The Wayro route from Tubarão to Río Branco, Uruguay is 436 miles (702 km), about 9 h 43 min of driving without stops. You cross from Brazil into Uruguay at about mile 436.
- 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: “If you are in an accident involving injury, stay in place until a police officer arrives.”
| Total distance | 436 mi (702 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 43 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-290 → BR-116 |
| Border crossing | about mile 436, Brazil → Uruguay |
| Regions on the route | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The border on the way to Río Branco
The route crosses at about mile 436, from Rio Grande do Sul into Cerro Largo. 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 Tubarão to Río Branco is like
BR-116 (178 mi) and BR-101 (133 mi) carry about 71% of the 436 miles. The first 436 miles are in Brazil; the last 0 are in Uruguay. It runs through 3 regions: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Cerro Largo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Tubarão and Río Branco
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Santa Catarina |
| BR-101 | 1–134 | 133 | Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 134–137 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-290 | 137–195 | 58 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 195–290 | 95 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 290–350 | 60 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 350–433 | 83 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 433–436 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
- Mile 81 of this route: Santa Catarina → Rio Grande do Sul (region line)
- Mile 436 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Cerro Largo (international border)
Stops between Tubarão and Río Branco
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Morro de Osório Protected Area (mile 138), Museu Municipal Agostinho Martha (mile 182), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 291)
- Nature and outdoors: Guarita State Park (mile 85), Praia da Guarita (mile 85), Jacuí Delta State Park (mile 203)
- Museums and history: Museu Municipal Agostinho Martha (mile 182), Museu da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (mile 197), Farol Santander Porto Alegre (mile 198), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 210), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 291)
Guarita State Park
Officially Parque Estadual José Lutzenberger, Guarita State Park in Rio Grande do Sul protects a promontory on the South Atlantic Ocean.
Praia da Guarita
Guarita Beach in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, is a public beach resort along the city's coast.
Morro de Osório Protected Area
Created in 1994, the Morro de Osório Environmental Protection Area is a municipal conservation unit of Osório, Rio Grande do Sul, originally covering about 6,896 acres.
Museu Municipal Agostinho Martha
At Rua Nossa Senhora dos Anjos 547 in central Gravataí, the Agostinho Martha Municipal Museum covers local history and art; it was created in 1974 and organized in 1981.
Museu da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
The Museu da UFRGS is an interdisciplinary university museum in Porto Alegre covering science, technology, history, society, art, and culture, with activities for the general public.
Farol Santander Porto Alegre
Formerly Santander Cultural, Farol Santander Porto Alegre is a cultural center run by Banco Santander in a historic building on Alfândega Square.
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.
More drives to Río Branco
- Rivera to Río Branco
- Montevideo to Río Branco
- Salto to Río Branco
- Paysandú to Río Branco
- Mercedes, Uruguay to Río Branco
- Fray Bentos to Río Branco
More drives from Tubarão
- Tubarão to Itanhaém
- Tubarão to Ourinhos
- Tubarão to Paranapiacaba
- Tubarão to Campo Mourão
- Tubarão to Santana do Livramento
- Tubarão to Jaguarão
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Tubarão to Río Branco, Uruguay?
About 9 h 43 min of driving without stops, over 436 miles.
What is the driving distance from Tubarão to Río Branco, Uruguay?
About 436 miles (702 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 Tubarão to Río Branco drive cross the border?
At about mile 436, from Brazil into Uruguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Tubarão 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 Tubarão to Río Branco, 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.
Which highways go from Tubarão to Río Branco?
In order: BR-101, BR-290 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Tubarão to Río Branco?
Closest to the road: Morro de Osório Protected Area (environmental protection area, mile 138, 0.9 mi from the route); Museu Municipal Agostinho Martha (museum, mile 182, 0.6 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 291, 0.5 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.