Plan on about 9 h 6 min of driving for the 360-mile (579 km) trip from Rivera to Punta del Diablo, before any stops.
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 | 360 mi (579 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 6 min |
| Departments on the route | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Rivera to Punta del Diablo is like
It runs through 6 departments: Rivera, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Rivera to Punta del Diablo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–188 | 188 | Rivera, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo |
| connecting roads | 188–189 | 1 | Cerro Largo |
| local roads | 189–360 | 171 | Cerro Largo, Treinta y Tres, Lavalleja, Rocha |
- Mile 49 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (department line)
- Mile 149 of this route: Tacuarembó → Cerro Largo (department line)
- Mile 221 of this route: Cerro Largo → Treinta y Tres (department line)
- Mile 276 of this route: Treinta y Tres → Lavalleja (department line)
- Mile 293 of this route: Lavalleja → Rocha (department line)
Places worth a stop between Rivera and Punta del Diablo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 66), Cathedral of Melo (mile 189), Regional History Museum of Melo (mile 189), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 258)
- Museums and history: Museo de Artes Visuales de Tacuarembó (mile 66), Cathedral of Melo (mile 189), Regional History Museum of Melo (mile 189), Museo Agustín Araújo (mile 258)
- With kids: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (mile 66)
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 Artes Visuales de Tacuarembó
The Museum of Visual Arts of Tacuarembó (Museo de Artes Visuales) is a museum in the city of Tacuarembó, Uruguay.
Cathedral of Melo
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Pillar and St. Raphael is the main Roman Catholic church in the city of Melo, Uruguay.
Regional History Museum of Melo
Founded on June 27, 1976, Melo's municipal history museum displays archaeological pieces and historical items from the region and hosts temporary exhibitions and talks.
Quebrada de los Cuervos
Crossed by the Yerbal Chico creek, the Quebrada de los Cuervos is a ravine in Treinta y Tres department and a natural protected area in Uruguay.
Museo Agustín Araújo
Treinta y Tres's departmental fine arts museum, the Museo Agustín Araújo is a public museum in the city of Treinta y Tres, Uruguay.
Parque Nacional Laguna Negra
In Rocha department, Laguna Negra National Park protects the waters of Laguna Negra, the Potrerillo de Santa Teresa biological station and part of Santa Teresa National Park north of Route 9.
Arriving in Punta del Diablo
Santa Teresa National Park
Santa Teresa National Park on Rocha's coast was created to frame the colonial Santa Teresa Fortress; its grounds hold more than two million planted trees from five continents, a greenhouse and native wetland and woodland wildlife.
More drives to Punta del Diablo
- La Paloma to Punta del Diablo
- Nueva Helvecia to Punta del Diablo
- Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo
- Tacuarembó to Punta del Diablo
- Salto to Punta del Diablo
- Fray Bentos to Punta del Diablo
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 does it take to drive from Rivera to Punta del Diablo?
About 9 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 360 miles.
What is the driving distance from Rivera to Punta del Diablo?
About 360 miles (579 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Rivera to Punta del Diablo drive?
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 Punta del Diablo?
Closest to the road: Zoológico Municipal Dr. Mauricio López Lomba (zoo, mile 66, 0.6 mi from the route); Regional History Museum of Melo (museum, mile 189, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of Melo (cathedral, mile 189, 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.