Plan on about 6 h 13 min of driving for the 295-mile (474 km) trip from Aracaju to Petrolina, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance by road | 295 mi (474 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 13 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-235 |
| States on the route | Sergipe, Bahia, Pernambuco |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Aracaju–Petrolina drive in a few lines
BR-235 (285 mi) carries about 97% of the 295 miles. It runs through 3 states: Sergipe, Bahia, Pernambuco. Of the 4 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Aracaju to Petrolina, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Sergipe |
| BR-235 | 6–291 | 285 | Sergipe, Bahia |
| local roads | 291–295 | 4 | Bahia, Pernambuco |
- Mile 76 of this route: Sergipe → Bahia (state line)
- Mile 294 of this route: Bahia → Pernambuco (state line)
Stops between Aracaju and Petrolina
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Serra de Itabaiana National Park (mile 24), Canudos State Park (mile 183)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra de Itabaiana National Park (mile 24), Parque dos Falcões (mile 27), Canudos State Park (mile 183)
- Museums and history: Grotto of Pedra Furada (mile 10), Canudos State Park (mile 183)
Grotto of Pedra Furada
About 5 km from the center of Laranjeiras, Sergipe, the Grotto of Pedra Furada is a limestone cave in the Machado district, one of 16 caves in the municipality.
Serra de Itabaiana National Park
Serra de Itabaiana National Park is a national park in the Brazilian state of Sergipe.
Parque dos Falcões
In Itabaiana, Sergipe, Parque dos Falcões is a center for breeding and preserving birds of prey, the only site in Brazil with Ibama authorization to breed them.
Canudos State Park
Canudos State Park in Bahia protects the ground of the War of Canudos, where peasants of mixed ancestry were massacred by Republican soldiers in 1896–97.
Once you reach Petrolina
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Petrolina
In the center of Petrolina, Pernambuco, the Sacred Heart Cathedral is the city's Catholic cathedral, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Christ the King.
Museu do Sertão
The Museu do Sertão is a museum in the city of Petrolina, in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco.
Fundação Museu Regional Do São Francisco
In Juazeiro, Bahia, the Museu Regional do São Francisco is recognized as cultural heritage tied to the history of the São Francisco River valley and the town itself.
More drives to Petrolina
From Aracaju to other places in Brazil
- Aracaju to Praia do Forte
- Aracaju to Santo Antônio de Jesus
- Aracaju to Morro de São Paulo
- Aracaju to Jequié
- Aracaju to Itabuna
- Aracaju to Ilhéus
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Aracaju to Petrolina?
About 6 h 13 min of driving without stops, over 295 miles.
How far is Petrolina from Aracaju by car?
About 295 miles (474 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Aracaju to Petrolina drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between Aracaju and Petrolina?
Closest to the road: Serra de Itabaiana National Park (national park, mile 24, 0.7 mi from the route); Parque dos Falcões (park, mile 27, 1 mi from the route); Canudos State Park (archaeological site, mile 183, 0.4 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.