By road, São Leopoldo and Chuy, Uruguay are about 337 miles (543 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 35 min of driving. 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
- Uruguay: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance | 337 mi (543 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → BR-392 → BR-471 |
| Border crossing | about mile 337, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Border crossing: what to bring for Uruguay
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.
The São Leopoldo–Chuy drive in a few lines
BR-471 (137 mi) and BR-116 (111 mi) carry about 74% of the 337 miles. The first 337 miles are in Brazil; the last 0 are in Uruguay. It runs through 2 regions: Rio Grande do Sul, Rocha. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
São Leopoldo to Chuy: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 1–112 | 111 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 112–171 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 171–173 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 173–199 | 26 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-471 | 199–336 | 137 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 336–337 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 337 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rocha (international border)
Stops between São Leopoldo and Chuy
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 12), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 112)
- Nature and outdoors: Jacuí Delta State Park (mile 24)
- Museums and history: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 12), Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo (mile 19), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 32), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 112), Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (mile 178)
Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas
Canoas's history museum and archive keeps photos, newspapers, maps, documents, audiovisual material and objects that tell the story of the city in Rio Grande do Sul.
Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo
The Pinacoteca Barão de Santo Ângelo holds an art collection of about 3,000 items at the Arts Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre.
Jacuí Delta State Park
Created in 1976, Jacuí Delta State Park (Parque Estadual Delta do Jacuí) protects the delta between Porto Alegre, Canoas, Eldorado do Sul and nearby towns, where fishers from Ilha da Pintada still practice traditional fishing.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
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.
Theatro Sete de Abril
Opened in 1834 in Pelotas, Theatro Sete de Abril dates from the charqueada (salted beef) economic cycle, when Pelotas was among Brazil's wealthiest cities.
More drives to Chuy
- Minas to Chuy
- Montevideo to Chuy
- Durazno to Chuy
- Colonia del Sacramento to Chuy
- Carmelo to Chuy
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Chuy
More drives from São Leopoldo
- São Leopoldo to Paranaguá
- São Leopoldo to Jaraguá do Sul
- São Leopoldo to Camboriú
- São Leopoldo to Tubarão
- São Leopoldo to Lages
- São Leopoldo to Bagé
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from São Leopoldo to Chuy, Uruguay?
About 7 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 337 miles.
What is the driving distance from São Leopoldo to Chuy, Uruguay?
About 337 miles (543 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 São Leopoldo to Chuy drive cross the border?
At about mile 337, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from São Leopoldo 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 São Leopoldo to Chuy, 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 São Leopoldo to Chuy use?
In order: BR-116, BR-392 and BR-471. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between São Leopoldo and Chuy?
Closest to the road: Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (museum, mile 12, 0.2 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 112, 0.5 mi from the route); Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (museum, mile 178, 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.