Plan on about 10 h 36 min of driving for the 493-mile (793 km) trip from Salto to Chuí, Brazil, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Brazil at about mile 491.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Uruguay, Brazil. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
- Brazil: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 493 mi (793 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | I-B |
| Border crossing | about mile 491, Uruguay → Brazil |
| Regions on the route | Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Uruguay into Brazil
The route crosses at about mile 491, from Rocha into Rio Grande do Sul. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Brazil (U.S. citizens) | Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Brazil | If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. |
| Entering Uruguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
| Driving in Uruguay | You can drive on your U.S. license. |
| Rental car | Cross only if the rental company authorizes it in writing and gives you the papers for the border; ask before you book. |
Sources: U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026); U.S. State Department, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
On the road from Salto to Chuí
I-B (6 mi) carries about 1% of the 493 miles. The first 491 miles are in Uruguay; the last 2 are in Brazil. It runs through 9 regions: Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado, Rocha, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Salto to Chuí, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–339 | 339 | Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| I-B | 339–345 | 6 | Maldonado |
| local roads | 345–493 | 148 | Maldonado, Rocha, Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 8 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (region line)
- Mile 99 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (region line)
- Mile 154 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (region line)
- Mile 215 of this route: Flores → San José (region line)
- Mile 265 of this route: San José → Canelones (region line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (region line)
- Mile 391 of this route: Maldonado → Rocha (region line)
- Mile 491 of this route: Rocha → Rio Grande do Sul (international border)
Stops between Salto and Chuí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Termas del Guaviyú (mile 35), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 183), Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (mile 408), Santa Teresa National Park (mile 468)
- Nature and outdoors: Termas del Guaviyú (mile 35), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 183), Cerro Pan de Azúcar Native Wildlife Breeding Station (mile 345), Santa Teresa National Park (mile 468)
- Museums and history: Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 73), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 245), Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes (mile 311)
Termas del Guaviyú
Next to Guaviyú Creek at kilometer 432 of Route 3 in Paysandú department, Termas del Guaviyú is a hot spring complex in northwestern Uruguay.
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.
Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice
Off Route 3 near Trinidad, the Dr. Rodolfo Tálice Ecopark (Reserva de Flora y Fauna Dr. Rodolfo Talice) is a fenced wildlife reserve where axis deer, greater rheas and pampas deer roam free alongside other species.
Cathedral of San José de Mayo
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.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
Wavy brick walls and a rippling brick roof define this church in Estación Atlántida, along with an openwork brick bell tower and a baptistery set underground. Engineer Eladio Dieste designed it, and it opened in 1960.
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.
Observatorio Astronómico del CURE
Run by the University of the Republic's eastern campus (CURE), this small observatory in Rocha opened in 2016 and uses a 30 cm reflector telescope under a motorized dome for teaching, research and public outreach.
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.
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.
More drives to Chuí
- Bagé to Chuí
- Porto Alegre to Chuí
- São Leopoldo to Chuí
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Chuí
- Novo Hamburgo to Chuí
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Chuí
More drives from Salto
- Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Salto to Carmelo
- Salto to Colonia del Sacramento
- Salto to Nueva Helvecia
- Salto to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Salto to Fray Marcos
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salto to Chuí, Brazil?
About 10 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 493 miles.
How far is Chuí, Brazil from Salto by car?
About 493 miles (793 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.
Where does the Salto to Chuí drive cross the border?
At about mile 491, from Uruguay into Brazil.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Salto into Brazil?
Visa required: apply and get approved before you travel; travelers without visas can't enter. Passport: must be valid for one month at entry, with a blank page for each stamp. If you'll stay more than 180 days and drive, carry an Inter-American Driving Permit with your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 06, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Salto to Chuí drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Salto and Chuí?
Closest to the road: Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 183, 0.3 mi from the route); Observatorio Astronómico del CURE (astronomical observatory, mile 408, 0.4 mi from the route); Santa Teresa National Park (national park, mile 468, 0.1 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.