Rocha to Conchillas Road Trip: Where to Stop on the Way

By admin, 13 October, 2026

Plan on about 5 h 53 min of driving for the 258-mile (415 km) trip from Rocha to Conchillas, before any stops.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Uruguay — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution

Full advisory: Uruguay. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.

On the roads, the State Department says:

  • Uruguay: “Illumination, pavement markings, and road surfaces for secondary roads can be poor.”
Laguna José IgnacioCerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding StationIglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de LourdesCathedral of Our Lady of GuadalupeCathedral of San José de MayoMuseum of Rosario Mural ArtAnchorena Presidential EstateRochaConchillas
Route from Rocha to Conchillas with the 7 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance by road258 mi (415 km)
Drive time without stops5 h 53 min
Main roads, in orderI-B
Departments on the routeRocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 10.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below7

Driving Rocha to Conchillas: the shape of the trip

I-B (6 mi) carries about 2% of the 258 miles. It runs through 5 departments: Rocha, Maldonado, Canelones, San José, Colonia. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.

Road-by-road breakdown: Rocha to Conchillas

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miDepartment
local roads0–6464Rocha, Maldonado
connecting roads64–651Maldonado
I-B65–716Maldonado
local roads71–8716Maldonado, Canelones
connecting roads87–881Canelones
local roads88–13244Canelones
connecting roads132–1353Canelones
local roads135–16732Canelones, San José
connecting roads167–1703San José
local roads170–25888San José, Colonia
  • Mile 19 of this route: Rocha → Maldonado (department line)
  • Mile 76 of this route: Maldonado → Canelones (department line)
  • Mile 145 of this route: Canelones → San José (department line)
  • Mile 193 of this route: San José → Colonia (department line)

Where to stop on the way to Conchillas

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 135), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 169)
  • Nature and outdoors: Laguna José Ignacio (mile 30), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 65), Anchorena Presidential Estate (mile 249)
  • Museums and history: Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 99), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 135), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 169), Museum of Rosario Mural Art (mile 208)

Laguna José Ignacio

Mile 30 · Lagoon · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

In Uruguay's Maldonado Department, Laguna José Ignacio is a coastal lagoon kept apart from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandbank.

Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station

Mile 65 · Nature park · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes

Mile 99 · Church · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

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.

Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Mile 135 · Cathedral · 0.2 mi from the route

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.

Cathedral of San José de Mayo

Mile 169 · Cathedral · 0.9 mi from the route

The main Catholic church of San José de Mayo, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph has been the diocesan seat since 1955, a minor basilica since 1957 and Uruguay's national shrine of Saint Joseph.

Museum of Rosario Mural Art

Mile 208 · Art museum · 2 mi from the route

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.

Anchorena Presidential Estate

Mile 249 · National park · 7 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Located in Colonia Department, 208 km from Montevideo, the Anchorena Presidential Estate is a national park that also serves as a rest residence for Uruguay's president.

More drives to Conchillas

From Rocha to other places in Uruguay

Frequently asked questions

How long is the drive from Rocha to Conchillas?

About 5 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 258 miles.

How far is Conchillas from Rocha by car?

About 258 miles (415 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 Rocha to Conchillas?

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 Rocha to Conchillas?

Closest to the road: Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 135, 0.2 mi from the route); Cathedral of San José de Mayo (cathedral, mile 169, 0.9 mi from the route); Museum of Rosario Mural Art (art museum, mile 208, 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.