Plan on about 12 h 1 min of driving for the 532-mile (856 km) trip from Salto to Erechim, Brazil, before any stops. You cross from Uruguay into Brazil at about mile 91.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Uruguay, Brazil. Advisory issued: Uruguay July 28, 2026; Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
- Brazil: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance by road | 532 mi (856 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 1 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-472 → BR-285 → ERS-135 |
| Border crossing | about mile 91, Uruguay → Brazil |
| Regions on the route | Salto, Artigas, Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Getting across the Uruguay–Brazil border
The route crosses at about mile 91, from Artigas 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.
What the drive from Salto to Erechim is like
BR-285 (231 mi) and BR-472 (156 mi) carry about 73% of the 532 miles. The first 91 miles are in Uruguay; the last 441 are in Brazil. It runs through 3 regions: Salto, Artigas, Rio Grande do Sul. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Salto to Erechim: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Salto |
| connecting roads | 4–5 | 1 | Salto |
| local roads | 5–92 | 87 | Salto, Artigas, Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 92–93 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-472 | 93–249 | 156 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 249–377 | 128 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 377–382 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-285 | 382–485 | 103 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-135 | 485–529 | 44 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 529–532 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 52 of this route: Salto → Artigas (region line)
- Mile 91 of this route: Artigas → Rio Grande do Sul (international border)
Places worth a stop between Salto and Erechim
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Estadual do Espinilho (mile 96)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Estadual do Espinilho (mile 96)
- Museums and history: St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana (mile 139), João Goulart's House (mile 247), Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado (mile 314), Museu do Automobilismo Brasileiro (mile 481), Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida, Passo Fundo (mile 482)
Parque Estadual do Espinilho
Created in 1975 and expanded in 2002 to about 1,617 hectares, Espinilho State Park is a protected area in Barra do Quaraí, in the far southwest of Rio Grande do Sul.
St. Ann Cathedral, Uruguaiana
Uruguaiana's St. Ann Cathedral grew out of the parish of Santana, created in 1846 together with the town, and was built between 1861 and 1874.
João Goulart's House
João Goulart's House in São Borja, Rio Grande do Sul, is a 1927 house where the former Brazilian president lived during his childhood and youth.
Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado
In São Luiz Gonzaga, this municipal museum occupies the house where Senator José Gomes Pinheiro Machado lived after returning from law school in São Paulo.
Museu do Automobilismo Brasileiro
Starting from businessman Paulo Afonso Trevisan's collection of race cars, this Passo Fundo museum gathers photos, films and documents on the history of Brazilian motor racing.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Aparecida, Passo Fundo
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Passo Fundo, dedicated to Our Lady of Aparecida, is the Catholic church that holds the seat of the Archdiocese of Passo Fundo.
More drives to Erechim
- Itapetininga to Erechim
- Itanhaém to Erechim
- Tatuí to Erechim
- Botucatu to Erechim
- Presidente Prudente to Erechim
- Praia Grande to Erechim
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 Erechim, Brazil?
About 12 h 1 min of driving without stops, over 532 miles.
How far is Erechim, Brazil from Salto by car?
About 532 miles (856 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 Erechim drive cross the border?
At about mile 91, 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 Erechim drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Salto to Erechim?
In order: BR-472, BR-285 and ERS-135. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Salto and Erechim?
Closest to the road: Parque Estadual do Espinilho (state park, mile 96, 1 mi from the route); João Goulart's House (museum, mile 247, 2 mi from the route); Museu Municipal Senador Pinheiro Machado (museum, mile 314, 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.