Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay is about 365 road miles (587 km): roughly 8 h 24 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 337.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil, Uruguay. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Uruguay July 28, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
- Uruguay: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Total distance | 365 mi (587 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-471 → RSC-471 → BR-392 |
| Border crossing | about mile 337, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 14.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The border on the way to Punta del Diablo
The route crosses at about mile 337, from Rio Grande do Sul into Rocha. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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, Uruguay (updated August 13, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
What the drive from Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo is like
BR-471 (168 mi) and RSC-471 (88 mi) carry about 70% of the 365 miles. The first 337 miles are in Brazil; the last 28 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-471 | 4–34 | 30 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-471 | 34–122 | 88 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 122–123 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 123–199 | 76 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-471 | 199–337 | 138 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 337–365 | 28 | Rocha |
- Mile 337 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rocha (international border)
What to see on the way from Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário (mile 20)
- Museums and history: Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário (mile 20), Catedral São Francisco de Paula (mile 178), Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (mile 178)
Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário
Rio Pardo's mother church, Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário, was begun in 1791 in late Baroque style to a design by Francisco João Roscio, on the site of an earlier chapel.
Catedral São Francisco de Paula
Seat of the Archdiocese of Pelotas, the Catedral Metropolitana de Pelotas is a Catholic church in Rio Grande do Sul dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola.
Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo
Opened in 1986 on Praça 7 de Julho, across from the Mercado Central in downtown Pelotas, this art museum is part of the Federal University of Pelotas arts center.
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.
Once you reach Punta del Diablo
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.
More drives to Punta del Diablo
- La Paloma to Punta del Diablo
- Nueva Helvecia to Punta del Diablo
- Colonia del Sacramento to Punta del Diablo
- Tacuarembó to Punta del Diablo
- Rivera to Punta del Diablo
- Salto to Punta del Diablo
More drives from Santa Cruz do Sul
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Guaíra
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Tubarão
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Santana do Livramento
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Chuí
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Salto, Uruguay
- Santa Cruz do Sul to Maldonado, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay?
About 8 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 365 miles.
How far is Punta del Diablo, Uruguay from Santa Cruz do Sul by car?
About 365 miles (587 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 Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo drive cross the border?
At about mile 337, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santa Cruz do Sul into Uruguay?
No visa needed for visits of 90 days or less. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You can drive on your U.S. license. (U.S. State Department, updated August 13, 2026.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Uruguay Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo?
In order: BR-471, RSC-471 and BR-392. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Santa Cruz do Sul to Punta del Diablo?
Closest to the road: Igreja Matriz Nossa Senhora do Rosário (church, mile 20, 0.7 mi from the route); Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (museum, mile 178, 1 mi from the route); Catedral São Francisco de Paula (cathedral, mile 178, 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.