Plan on about 4 h 8 min of driving for the 177-mile (285 km) trip from Araruama to Fumaça, 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 | 177 mi (285 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 8 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → RJ-159 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Araruama to Fumaça drive plays out
BR-116 (77 mi) and BR-101 (46 mi) carry about 69% of the 177 miles. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Araruama to Fumaça: the road sequence
| 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 | 81–158 | 77 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-159 | 158–177 | 19 | Rio de Janeiro |
Places worth a stop between Araruama and Fumaça
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 62), Parque Shanghai (mile 75)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 33), Praia do Buraco (mile 56), Parque Shanghai (mile 75)
- Museums and history: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 62), Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 66), Naval Museum (mile 66), Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (mile 70), Museus Castro Maya (mile 70)
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.
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.
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói
Built in a late colonial style, the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Niterói Cathedral) is the Catholic cathedral of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro state.
Pedra de Itapuca
Between Icaraí and Flechas beaches in Niterói, Pedra de Itapuca is a rock formation considered one of the symbols of the city.
Old Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro
Dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Rio's Old Cathedral is a Carmelite church that served as cathedral from around 1808 to 1976 and as Royal and then Imperial Chapel.
Naval Museum
Dedicated to preserving Brazil's naval history, the Naval Museum (Museu Naval) is in the center of Rio de Janeiro.
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos
Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos is a Catholic basilica and sanctuary on Rua Haddock Lobo, in the Tijuca neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro.
Museus Castro Maya
The Museus Castro Maya are two federal public museums in Rio de Janeiro: Museu do Açude beside the Tijuca Forest and Museu da Chácara do Céu in Santa Teresa, both showing the art collection of Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya.
Parque Shanghai
Parque Shanghai is an amusement park in the Penha neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, close to the Church of Our Lady of Penha.
When you get to Fumaça
Cachoeira da Fumaça e Jacuba Natural Park
Cachoeira da Fumaça e Jacuba Natural Park is a municipal nature park in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.
More drives to Fumaça
- Niterói to Fumaça
- São José dos Campos to Fumaça
- Jacareí to Fumaça
- Mogi das Cruzes to Fumaça
- Caraguatatuba to Fumaça
- São Paulo to Fumaça
From Araruama to other places in Brazil
- Araruama to Itaguaí
- Araruama to Resende
- Araruama to Penedo
- Araruama to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Araruama to Guaratinguetá
- Araruama to Trindade
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Araruama to Fumaça?
About 4 h 8 min of driving without stops, over 177 miles.
What is the driving distance from Araruama to Fumaça?
About 177 miles (285 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 Fumaça?
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 Fumaça use?
In order: RJ-124, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116 and RJ-159. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Araruama and Fumaça?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (cathedral, mile 62, 1 mi from the route); Parque Shanghai (park, mile 75, 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.