The Wayro route from Rivera to Carmelo is 327 miles (526 km), about 7 h 44 min of driving without stops.
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.”
| Total distance | 327 mi (526 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 44 min |
| Departments on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Flores, Soriano, Colonia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
On the road from Rivera to Carmelo
It runs through 6 departments: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Flores, Soriano, Colonia. Of the 6 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Rivera to Carmelo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–197 | 197 | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno |
| connecting roads | 197–199 | 2 | Durazno |
| local roads | 199–222 | 23 | Durazno, Flores |
| connecting roads | 222–224 | 2 | Flores |
| local roads | 224–260 | 36 | Flores, Soriano |
| connecting roads | 260–262 | 2 | Soriano |
| local roads | 262–305 | 43 | Soriano, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 305–306 | 1 | Colonia |
| local roads | 306–327 | 21 | Colonia |
- Mile 49 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (department line)
- Mile 158 of this route: Tacuarembó → Durazno (department line)
- Mile 203 of this route: Durazno → Flores (department line)
- Mile 247 of this route: Flores → Soriano (department line)
- Mile 277 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (department line)
Stops between Rivera and Carmelo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 67), Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 69), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 198)
- Nature and outdoors: Chorro de Agua Fría (mile 94), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 224), Anchorena Presidential Estate (mile 306)
- Museums and history: Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 69), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 198)
- With kids: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 67)
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 del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar
The Museo del Indio y del Gaucho, a museum of the Indigenous people and the gaucho, is located in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Chorro de Agua Fría
In Uruguay's Tacuarembó Department, Chorro de Agua Fría is a waterfall that drops roughly 14 meters, the highest uninterrupted fall in the country.
Casa de Rivera, Durazno
Facing Plaza Independencia in Durazno, the Casa de Fructuoso Rivera (Casa de Rivera) is one of the town's main heritage sites and now houses the department's historical museum.
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.
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.
Arriving in Carmelo
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.
More drives to Carmelo
- Paysandú to Carmelo
- Salto to Carmelo
- Tacuarembó to Carmelo
- Artigas to Carmelo
- Minas to Carmelo
- Maldonado to Carmelo
From Rivera to other places in Uruguay
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Rivera to Florida, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rivera to Carmelo?
About 7 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 327 miles.
How far is Carmelo from Rivera by car?
About 327 miles (526 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 Carmelo?
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 Carmelo?
Closest to the road: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 67, 0.1 mi from the route); Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (museum, mile 69, 0.5 mi from the route); Casa de Rivera, Durazno (historic house museum, mile 198, 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.