Plan on about 5 h 37 min of driving for the 241-mile (388 km) trip from Santa Cruz do Sul to Rivera, Uruguay, before any stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 239.
- 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
- Uruguay: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Distance by road | 241 mi (388 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 5 h 37 min |
| Main roads, in order | RSC-287 → BR-158 → BR-290 |
| Border crossing | about mile 239, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
Getting across the Brazil–Uruguay border
The route crosses at about mile 239, from Rio Grande do Sul into Rivera. 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.
How the Santa Cruz do Sul to Rivera drive plays out
BR-158 (134 mi) and RSC-287 (79 mi) carry about 88% of the 241 miles. The first 239 miles are in Brazil; the last 2 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Santa Cruz do Sul to Rivera
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 3–82 | 79 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 82–87 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 87–91 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 91–162 | 71 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 162–176 | 14 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-158 | 176–239 | 63 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 239–241 | 2 | Rivera |
- Mile 239 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rivera (international border)
Places worth a stop between Santa Cruz do Sul and Rivera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (mile 88), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (mile 89)
- Museums and history: Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (mile 25), Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (mile 88), Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (mile 89)
Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum
In the town of Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum is part of the Paleorrota Geopark and offers information about the region.
Aqueduto de Candelária
In Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aqueduto de Candelária stands in the Linha Curitiba area. It was commissioned by João Kochenborger, one of the first German immigrants to reach the municipality, in 1862.
Planetário Professor José Mariano da Rocha Filho
Founded in 1971 at the Federal University of Santa Maria, this planetarium seats 120 people and has used a Digistar 4 digital projector since 2011.
Educational Museum Gama D'Eça
The Gama D'Eça Educational Museum sits at Rua do Acampamento 81 in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul.
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
Seat of the Archdiocese of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul, this eclectic cathedral mixes neo-Baroque and neoclassical styles; construction started in 1902 under parish priest Caetano Pagliuca, and it opened in 1909.
More drives to Rivera
- Montevideo to Rivera
- Maldonado to Rivera
- Buenos Aires to Rivera, Uruguay
- Rosario, Argentina to Rivera, Uruguay
- Santa Fe to Rivera, Uruguay
- La Plata to Rivera, Uruguay
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
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santa Cruz do Sul to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 5 h 37 min of driving without stops, over 241 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa Cruz do Sul to Rivera, Uruguay?
About 241 miles (388 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 Rivera drive cross the border?
At about mile 239, 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.)
Is it safe to drive from Santa Cruz do Sul to Rivera, Uruguay?
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.
What roads does the drive from Santa Cruz do Sul to Rivera use?
In order: RSC-287, BR-158 and BR-290. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Cruz do Sul and Rivera?
Closest to the road: Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (museum, mile 25, 1 mi from the route); Educational Museum Gama D'Eça (didactic museum, mile 88, 0.4 mi from the route); Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción (cathedral, mile 89, 0.6 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.