Passo Fundo to Rivera, Uruguay is about 321 road miles (517 km): roughly 7 h 42 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 320.
- 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Total distance | 321 mi (517 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | RSC-153 → ERS-223 → BR-158 → BR-290 |
| Border crossing | about mile 320, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
Crossing from Brazil into Uruguay
The route crosses at about mile 320, 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.
On the road from Passo Fundo to Rivera
BR-158 (209 mi) and ERS-223 (61 mi) carry about 84% of the 321 miles. The first 320 miles are in Brazil; the last 1 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Passo Fundo and Rivera
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-153 | 2–29 | 27 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-223 | 29–90 | 61 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 90–163 | 73 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 163–171 | 8 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 171–243 | 72 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 243–256 | 13 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 256–320 | 64 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 320–321 | 1 | Rivera |
- Mile 320 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rivera (international border)
Where to stop on the way to Rivera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Theatro Treze de Maio (mile 169), Museum Vincente Pallotti (mile 171)
- Museums and history: Museu Erico Verissimo (mile 91), Museum Vincente Pallotti (mile 171)
Museu Erico Verissimo
In Cruz Alta, the house and museum of writer Érico Veríssimo (Casa e Museu Érico Veríssimo) displays his personal belongings, books, photos, drafts and original manuscripts.
Theatro Treze de Maio
Facing Praça Saldanha Marinho in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Theatro Treze de Maio is a theater protected as a municipal heritage property.
Museum Vincente Pallotti
On Avenida Presidente Vargas in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Vicente Pallotti Museum shares a complex with Palotina College.
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 Passo Fundo
- Passo Fundo to Itanhaém
- Passo Fundo to Camboriú
- Passo Fundo to Santana do Livramento
- Passo Fundo to Rio Grande
- Passo Fundo to Uruguaiana
- Passo Fundo to Concordia, Argentina
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Passo Fundo to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 7 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 321 miles.
How far is Rivera, Uruguay from Passo Fundo by car?
About 321 miles (517 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 Passo Fundo to Rivera drive cross the border?
At about mile 320, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Passo Fundo 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 Passo Fundo to Rivera, 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 Passo Fundo to Rivera?
In order: RSC-153, ERS-223, BR-158 and BR-290. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Passo Fundo to Rivera?
Closest to the road: Museu Erico Verissimo (museum, mile 91, 1 mi from the route); Theatro Treze de Maio (theater, mile 169, 0.2 mi from the route); Museum Vincente Pallotti (museum, mile 171, 0.1 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.