Plan on about 4 h 5 min of driving for the 181-mile (291 km) trip from Barra Mansa to Caraguatatuba, 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 181 mi (291 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-099 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
Driving Barra Mansa to Caraguatatuba: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (110 mi) and SP-099 (44 mi) carry about 85% of the 181 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Barra Mansa and Caraguatatuba
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 2–112 | 110 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 112–134 | 22 | São Paulo |
| SP-099 | 134–178 | 44 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 178–181 | 3 | São Paulo |
- Mile 40 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Barra Mansa and Caraguatatuba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 30), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 80), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 83), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 83)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 30)
- Museums and history: Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 80), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 83), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 83), Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 107), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 112)
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.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, who lived in Guaratinguetá and served as Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, is honored at the town's history museum.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
Construction of the current basilica at Aparecida started in 1955, and Pope John Paul II consecrated it in 1980. As Brazil's National Shrine, it keeps the image of Our Lady Aparecida found by fishermen in 1717.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Opened in 1956, the Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida sits within the basilica complex in Aparecida. Its collection brings together regional objects, among them archaeological finds and religious items.
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Taubaté's tribute to children's author Monteiro Lobato dates to 1958. The museum occupies the grounds known as the Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, with a historic main house and exhibitions.
Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
Photos, furniture, machinery and a period classroom recall immigrant life at the Italian Immigration Museum, housed in the brick Casa Indiani in Quiririm, a district of Taubaté.
Arriving in Caraguatatuba
Prainha (Caraguatatuba)
Prainha is a beach in Caraguatatuba between Martim de Sá and Pedra da Freira; a trail along the hillside leads to the Pedra do Jacaré rock.
Martim de Sá Beach
About 2.5 km from downtown Caraguatatuba, Martim de Sá Beach sits between Prainha to the south and Praia Brava to the north.
Brava Beach (Caraguatatuba)
Close to Martim de Sá in Caraguatatuba, Praia Brava sees few visitors because of its isolated access, and nudism is permitted on the beach.
More drives to Caraguatatuba
- Pindamonhangaba to Caraguatatuba
- Guarujá to Caraguatatuba
- São Paulo to Caraguatatuba
- Jundiaí to Caraguatatuba
- Sorocaba to Caraguatatuba
- Itu to Caraguatatuba
From Barra Mansa to other places in Brazil
- Barra Mansa to Trindade
- Barra Mansa to Paranapiacaba
- Barra Mansa to Itu
- Barra Mansa to Itanhaém
- Barra Mansa to Mogi Guaçu
- Barra Mansa to Tatuí
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Barra Mansa to Caraguatatuba?
About 4 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 181 miles.
What is the driving distance from Barra Mansa to Caraguatatuba?
About 181 miles (291 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 Barra Mansa to Caraguatatuba drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Barra Mansa to Caraguatatuba?
In order: BR-116, SPI 117/070 and SP-099. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Barra Mansa and Caraguatatuba?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 30, 0.2 mi from the route); Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (basilica, mile 83, 0.4 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 83, 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.