By road, Barbacena and Itabira are about 171 miles (276 km) apart, or roughly 4 h 50 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 171 mi (276 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → MGC-356 → BR-381 → MG-434 → MG-129 → AMG-1210 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 6.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Barbacena to Itabira is like
BR-040 (98 mi) and BR-381 (36 mi) carry about 78% of the 171 miles. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Barbacena to Itabira
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 2–100 | 98 | Minas Gerais |
| MGC-356 | 100–105 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 105–111 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 111–112 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 112–148 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 148–149 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-434 | 149–160 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 160–163 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1210 | 163–170 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 170–171 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
Where to stop on the way to Itabira
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Piemonte Tower (mile 101), Abílio Barreto History Museum (mile 105), Marília Theatre (mile 107), Museu do Telefone (mile 109)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Rola-Moça State Park (mile 95)
- Museums and history: Museu da Imagem e Memória (mile 58), Abílio Barreto History Museum (mile 105), Museu do Telefone (mile 109)
Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, this hilltop sanctuary in Congonhas is famous for Aleijadinho's 12 soapstone prophets on the front terraces and six chapels holding 64 life-size cedar figures of the Passion.
Museu da Imagem e Memória
Housed in the two-story Casarão dos Fonseca, the Museu da Imagem e Memória in Congonhas shows photographs, documents and old objects that tell the history of the town and its people.
Serra do Rola-Moça State Park
On the edge of metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park protects rugged ridges of the Espinhaço range where cerrado savanna meets Atlantic Forest.
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.
Abílio Barreto History Museum
In the Cidade Jardim neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, the Abílio Barreto History Museum occupies an old farmhouse that survived the building of the state capital.
Marília Theatre
The Marília Theatre (Teatro Marília) is a theater in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte.
Museu do Telefone
The Museu do Telefone is a museum in the Mangabeiras neighborhood of Belo Horizonte.
In Itabira itself
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Itabira
Known locally as Itabira Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in the municipality of Itabira, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Itabira
- Sete Lagoas to Itabira
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Itabira
- Juiz de Fora to Itabira
- Araxá to Itabira
- Petrópolis to Itabira
- Teresópolis to Itabira
From Barbacena to other places in Brazil
- Barbacena to Passos
- Barbacena to Araguari
- Barbacena to Catalão
- Barbacena to Ourinhos
- Barbacena to Ituiutaba
- Barbacena to Catanduva
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Barbacena to Itabira?
About 4 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 171 miles.
What is the driving distance from Barbacena to Itabira?
About 171 miles (276 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 Barbacena to Itabira drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Barbacena to Itabira?
In order: BR-040, MGC-356, BR-381, MG-434, MG-129 and AMG-1210. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Barbacena to Itabira?
Closest to the road: Piemonte Tower (observation tower, mile 101, 0.3 mi from the route); Abílio Barreto History Museum (museum, mile 105, 1 mi from the route); Marília Theatre (theater, mile 107, 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.