Paysandú to Chuy is about 418 road miles (673 km): roughly 8 h 57 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance | 418 mi (673 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Departments on the route | Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Paysandú to Chuy drive plays out
I-B (5 mi) carries about 1% of the 418 miles. It runs through 7 departments: Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha. Of the 8 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Paysandú to Chuy
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–268 | 268 | Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 268–273 | 5 | Maldonado |
| connecting roads | 273–274 | 1 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 274–418 | 144 | Maldonado, Rocha |
- Mile 28 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (department line)
- Mile 83 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (department line)
- Mile 144 of this route: Flores → San José (department line)
- Mile 194 of this route: San José → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 263 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
- Mile 321 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (department line)
Stops between Paysandú and Chuy
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 112), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 204), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 336), Santa Teresa National Park (mile 396)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 112), Laguna José Ignacio (mile 308), Santa Teresa National Park (mile 396)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 174), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 204), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 240)
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.
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.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
Laguna José Ignacio
In Uruguay's Maldonado Department, Laguna José Ignacio is a coastal lagoon kept apart from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbank.
Observatorio Astronómico del CURE
Run by the University of the Republic's eastern campus (CURE), this small observatory in Rocha opened in 2016 and uses a 30 cm reflector telescope under a motorized dome for teaching, research and public outreach.
Santa Teresa National Park
Santa Teresa National Park on Rocha's coast was created to frame the colonial Santa Teresa Fortress; its grounds hold more than two million planted trees from five continents, a greenhouse and native wetland and woodland wildlife.
Parque Nacional Laguna Negra
In Rocha department, Laguna Negra National Park protects the waters of Laguna Negra, the Potrerillo de Santa Teresa biological station and part of Santa Teresa National Park north of Route 9.
More drives to Chuy
- Minas to Chuy
- Montevideo to Chuy
- Durazno to Chuy
- Colonia del Sacramento to Chuy
- Carmelo to Chuy
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Chuy
From Paysandú to other places in Uruguay
- Paysandú to Bella Unión
- Paysandú to Artigas
- Paysandú to Carmelo
- Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento
- Paysandú to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Paysandú to Fray Marcos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Paysandú to Chuy?
About 8 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 418 miles.
How far is Chuy from Paysandú by car?
About 418 miles (673 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 Paysandú to Chuy drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Paysandú to Chuy?
Closest to the road: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 112, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 204, 0.1 mi from the route); Santa Teresa National Park (national park, mile 396, 0.2 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.