Rivera to Paysandú is about 217 road miles (349 km): roughly 5 h 0 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Total distance | 217 mi (349 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 0 min |
| Departments on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 8.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Rivera–Paysandú drive in a few lines
It runs through 4 departments: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Rivera to Paysandú: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–69 | 69 | Rivera, Tacuarembó |
| connecting roads | 69–71 | 2 | Tacuarembó |
| local roads | 71–217 | 146 | Tacuarembó, Paysandú, Salto |
- Mile 49 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (department line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Tacuarembó → Paysandú (department line)
- Mile 103 of this route: Paysandú → Salto (department line)
- Mile 107 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (department line)
Places worth a stop between Rivera and Paysandú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 67), Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 69), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 86)
- Nature and outdoors: Pozo Hondo (mile 88)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 69), Museo Carlos Gardel (mile 86)
- 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.
Cathedral of Tacuarembó
Saint Fructuosus Cathedral is the main Catholic church of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1960.
Museo Carlos Gardel
Dedicated to the life and work of Carlos Gardel, this museum is in Valle Edén, Tacuarembó department, 21 kilometers from the city of Tacuarembó.
Pozo Hondo
Pozo Hondo is a waterfall in Uruguay's Tacuarembó department, located between the towns of Valle Edén and Tambores.
Arriving in Paysandú
Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú
Paysandú's Catholic parish church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Benedict of Palermo was named a minor basilica in 1949 and remains an active parish of the city.
Teatro Florencio Sánchez
In the city of Paysandú, Teatro Florencio Sánchez is a theater and movie house that has been declared a national historic monument of Uruguay.
More drives to Paysandú
- Montevideo to Paysandú
- Buenos Aires to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Mar del Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- La Plata to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Berisso to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Porto Alegre to Paysandú, Uruguay
From Rivera to other places in Uruguay
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- 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 Paysandú?
About 5 h 0 min of driving without stops, over 217 miles.
How far is Paysandú from Rivera by car?
About 217 miles (349 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 Paysandú?
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 Paysandú?
Closest to the road: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 67, 0.1 mi from the route); Cathedral of Tacuarembó (cathedral, mile 69, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Carlos Gardel (museum, mile 86, 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.