Rivera to Piriápolis is about 355 road miles (572 km): roughly 7 h 25 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.”
| Total distance | 355 mi (572 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 25 min |
| Departments on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones, Maldonado |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Rivera–Piriápolis drive in a few lines
It runs through 6 departments: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones, Maldonado. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Rivera to Piriápolis: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–355 | 355 | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Durazno, Florida, Canelones, Maldonado |
- Mile 49 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (department line)
- Mile 158 of this route: Tacuarembó → Durazno (department line)
- Mile 207 of this route: Durazno → Florida (department line)
- Mile 272 of this route: Florida → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 341 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
Places worth a stop between Rivera and Piriápolis
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 67), Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 69), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 198), Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida (mile 252), Piedra Alta (mile 253), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 283)
- Nature and outdoors: Chorro de Agua Fría (mile 94), Laguna del Cisne (mile 318)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 69), Casa de Rivera, Durazno (mile 198), Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida (mile 252), Piedra Alta (mile 253), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 283), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 318)
- 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.
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.
Museo Histórico Departamental de Florida
This history museum is located in the central part of Florida, capital of the Uruguayan department of the same name, on Rivera street.
Piedra Alta
On the banks of the Santa Lucía Chico River outside the city of Florida, Piedra Alta is a rock formation of historic importance that appears on the department's coat of arms and flag.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Construction of Canelones' Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe began in 1816; the church became a cathedral in 1961 and Uruguay's national shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2020.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Since 2021, UNESCO has counted Eladio Dieste's Church of Christ the Worker among its World Heritage Sites. The engineer's brick church in Estación Atlántida was inaugurated in 1960 and is known for its undulating walls and roof.
When you get to Piriápolis
Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station
Near Piriápolis in Maldonado, this breeding station for native wildlife on Cerro Pan de Azúcar is surrounded by native vegetation and offers guided visits, including a native wildlife trail and a path up the hill.
Museo ferroviario de Piriápolis
Near the Rambla de los Argentinos in Piriápolis, the Museo Ferroviario de Piriápolis is a railway museum on Armenia Street, across from the Argentino Hotel.
More drives to Piriápolis
- Paysandú to Piriápolis
- Tacuarembó to Piriápolis
- Salto to Piriápolis
- Artigas to Piriápolis
- Bella Unión to Piriápolis
- Montevideo to Piriápolis
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 is the drive from Rivera to Piriápolis?
About 7 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 355 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rivera to Piriápolis?
About 355 miles (572 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 Piriápolis?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Rivera to Piriápolis?
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, 0.3 mi from the route); Piedra Alta (historic site, mile 253, 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.