Plan on about 3 h 41 min of driving for the 147-mile (237 km) trip from Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay, before any stops.
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.”
| Distance | 147 mi (237 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 41 min |
| Departments on the route | Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Soriano |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 2 |
On the road from Salto to Mercedes
It runs through 4 departments: Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Soriano. Of the 2 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Salto to Mercedes
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–147 | 147 | Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Soriano |
- Mile 8 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (department line)
- Mile 90 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (department line)
- Mile 145 of this route: Río Negro → Soriano (department line)
Where to stop on the way to Mercedes
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Termas del Guaviyú (mile 35)
- Nature and outdoors: Termas del Guaviyú (mile 35)
- Museums and history: Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 73)
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.
Once you reach Mercedes
Cathedral of Mercedes
Since 1960, the Diocese of Mercedes has had its seat at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mercy, the main Catholic church in this Uruguayan city.
Calera Real del Dacá
On the eastern edge of Mercedes beside the Dacá stream, the ruins of the Calera Real lime works date to 1722 and are considered the region's first industrial site; recent works added visitor circuits, lighting and interpretive signs.
Alejandro Berro Paleontology Museum
In a 19th-century building in Mercedes' Parque Castillo Mauá, this paleontology museum opened in 1946 around the collection of naturalist Alejandro Berro; a well-preserved glyptodon shell found on a nearby riverbank is a highlight.
More drives to Mercedes
- Rivera to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Artigas to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Montevideo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Melo to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Buenos Aires to Mercedes, Uruguay
- Córdoba, Argentina to Mercedes, Uruguay
From Salto to other places in Uruguay
- Salto to Carmelo
- Salto to Colonia del Sacramento
- Salto to Nueva Helvecia
- Salto to Veinticinco de Agosto
- Salto to Fray Marcos
- Salto to Minas
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay?
About 3 h 41 min of driving without stops, over 147 miles.
What is the driving distance from Salto to Mercedes, Uruguay?
About 147 miles (237 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 Salto to Mercedes 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 Salto to Mercedes?
Closest to the road: Termas del Guaviyú (hot spring, mile 35, 0.6 mi from the route); Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (basilica, mile 73, 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.