By road, Paysandú and Colonia del Sacramento are about 188 miles (303 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 54 min of driving.
Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
| Distance by road | 188 mi (303 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 54 min |
| Departments on the route | Paysandú, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
On the road from Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento
It runs through 4 departments: Paysandú, Río Negro, Soriano, Colonia. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–76 | 76 | Paysandú, Río Negro, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 76–78 | 2 | Soriano |
| local roads | 78–188 | 110 | Soriano, Colonia |
- Mile 19 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (department line)
- Mile 73 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (department line)
- Mile 127 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (department line)
What to see on the way from Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 75), Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (mile 127)
- Nature and outdoors: Agraciada Beach (mile 124), Anchorena Presidential Estate (mile 174)
- Museums and history: Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum (mile 71), Cathedral of Mercedes (mile 75), Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (mile 127), Museo del Carmen (mile 142)
Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum
In a 19th-century building in Mercedes' Parque Castillo Mauá, this paleontology museum opened in 1946 around the collection of naturalist Alejandro Berro; a well-preserved glyptodon shell found on a nearby riverbank is a highlight.
Cathedral of Mercedes
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy, this cathedral is the main Catholic church of Mercedes, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the Diocese of Mercedes since 1960.
Agraciada Beach
On the eastern bank of the Uruguay River in Soriano department, Agraciada Beach is a historic beach area facing Argentina's Entre Ríos province.
Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli
Nueva Palmira's municipal museum, also known as the Museo Roselli, is named for its first director, Professor Francisco Lucas Rosselli.
Teatro Uamá
Teatro Uamá is a theater in the city of Carmelo, in Uruguay's Colonia department, regarded as the town's leading cultural institution.
Museo del Carmen
Facing Plaza Artigas in Carmelo, the Archivo y Museo del Carmen belongs to the local Carmelo parish and holds religious and historical collections.
Anchorena Presidential Estate
Located in Colonia Department, 208 km from Montevideo, the Anchorena Presidential Estate is a national park that also serves as a rest residence for Uruguay's president.
Once you reach Colonia del Sacramento
Museo Paleontológico Profesor Armando Calcaterra
In the Real de San Carlos area of Colonia del Sacramento, Museo Paleontológico Profesor Armando Calcaterra shows about 1,600 pieces, including fossil vertebrates and invertebrates and Indigenous artifacts.
Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento, Colonia del Sacramento
In Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, the Basílica del Santísimo Sacramento (Basilica of the Holy Sacrament) is a Roman Catholic parish church you can stop at in town.
Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse
Erected in 1857 on the ruins of the Saint Francis Xavier convent, the Colonia del Sacramento Lighthouse stands in the town's historic district in Uruguay.
More drives to Colonia del Sacramento
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento
- Tacuarembó to Colonia del Sacramento
- Salto to Colonia del Sacramento
- Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento
- Artigas to Colonia del Sacramento
- Florida, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento
From Paysandú to other places in Uruguay
- Paysandú to Bella Unión
- Paysandú to Artigas
- Paysandú to Carmelo
- Paysandú to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Paysandú to Fray Marcos
- Paysandú to Piriápolis
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento?
About 4 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 188 miles.
What is the driving distance from Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento?
About 188 miles (303 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.
Is it safe to drive from Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento?
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 Colonia del Sacramento?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Mercedes (cathedral, mile 75, 0.7 mi from the route); Museo Municipal Profesor Roselli (museum, mile 127, 0.8 mi from the route); Teatro Uamá (theater, mile 142, 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.