Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay is about 262 road miles (422 km): roughly 6 h 15 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 | 262 mi (422 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 15 min |
| Departments on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Río Negro, Soriano |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
Driving Rivera to Mercedes: the shape of the trip
It runs through 4 departments: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Río Negro, Soriano. Of the 2 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Rivera to Mercedes: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–204 | 204 | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 204–208 | 4 | Río Negro |
| local roads | 208–262 | 54 | Río Negro, Soriano |
- Mile 49 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (department line)
- Mile 153 of this route: Tacuarembó → Río Negro (department line)
- Mile 217 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (department line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Rivera and Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 69)
- Nature and outdoors: Chorro de Agua Fría (mile 94)
- Museums and history: Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (mile 69)
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.
In Mercedes itself
Cathedral of Mercedes
Mercedes, Uruguay, centers its Catholic life on the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, which became the seat of the local diocese in 1960.
Calera Real del Dacá
On the eastern edge of Mercedes beside the Dacá stream, the ruins of the Calera Real lime works date to 1722 and are considered the region's first industrial site; recent works added visitor circuits, lighting and interpretive signs.
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.
More drives to Mercedes
- Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Artigas to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Montevideo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Melo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Córdoba, Argentina to Mercedes, Uruguay
From Rivera to other places in Uruguay
- Rivera to Paysandú
- Rivera to Carmelo
- Rivera to Colonia del Sacramento
- Rivera to Nueva Helvecia
- Rivera to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Rivera to Florida, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay?
About 6 h 15 min of driving without stops, over 262 miles.
How far is Mercedes, Uruguay from Rivera by car?
About 262 miles (422 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 Mercedes, Uruguay?
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 Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Museo del Indio y del Gaucho Washington Escobar (museum, mile 69, 0.5 mi from the route); Chorro de Agua Fría (waterfall, mile 94, 2 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.