São Leopoldo to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay is about 365 road miles (587 km): roughly 8 h 16 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: “Several of the main highways are particularly accident-ridden.”
| Distance by road | 365 mi (587 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 8 h 16 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 14.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Crossing from Brazil into 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.
How the São Leopoldo to Punta del Diablo drive plays out
BR-471 (138 mi) and BR-116 (111 mi) carry about 68% 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 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
São Leopoldo to Punta del Diablo: 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 | 199–337 | 138 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 337–365 | 28 | Rocha |
- Mile 337 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Rocha (international border)
Breaking up the drive: stops between São Leopoldo and Punta del Diablo
- 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), Godoy House (mile 19), Otávio Rocha Viaduct (mile 19), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 32), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 112), Catedral São Francisco de Paula (mile 178), Museu da Baronesa (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.
Godoy House
On Independência Avenue in Porto Alegre, the Godoy House is an Art Nouveau building from 1907, one of the few in that style left in the city.
Otávio Rocha Viaduct
In Porto Alegre's city center, the Otávio Rocha Viaduct is an engineering landmark spanning the intersection of Duque de Caxias Street and Borges de Medeiros Avenue.
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.
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 da Baronesa
Opened in 1982 and run by the Pelotas city culture department, Museu da Baronesa occupies a building listed as municipal heritage in 1985.
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.
Arriving in 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 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 is the drive from São Leopoldo to Punta del Diablo, Uruguay?
About 8 h 16 min of driving without stops, over 365 miles.
How far is Punta del Diablo, Uruguay from São Leopoldo 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 São Leopoldo 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 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.)
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the São Leopoldo 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.
What roads does the drive from São Leopoldo to Punta del Diablo use?
In order: BR-116, BR-392 and BR-471. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from São Leopoldo to Punta del Diablo?
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); 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.