Plan on about 11 h 10 min of driving for the 553-mile (890 km) trip from Araruama to Catanduva, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 553 mi (890 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 11 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-065 → SP-330 → SP-310 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 22.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
Driving Araruama to Catanduva: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (209 mi) and SP-310 (143 mi) carry about 64% of the 553 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Araruama to Catanduva
| 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 | 24–70 | 46 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 70–79 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 79–81 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 81–290 | 209 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-065 | 290–377 | 87 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 377–378 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-330 | 378–408 | 30 | São Paulo |
| SP-310 | 408–551 | 143 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 551–553 | 2 | São Paulo |
- Mile 185 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
What to see on the way from Araruama to Catanduva
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 175), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 229)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Buraco (mile 56), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 229), Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos (mile 276), Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Campinas-José Pancetti (mile 367), St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral, São Carlos (mile 459)
Praia do Buraco
About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.
Theatro Municipal
Built in the early 20th century, the Theatro Municipal is an opera house in Rio de Janeiro's Centro district, regarded as one of Brazil's notable theaters.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Archaeological pieces and sacred objects from the region fill the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum, within the Aparecida basilica complex. The museum opened in 1956.
Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos
Set inside São José dos Campos' Parque da Cidade, the Museum of Folklore (Museu do Folclore) has explored Brazilian popular culture since 1997 through exhibitions, a specialized library and a toy library.
Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Campinas-José Pancetti
Campinas's Museum of Contemporary Art (MACC), founded in 1965, sits on Avenida Benjamin Constant downtown, beside the city hall and municipal library. Its collection focuses on postwar Brazilian art, with paintings, sculpture, works on paper and installations.
Planetário de Campinas
Inside Parque Portugal, the Lagoa do Taquaral park in Campinas, this municipal planetarium has projected the night sky onto its 8-meter dome since 1987, with shows on constellations and astronomy.
St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral, São Carlos
St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral is a Catholic church on Dom José Marcondes Homem de Melo Square in the city of São Carlos, São Paulo state.
More drives to Catanduva
- Limeira to Catanduva
- Mogi Guaçu to Catanduva
- Itu to Catanduva
- Poços de Caldas to Catanduva
- Jundiaí to Catanduva
- Sorocaba to Catanduva
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 does it take to drive from Araruama to Catanduva?
About 11 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 553 miles.
How far is Catanduva from Araruama by car?
About 553 miles (890 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 Catanduva drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Araruama to Catanduva use?
In order: RJ-124, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-065, SP-330 and SP-310. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Araruama to Catanduva?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 175, 0.2 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 229, 0.4 mi from the route); St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral, São Carlos (cathedral, mile 459, 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.