Araruama to Barbacena is about 224 road miles (361 km): roughly 5 h 18 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 224 mi (361 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-493 → BR-116 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Araruama to Barbacena is like
BR-040 (141 mi) and BR-101 (20 mi) carry about 72% of the 224 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Araruama to Barbacena
| 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 | 198–221 | 23 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 221–224 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 144 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Places worth a stop between Araruama and Barbacena
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 33), Taquara Municipal Nature Park (mile 72), Serra dos Órgãos National Park (mile 104), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 110)
- Museums and history: Valongo Wharf (mile 75), Casa Stefan Zweig (mile 93), Santos Dumont House Museum (mile 93), Cathedral of Petrópolis (mile 97), Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 110)
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.
Taquara Municipal Nature Park
Taquara Municipal Nature Park is a municipal nature park in Rio de Janeiro state that protects an area of Atlantic Forest.
Valongo Wharf
Built in 1811 in Rio's old port, the Valongo Wharf was where up to 900,000 enslaved Africans landed. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2017, its excavated stone paving is left open to view.
Casa Stefan Zweig
Founded in 2006, Casa Stefan Zweig is a writer's house museum in Petrópolis, set in the home where Stefan Zweig lived with his wife.
Santos Dumont House Museum
Known as A Encantada, the Santos Dumont House Museum in Petrópolis is the house built in 1918 for aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont on a steep hillside near the city center.
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.
Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Serra dos Órgãos National Park protects the Serra dos Órgãos range between Petrópolis and Teresópolis, where a roughly 28 km traverse climbs past the Castelos do Açu to Pedra do Sino at 2,263 meters.
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.
Once you reach Barbacena
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.
More drives to Barbacena
- Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena
- Niterói to Barbacena
- Pouso Alegre to Barbacena
- Cabo Frio to Barbacena
- Poços de Caldas to Barbacena
- Macaé to Barbacena
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 Barbacena?
About 5 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 224 miles.
How far is Barbacena from Araruama by car?
About 224 miles (361 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 Araruama to Barbacena drive?
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 Barbacena?
In order: RJ-124, BR-101, BR-493, BR-116 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Araruama and Barbacena?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Taquara Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 72, 2 mi from the route); Casa Stefan Zweig (museum, mile 93, 2 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.