Apucarana to Concepción, Paraguay is about 497 road miles (800 km): roughly 11 h 17 min at the wheel if you don't stop. You cross from Brazil into Paraguay at about mile 366.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This drive passes within 100 miles of the border with Paraguay.
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution in Paraguay: Departments of Alto Paraná, Amambay, Canindeyú, Concepcion, and San Pedro.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Brazil, Paraguay. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; Paraguay August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
- Paraguay: “Traffic laws are often not enforced, and other drivers may ignore stop signs, traffic lights, and speed limits.”
| Distance by road | 497 mi (800 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-376 → PR-897 → PR-323 → PR-489 → PR-182 → PR-485 → BR-487 → BR-163 → MS-156 → MS-380 → BR-463 → PY05 |
| Border crossing | about mile 366, Brazil → Paraguay |
| Regions on the route | Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amambay, Concepción |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The border on the way to Concepción
The route crosses at about mile 366, from Mato Grosso do Sul into Amambay. Plan on two checks on each side: immigration for your passport and customs for the car.
| Entering Paraguay (U.S. citizens) | No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Paraguay | You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. |
| 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. |
| The car, entering Paraguay | The State Department notes that Paraguay doesn't require vehicle insurance. |
| 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, Paraguay (updated September 17, 2026); U.S. State Department, Brazil (updated August 06, 2026). Checked October 10, 2026; rules change, so confirm before you go.
The Apucarana–Concepción drive in a few lines
PY05 (131 mi) and PR-323 (96 mi) carry about 46% of the 497 miles. The first 366 miles are in Brazil; the last 131 are in Paraguay. It runs through 4 regions: Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amambay, Concepción. Of the 4 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Apucarana to Concepción
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Paraná |
| BR-376 | 4–23 | 19 | Paraná |
| PR-897 | 23–35 | 12 | Paraná |
| local roads | 35–43 | 8 | Paraná |
| PR-323 | 43–139 | 96 | Paraná |
| connecting roads | 139–140 | 1 | Paraná |
| PR-489 | 140–153 | 13 | Paraná |
| PR-182 | 153–160 | 7 | Paraná |
| PR-485 | 160–165 | 5 | Paraná |
| local roads | 165–178 | 13 | Paraná |
| PR-485 | 178–181 | 3 | Paraná |
| PR-489 | 181–191 | 10 | Paraná |
| BR-487 | 191–225 | 34 | Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-163 | 225–289 | 64 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| connecting roads | 289–291 | 2 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-156 | 291–309 | 18 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| MS-380 | 309–344 | 35 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| BR-463 | 344–364 | 20 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| connecting roads | 364–365 | 1 | Mato Grosso do Sul |
| PY05 | 365–496 | 131 | Mato Grosso do Sul, Amambay, Concepción |
| local roads | 496–497 | 1 | Concepción |
- Mile 195 of this route: Paraná → Mato Grosso do Sul (region line)
- Mile 366 of this route: Mato Grosso do Sul → Amambay (international border)
- Mile 405 of this route: Amambay → Concepción (region line)
What to see on the way from Apucarana to Concepción
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cerro Corá National Park (mile 387)
- Nature and outdoors: Cerro Corá National Park (mile 387)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Maringá (mile 40), Capela Santa Cruz (mile 43), Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Naviraí (mile 239)
Cathedral of Maringá
Rising 124 meters with its cross, Maringá's cone-shaped cathedral was built between 1959 and 1972 in a design inspired by the Sputnik satellite era; an elevator now carries visitors to a lookout near the top.
Capela Santa Cruz
Capela Santa Cruz is a church in Maringá, Paraná, and one of the oldest examples of the city's religious architecture.
Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Naviraí
Seat of the Diocese of Naviraí since 2011, Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Naviraí, Mato Grosso do Sul.
Cerro Corá National Park
In Amambay Department, 45 km from Pedro Juan Caballero and the border with Brazil, Cerro Corá National Park protects about 13,685 acres.
More drives to Concepción
- San Ignacio, Paraguay to Concepción, Paraguay
- Ituzaingó to Concepción, Paraguay
- Campo Grande to Concepción, Paraguay
- Londrina to Concepción, Paraguay
- Guarapuava to Concepción, Paraguay
More drives from Apucarana
- Apucarana to Ourinhos
- Apucarana to Jaú
- Apucarana to Barretos
- Apucarana to Paranapiacaba
- Apucarana to Cubatão
- Apucarana to Passos
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Apucarana to Concepción, Paraguay?
About 11 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 497 miles.
What is the driving distance from Apucarana to Concepción, Paraguay?
About 497 miles (800 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 Apucarana to Concepción drive cross the border?
At about mile 366, from Brazil into Paraguay.
What do U.S. citizens need to drive from Apucarana into Paraguay?
No visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Passport: must be valid for 6 months beyond your arrival date. You need a valid U.S. license and a valid International Driving Permit. (U.S. State Department, updated September 17, 2026.)
Is it safe to drive from Apucarana to Concepción, Paraguay?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution; Paraguay Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Brazil: Within 100 miles (160 km) of Brazil's land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela). Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Apucarana to Concepción use?
In order: BR-376, PR-897, PR-323, PR-489, PR-182, PR-485, BR-487, BR-163, MS-156, MS-380, BR-463 and PY05. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Apucarana and Concepción?
Closest to the road: Cathedral of Maringá (basilica, mile 40, 2 mi from the route); Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral, Naviraí (cathedral, mile 239, 2 mi from the route); Cerro Corá National Park (national park, mile 387, 0.7 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.