The Wayro route from Salto to Piriápolis is 348 miles (560 km), about 7 h 21 min of driving without 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.”
| Distance by road | 348 mi (560 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 21 min |
| Departments on the route | Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Salto to Piriápolis: the shape of the trip
It runs through 7 departments: Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado. Of the 7 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Salto and Piriápolis
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–348 | 348 | Salto, Paysandú, Río Negro, Flores, San José, Canelones, Maldonado |
- Mile 8 of this route: Salto → Paysandú (department line)
- Mile 99 of this route: Paysandú → Río Negro (department line)
- Mile 154 of this route: Río Negro → Flores (department line)
- Mile 215 of this route: Flores → San José (department line)
- Mile 265 of this route: San José → Canelones (department line)
- Mile 334 of this route: Canelones → Maldonado (department line)
What to see on the way from Salto to Piriápolis
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Termas del Guaviyú (mile 35), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 183), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 275)
- Nature and outdoors: Termas del Guaviyú (mile 35), Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (mile 183), Laguna del Cisne (mile 311)
- Museums and history: Nuestra Señora del Rosario y San Benito de Palermo, Paysandú (mile 73), Cathedral of San José de Mayo (mile 245), Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (mile 275), 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.
Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe
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.
Laguna del Cisne
Near Salinas in Canelones, Laguna del Cisne is a subtropical lagoon of about 1.8 km², fed by a watershed of some 50 km², that has supplied drinking water to the Costa de Oro area since 1970.
Iglesia de Cristo Obrero y Nuestra Señora de Lourdes
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.
When you get to Piriápolis
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.
Museo ferroviario de Piriápolis
Near the Rambla de los Argentinos in Piriápolis, the Museo Ferroviario de Piriápolis is a railway museum on Armenia Street, across from the Argentino Hotel.
More drives to Piriápolis
- Paysandú to Piriápolis
- Tacuarembó to Piriápolis
- Rivera to Piriápolis
- Artigas to Piriápolis
- Bella Unión to Piriápolis
- Montevideo to Piriápolis
From Salto to other places in Uruguay
- 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 Piriápolis?
About 7 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 348 miles.
What is the driving distance from Salto to Piriápolis?
About 348 miles (560 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 Salto to Piriápolis?
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 Piriápolis?
Closest to the road: Termas del Guaviyú (hot spring, mile 35, 0.6 mi from the route); Reserva de Flora y fauna Dr. Rodolfo Tálice (botanical garden, mile 183, 0.3 mi from the route); Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe (cathedral, mile 275, 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.