Plan on about 10 h 6 min of driving for the 498-mile (801 km) trip from Araruama to Jaú, 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 | 498 mi (801 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 6 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-065 → SP-330 → SP-310 → SP-225 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Araruama to Jaú
BR-116 (209 mi) and SP-065 (87 mi) carry about 59% of the 498 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Araruama to Jaú: 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 | 81–290 | 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 | 408–442 | 34 | São Paulo |
| SP-225 | 442–493 | 51 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 493–498 | 5 | São Paulo |
- Mile 185 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Jaú
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 175)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 33), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175), Itapetinga State Park (mile 322)
- Museums and history: Civil Police Museum (mile 69), Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (mile 70), Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos (mile 276), Museu Exploratório de Ciências da Unicamp (mile 372), Museu Histórico e Pedagógico Municipal Doutor João da Silva Carrão (mile 392)
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.
Carioca Aqueduct
Better known as Arcos da Lapa, the Carioca Aqueduct in Rio de Janeiro was built in the mid-18th century to carry fresh water from the Carioca River to the city.
Civil Police Museum
Through permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Museum shows documents and objects tracing the work of the Civil Police in the city since colonial times.
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.
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.
Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos
Exhibitions, a specialized library and a toy library make up the Museum of Folklore, which has focused on Brazilian popular culture since 1997 from its home in São José dos Campos' Parque da Cidade.
Itapetinga State Park
Created in 2010, Itapetinga State Park (Parque Estadual de Itapetinga) protects an area of São Paulo state shared by Atibaia, Bom Jesus dos Perdões, Mairiporã and Nazaré Paulista.
Museu Exploratório de Ciências da Unicamp
Run by the State University of Campinas (Unicamp), the Museu Exploratório de Ciências aims to reveal the relationship between humans and nature; its headquarters design came from an international competition held in 2009.
Museu Histórico e Pedagógico Municipal Doutor João da Silva Carrão
Americana's municipal history museum occupies the old headquarters of the Fazenda Salto Grande, near where the Atibaia and Jaguari rivers meet to form the Piracicaba, and is run by the city's culture and tourism department.
When you get to Jaú
Catedral Nossa Senhora do Patrocínio
Jaú's Catedral Nossa Senhora do Patrocínio is the seat of the Diocese of Jaú and the church of a parish created on August 15, 1853.
More drives to Jaú
- Bragança Paulista to Jaú
- São Vicente to Jaú
- Santos to Jaú
- Mogi das Cruzes to Jaú
- Taubaté to Jaú
- Guarujá to Jaú
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 Jaú?
About 10 h 6 min of driving without stops, over 498 miles.
How far is Jaú from Araruama by car?
About 498 miles (801 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 Jaú 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 Jaú?
In order: RJ-124, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-065, SP-330, SP-310 and SP-225. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Araruama and Jaú?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 175, 0.2 mi from the route); Museu Histórico e Pedagógico Municipal Doutor João da Silva Carrão (museum, mile 392, 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.