The Wayro route from Araruama to Varginha is 307 miles (494 km), about 7 h 53 min of driving without 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Total distance | 307 mi (494 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 7 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → BR-354 → BR-460 → BR-383 → BR-267 → MG-167 → AMG-1010 → BR-491 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Araruama to Varginha drive plays out
BR-116 (102 mi) and BR-101 (46 mi) carry about 48% of the 307 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Araruama to Varginha
| 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 | 81–183 | 102 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-354 | 183–223 | 40 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 223–227 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-460 | 227–231 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 231–235 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-383 | 235–247 | 12 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-267 | 247–276 | 29 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-167 | 276–287 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1010 | 287–293 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 293–303 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 303–307 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 200 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
What to see on the way from Araruama to Varginha
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 88), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 33), Tijuca National Park (mile 70), Itatiaia National Park (mile 175), Nova Baden State Park (mile 272)
- Museums and history: Palácio do Ingá (mile 62), Igreja de São Sebastião dos Capuchinhos (mile 70), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 88)
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.
Palácio do Ingá
In Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, the Palácio do Ingá (Palácio Nilo Peçanha) houses the Museu de História e Arte do Rio de Janeiro.
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.
Tijuca National Park
Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
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.
Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga
Also known as Nova Iguaçu Cathedral, the Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga stands on Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto and is the mother church of the Diocese of Nova Iguaçu.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Nova Baden State Park
Nova Baden State Park in Minas Gerais protects rugged, forested terrain that is home to several rare or endangered mammal species.
In Varginha itself
Museu Municipal de Varginha
Varginha's municipal museum occupies a building put up in 1920 as the local Banco do Brasil office, in what was then the town's commercial heart.
More drives to Varginha
- Belo Horizonte to Varginha
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Varginha
- Ribeirão Preto to Varginha
- Sete Lagoas to Varginha
- Mogi das Cruzes to Varginha
- Araraquara to Varginha
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 Varginha?
About 7 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 307 miles.
How far is Varginha from Araruama by car?
About 307 miles (494 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 Varginha?
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 Varginha?
In order: RJ-124, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, BR-354, BR-460, BR-383, BR-267, MG-167, AMG-1010 and BR-491. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Araruama to Varginha?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 88, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 175, 0.2 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.