Plan on about 11 h 37 min of driving for the 500-mile (804 km) trip from Porto Alegre to Montevideo, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 244.
- 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Total distance | 500 mi (804 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 |
| Border crossing | about mile 244, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Canelones, Montevideo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Getting across the Brazil–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 244, from Rio Grande do Sul into Cerro Largo. 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 Porto Alegre to Montevideo
BR-116 (177 mi) carries about 35% of the 500 miles. The first 244 miles are in Brazil; the last 256 are in Uruguay. It runs through 6 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Canelones, Montevideo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Porto Alegre to Montevideo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 4–98 | 94 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 98–158 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 158–241 | 83 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 241–242 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 242–500 | 258 | Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Canelones, Montevideo |
- Mile 244 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Cerro Largo (international border)
- Mile 270 of this route: Cerro Largo → Treinta y Tres (region line)
- Mile 341 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Lavalleja (region line)
- Mile 451 of this route: Lavalleja → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 487 of this route: Canelones → Montevideo (region line)
Places worth a stop between Porto Alegre and Montevideo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 99), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 323), Cathedral of Minas (mile 426)
- Nature and outdoors: Jacuí Delta State Park (mile 11), Salto del Penitente (mile 416), Parque nacional Arequita (mile 425)
- Museums and history: Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 18), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 99), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 323), Cathedral of Minas (mile 426)
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.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
Quebrada de los Cuervos
Crossed by the Yerbal Chico creek, the Quebrada de los Cuervos is a ravine in Treinta y Tres department and a natural protected area in Uruguay.
Museo Agustín Araújo
Treinta y Tres's departmental fine arts museum, the Museo Agustín Araújo is a public museum in the city of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
Salto del Penitente
Parque nacional Arequita
Arequita National Park is a protected natural area in Lavalleja department, southeastern Uruguay, known for Cerro Arequita, its related rock formations and its biodiversity.
Cathedral of Minas
Minas's main Catholic church, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception served as the seat of the Diocese of Minas from 1960 to 2020.
Bañados de Carrasco
Spread between Montevideo and Canelones, the Bañados de Carrasco are a wetland system in the Carrasco Creek basin and one of the main wetlands of the Montevideo metro area.
Once you reach Montevideo
Museo Torres García
In Montevideo's Ciudad Vieja, the Museo Torres García displays the paintings, drawings, writings and objects of Joaquín Torres García, including cubist works and portraits of historical figures.
Solís Theatre
Opened in 1856, the Solís Theatre is regarded as Uruguay's most important and renowned theater.
National Museum of Visual Arts
Set in Parque Rodó in Montevideo, the National Museum of Visual Arts opened on December 10, 1911.
More drives to Montevideo
More drives from Porto Alegre
- Porto Alegre to Bento Gonçalves
- Porto Alegre to Caxias do Sul
- Porto Alegre to Erechim
- Porto Alegre to Chapecó
- Porto Alegre to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Porto Alegre to Ponta Grossa
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Porto Alegre to Montevideo, Uruguay?
About 11 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 500 miles.
What is the driving distance from Porto Alegre to Montevideo, Uruguay?
About 500 miles (804 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 Porto Alegre to Montevideo drive cross the border?
At about mile 244, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Porto Alegre 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 Porto Alegre to Montevideo 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 are good stops between Porto Alegre and Montevideo?
Closest to the road: Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 99, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Agustín Araújo (museum, mile 323, 0.8 mi from the route); Cathedral of Minas (cathedral, mile 426, 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.