Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento is about 324 road miles (522 km): roughly 7 h 19 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance | 324 mi (522 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 19 min |
| Departments on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Flores, Soriano, Colonia |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento drive plays out
It runs through 6 departments: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Flores, Soriano, Colonia. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento: the road sequence
| 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 | 260–261 | 1 | Soriano |
| local roads | 261–291 | 30 | Soriano, Colonia |
| connecting roads | 291–295 | 4 | Colonia |
| local roads | 295–324 | 29 | 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 263 of this route: Soriano → Colonia (department line)
Places worth a stop between Rivera and Colonia del Sacramento
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 67), Museo de Geociencias (mile 69), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 198), Museum of Rosario Mural Art (mile 293)
- Nature and outdoors: Chorro de Agua Fría (mile 94), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 224)
- Museums and history: Museo de Geociencias (mile 69), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 198), Museum of Rosario Mural Art (mile 293)
- 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 de Geociencias
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.
Museum of Rosario Mural Art
Rather than a building, the Museum of Rosario Mural Art is a circuit of history-themed murals spread around Rosario, in Uruguay's Colonia department.
Arriving in Colonia del Sacramento
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.
Museo del Origami
Set in the historic district of Colonia del Sacramento, Museo del Origami is a nonprofit museum devoted to the art of paper folding and part of Uruguay's national museum system.
More drives to Colonia del Sacramento
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento
- Paysandú to Colonia del Sacramento
- Tacuarembó to Colonia del Sacramento
- Salto to Colonia del Sacramento
- Artigas to Colonia del Sacramento
- Florida, Uruguay to Colonia del Sacramento
From Rivera to other places in Uruguay
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Rivera to Carmelo
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Rivera to Florida, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento?
About 7 h 19 min of driving without stops, over 324 miles.
How far is Colonia del Sacramento from Rivera by car?
About 324 miles (522 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 Colonia del Sacramento?
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 Colonia del Sacramento?
Closest to the road: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 67, 0.1 mi from the route); Casa de Rivera, Durazno (historic house museum, mile 198, 0.1 mi from the route); Museum of Rosario Mural Art (art museum, mile 293, 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.