By road, Barbacena and Passos are about 267 miles (429 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 17 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.”
| Total distance | 267 mi (429 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-265 → BR-494 → MG-260 → MG-164 → MG-050 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Barbacena–Passos drive in a few lines
MG-050 (117 mi) and BR-494 (78 mi) carry about 73% of the 267 miles. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Barbacena and Passos
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 2–34 | 32 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 34–38 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 38–116 | 78 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 116–126 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-260 | 126–131 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 131–132 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-164 | 132–146 | 14 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 146–147 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 147–264 | 117 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 264–267 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
Places worth a stop between Barbacena and Passos
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 240)
- Museums and history: Museu de Sant'Ana (mile 32), Museu de Arte Sacra (mile 37)
Museu de Sant'Ana
Founded in 2014 by the Instituto Cultural Flávio Gutierrez, this Tiradentes art museum specializes in images of Saint Anne, with a collection of 291 statues.
Historic center of São João del-Rei
São João del-Rei's historic center is the town's preserved colonial core, with churches, chapels, bridges, fountains, townhouses and street layouts dating from its 18th-century mining origins.
Museu de Arte Sacra
Inside São João del-Rei's former jail, the Museu de Arte Sacra holds about 450 religious objects, including liturgical vestments and sacred images, from local confraternities and orders.
Cachoeira da Capivara
In Capitólio, the Ribeirão da Capivara spills over this waterfall on its way into Furnas Lake. A trail of about 900 meters leads to the falls, which drop into a pool roughly 16 meters deep.
More drives to Passos
- Uberaba to Passos
- Mogi Guaçu to Passos
- Limeira to Passos
- Campinas to Passos
- Piracicaba to Passos
- Jundiaí to Passos
From Barbacena to other places in Brazil
- Barbacena to Araguari
- Barbacena to Catalão
- Barbacena to Ourinhos
- Barbacena to Ituiutaba
- Barbacena to Itabira
- Barbacena to Catanduva
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Barbacena to Passos?
About 6 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 267 miles.
What is the driving distance from Barbacena to Passos?
About 267 miles (429 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 Passos 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 Passos?
In order: BR-265, BR-494, MG-260, MG-164 and MG-050. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Barbacena to Passos?
Closest to the road: Historic center of São João del-Rei (old town, mile 37, 1 mi from the route); Museu de Arte Sacra (museum, mile 37, 1 mi from the route); Cachoeira da Capivara (waterfall, mile 240, 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.