.