By road, Santana do Livramento and Fray Bentos, Uruguay are about 268 miles (432 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 20 min of driving. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 1.
- 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: “Traffic fatalities are high in Uruguay.”
| Total distance | 268 mi (432 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 20 min |
| Border crossing | about mile 1, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera, Tacuarembó, Río Negro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 3 |
The border on the way to Fray Bentos
The route crosses at about mile 1, 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.
What the drive from Santana do Livramento to Fray Bentos is like
The first 1 miles are in Brazil; the last 267 are in Uruguay. It runs through 4 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera, Tacuarembó, Río Negro. Of the 3 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Santana do Livramento to Fray Bentos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–259 | 259 | Rio Grande do Sul, Rivera, Tacuarembó, Río Negro |
| connecting roads | 259–261 | 2 | Río Negro |
| local roads | 261–268 | 7 | Río Negro |
- Mile 1 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rivera (international border)
- Mile 50 of this route: Rivera → Tacuarembó (region line)
- Mile 154 of this route: Tacuarembó → Río Negro (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Santana do Livramento and Fray Bentos
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 70), Museo de Geociencias (mile 70)
- Nature and outdoors: Chorro de Agua Fría (mile 96)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Tacuarembó (mile 70), Museo de Geociencias (mile 70)
Cathedral of Tacuarembó
Saint Fructuosus Cathedral is the main Catholic church of Tacuarembó, Uruguay, and has been the seat of the local diocese since 1960.
Museo de Geociencias
Chorro de Agua Fría
In Uruguay's Tacuarembó Department, Chorro de Agua Fría is a waterfall that drops roughly 14 meters, the highest uninterrupted fall in the country.
In Fray Bentos itself
Miguel Young Theatre, Fray Bentos
The Miguel Young Theatre in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, was built in 1913 to plans by Antonio Llambías de Olivar.
Museo Luis Alberto Solari
Museo Luis Alberto Solari is a fine arts museum in Fray Bentos, capital of Uruguay's Río Negro department, welcoming the general public, students and foreign visitors.
Frigorífico Anglo del Uruguay
Part of a UNESCO World Heritage landscape inscribed in 2015, the old Anglo meatpacking plant stands on the Uruguay River at Fray Bentos, where frozen meat shipments began in 1924.
More drives to Fray Bentos
- Florida, Uruguay to Fray Bentos
- Minas to Fray Bentos
- Rivera to Fray Bentos
- Rocha to Fray Bentos
- Melo to Fray Bentos
- Buenos Aires to Fray Bentos, Uruguay
More drives from Santana do Livramento
- Santana do Livramento to Chuí
- Santana do Livramento to Paysandú, Uruguay
- Santana do Livramento to Durazno, Uruguay
- Santana do Livramento to Minas, Uruguay
- Santana do Livramento to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay
- Santana do Livramento to Rocha, Uruguay
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santana do Livramento to Fray Bentos, Uruguay?
About 6 h 20 min of driving without stops, over 268 miles.
How far is Fray Bentos, Uruguay from Santana do Livramento by car?
About 268 miles (432 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 Santana do Livramento to Fray Bentos drive cross the border?
At about mile 1, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Santana do Livramento 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 Santana do Livramento to Fray Bentos 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.
What are good stops between Santana do Livramento and Fray Bentos?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Tacuarembó (cathedral, mile 70, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo de Geociencias (museum, mile 70, 0.7 mi from the route); Chorro de Agua Fría (waterfall, mile 96, 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.