Rivera to Cabo Polonio is about 383 road miles (616 km): roughly 9 h 50 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Distance | 383 mi (616 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 50 min |
| Departments on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Rivera to Cabo Polonio: the shape of the trip
It runs through 6 departments: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Rivera to Cabo Polonio: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–188 | 188 | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
| connecting roads | 188–189 | 1 | Cerro Largo |
| local roads | 189–383 | 194 | Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha |
- Mile 49 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (department line)
- Mile 149 of this route: Tacuarembó → Cerro Largo (department line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Cerro Largo → Treinta y Tres (department line)
- Mile 276 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Lavalleja (department line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Lavalleja → Rocha (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Rivera and Cabo Polonio
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 66), Cathedral of Melo (mile 189), Regional History Museum of Melo (mile 189), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 258)
- Nature and outdoors: La Sirena Beach (mile 372)
- Museums and history: Museo de Geociencias (mile 66), Cathedral of Melo (mile 189), Regional History Museum of Melo (mile 189), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 258)
- With kids: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 66)
Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba
Reachable from Route 5 at kilometer 390, the Mauricio López Lomba reserve is a wildlife reserve in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Museo de Geociencias
Cathedral of Melo
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Raphael is the main Roman Catholic church in the city of Melo, Uruguay.
Regional History Museum of Melo
Founded on June 27, 1976, Melo's municipal history museum displays archaeological pieces and historical items from the region and hosts temporary exhibitions and talks.
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.
La Sirena Beach
About 2.5 km north of Aguas Dulces, La Sirena is one of Uruguay's two official naturist beaches, backed by vegetated dunes, small marshes, lagoons and pine and acacia woods where coastal birds are common.
In Cabo Polonio itself
Parque nacional Cabo Polonio
Part of Uruguay's national protected areas system since 2009, Cabo Polonio National Park spans 25,820 hectares of coastline, ocean and offshore islands.
Cabo Polonio Lighthouse
Standing on the Cabo Polonio headland in Uruguay's Rocha department, this lighthouse looks out over the Atlantic Ocean and was built in 1881.
Dunes of Cabo Polonio
Inside Cabo Polonio National Park in Uruguay's Rocha department, a band of natural sand dunes runs along the Atlantic Ocean.
More drives to Cabo Polonio
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Cabo Polonio
- Paysandú to Cabo Polonio
- Salto to Cabo Polonio
- Bella Unión to Cabo Polonio
- Durazno to Cabo Polonio
- Fray Bentos to Cabo Polonio
From Rivera to other places in Uruguay
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Rivera to Carmelo
- Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Veinticinco de Agosto
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Rivera to Cabo Polonio?
About 9 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 383 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rivera to Cabo Polonio?
About 383 miles (616 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 Rivera to Cabo Polonio?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Rivera and Cabo Polonio?
Closest to the road: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 66, 0.6 mi from the route); Regional History Museum of Melo (museum, mile 189, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Melo (cathedral, mile 189, 0.4 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.