Traffic in Montevideo

Montevideo's transportation landscape in 2024 is dominated by buses and cars, with a significant portion of the population relying on these modes for their daily commutes.

Despite a relatively low percentage of bicycle and walking commutes, the city faces challenges with CO2 emissions and traffic inefficiencies.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 5.68 minutes of waiting, 11.66 minutes of driving, and 18.08 minutes on a bus, covering a distance of 13.34 km.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 11.55 minutes waiting and 36.79 minutes on the bus, traveling approximately 13.81 km.
  • Car - Car users experience a driving time of 30.09 minutes, with minimal walking, covering a distance of 14.53 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes involve 22.86 minutes of walking and a short driving time of 3.71 minutes, over a distance of 9.1 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Bus
46%
Car
35%
Walking
11%
Home
6%
Bicycle
2%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 63 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
8.3 miles
Walking
5.3 mins
Waiting
5.7 mins
Driving Car
11.7 mins
Bus / Trolley
18.1 mins
Bicycle
0.2 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Total:
40.9 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
8.6 miles
Walking
4.6 mins
Waiting
11.6 mins
Bus / Trolley
36.8 mins
Total:
52.9 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
9.0 miles
Walking
0.9 mins
Driving Car
30.1 mins
Total:
31.0 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
5.7 miles
Walking
22.9 mins
Driving Car
3.7 mins
Bicycle
0.4 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Total:
27.0 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the summer months as tourists visit the city, leading to longer commute times.

Winter months see a slight decrease in traffic congestion, offering smoother commutes.

Commuter Pain Points

Long waiting times for buses and traffic congestion during peak hours are common complaints among commuters.

Limited cycling infrastructure discourages the use of bicycles as a viable commuting option.

Best Travel Times

Traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM can help avoid the worst of the traffic congestion.

Midday travel is generally smoother, especially for those using public transport.

Event Impacts

Public events such as football matches and cultural festivals can cause significant traffic disruptions.

Planning alternative routes during major events can help avoid delays.

Sustainability Efforts

Montevideo is investing in electric buses and expanding its cycling lanes to promote sustainable transport.

Public awareness campaigns are being conducted to encourage carpooling and the use of public transport.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have helped reduce the number of cars on the road, contributing to less congestion.

However, increased ride-sharing can sometimes lead to higher demand for curb space, affecting traffic flow.

Worldwide
Uruguay

Traffic Rankings

Montevideo ranks 1st on the Traffic rankings in Uruguay.
The Traffic Index for Uruguay combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in Uruguay, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025