Araruama to Araxá is about 539 road miles (867 km): roughly 13 h 17 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 539 mi (867 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 13 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-493 → BR-116 → BR-040 → BR-265 → BR-494 → MG-260 → MG-164 → MG-050 → BR-354 → BR-262 → BR-146 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Araruama–Araxá drive in a few lines
BR-040 (144 mi) and BR-494 (77 mi) carry about 41% of the 539 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Araruama to Araxá, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–6 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-124 | 6–24 | 18 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 24–44 | 20 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 44–46 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 46–50 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 50–55 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 55–58 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-493 | 58–63 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 63–75 | 12 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 75–76 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 76–194 | 118 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 194–198 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 198–224 | 26 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 224–258 | 34 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 258–262 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 262–339 | 77 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 339–341 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 341–350 | 9 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-260 | 350–355 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 355–357 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-164 | 357–370 | 13 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 370–391 | 21 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 391–392 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-354 | 392–465 | 73 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 465–534 | 69 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-146 | 534–538 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 538–539 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 144 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Araruama and Araxá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Loucura (mile 227)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 33), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 110)
- Museums and history: Cathedral of Petrópolis (mile 97), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 110), Museu da Loucura (mile 227), Museu de Sant'Ana (mile 256), Museu de Arte Sacra (mile 261)
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.
Cathedral of Petrópolis
Dedicated to the city's patron, Saint Peter of Alcantara, the Cathedral of Petrópolis is the final resting place of Dom Pedro II, Brazil's last emperor, and his family.
Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument
The Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument is a municipal natural monument, a protected area in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
Museu de Sant'Ana
Founded in 2014 by the Instituto Cultural Flávio Gutierrez, this Tiradentes art museum specializes in images of Saint Anne, with a collection of 291 statues.
Museu de Arte Sacra
Inside São João del-Rei's former jail, the Museu de Arte Sacra holds about 450 religious objects, including liturgical vestments and sacred images, from local confraternities and orders.
More drives to Araxá
- Ribeirão Preto to Araxá
- Bauru to Araxá
- Limeira to Araxá
- Mogi Guaçu to Araxá
- Bragança Paulista to Araxá
- São Paulo to Araxá
From Araruama to other places in Brazil
- Araruama to Itaguaí
- Araruama to Resende
- Araruama to Penedo
- Araruama to Fumaça
- Araruama to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Araruama to Guaratinguetá
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Araruama to Araxá?
About 13 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 539 miles.
What is the driving distance from Araruama to Araxá?
About 539 miles (867 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.
Is it safe to drive from Araruama to Araxá?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Araruama to Araxá?
In order: RJ-124, BR-101, BR-493, BR-116, BR-040, BR-265, BR-494, MG-260, MG-164, MG-050, BR-354, BR-262 and BR-146. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Araruama to Araxá?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Museu da Loucura (museum, mile 227, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu de Arte Sacra (museum, mile 261, 1 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.