By road, Araxá and Itaperuna are about 445 miles (716 km) apart, or roughly 11 h 57 min of driving.
- 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 | 445 mi (716 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-146 → BR-262 → BR-381 → BR-040 → BR-356 → AMG-1730 → MG-262 → BR-120 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 17.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Araxá–Itaperuna drive in a few lines
BR-262 (205 mi) and BR-356 (112 mi) carry about 71% of the 445 miles. It runs through 2 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Araxá to Itaperuna
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-146 | 1–5 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 5–210 | 205 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 210–218 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 218–221 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 221–237 | 16 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 237–277 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 277–280 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1730 | 280–285 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 285–287 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-262 | 287–325 | 38 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 325–329 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-120 | 329–365 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 365–366 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 366–406 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 406–408 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 408–411 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 411–443 | 32 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 443–445 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 424 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Stops between Araxá and Itaperuna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Teatro Municipal (mile 280), Palácio dos Governadores (mile 280), Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (mile 286), Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana (mile 286), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 329)
- Nature and outdoors: João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 357)
- Museums and history: Catedral Diocesana Nossa Senhora da Luz (mile 101), Casa de Cacos (mile 214), Palácio dos Governadores (mile 280), Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (mile 286), Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana (mile 286), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 329), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 357)
- With kids: João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 357)
Catedral Diocesana Nossa Senhora da Luz
In the town of Luz, Minas Gerais, the diocesan Cathedral of Our Lady of Light is regarded as the town's leading cultural landmark and was listed as historic heritage in November 2016.
Casa de Cacos
Casa de Cacos in Contagem is a museum and an example of fantastic architecture, built and decorated entirely by geologist Carlos Luís de Almeida and considered the only one of its kind in Brazil.
Piemonte Tower
Rising 101 meters on a mountain ridge between the Serra do Curral and Serra do Rola-Moça, Piemonte Tower (Torre Piemonte) is a tourist structure at the Alta Vila shopping center on the Nova Lima–Belo Horizonte line.
Teatro Municipal
Built in 1769-1770 by João de Souza Lisboa in the Baroque style, the Teatro Municipal de Ouro Preto is a theater in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais.
Palácio dos Governadores
The Palácio dos Governadores stands on Praça Tiradentes in the historic center of Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais.
Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos
In the municipality of Mariana in Minas Gerais, the Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos is a Baroque Catholic church.
Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana
Housed in the Casa Capitular, a Rococo building from the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana opened in 1962 under Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira.
Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge
Opened in 1911 to serve the Leopoldina Railway, the Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge is a metal bridge over the Piranga River in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais.
João Moojen Zoology Museum
Part of the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas Gerais, the João Moojen Zoology Museum is a public natural history museum tied to the Department of Animal Biology.
More drives to Itaperuna
- Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna
- Niterói to Itaperuna
- Barra Mansa to Itaperuna
- Itaguaí to Itaperuna
- Pindamonhangaba to Itaperuna
- São José dos Campos to Itaperuna
From Araxá to other places in Brazil
- Araxá to Paranapiacaba
- Araxá to Itanhaém
- Araxá to Penedo
- Araxá to Barra do Piraí
- Araxá to Historic Village of Mambucaba
- Araxá to Trindade
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Araxá to Itaperuna?
About 11 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 445 miles.
How far is Itaperuna from Araxá by car?
About 445 miles (716 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 Araxá to Itaperuna?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Araxá to Itaperuna?
In order: BR-146, BR-262, BR-381, BR-040, BR-356, AMG-1730, MG-262 and BR-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Araxá to Itaperuna?
Closest to the road: Palácio dos Governadores (museum, mile 280, 0.1 mi from the route); Teatro Municipal (theater, mile 280, 0.2 mi from the route); Igreja de São Pedro dos Clérigos (church, mile 286, 0.4 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.