Plan on about 4 h 49 min of driving for the 246-mile (396 km) trip from Barra Mansa to Itu, 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 246 mi (396 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 4 h 49 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → SP-060 → SP-015 → SP-280 → SP-075 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Barra Mansa–Itu drive in a few lines
BR-116 (148 mi) and SP-280 (36 mi) carry about 75% of the 246 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Barra Mansa to Itu: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 2–150 | 148 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 150–183 | 33 | São Paulo |
| SP-015 | 183–193 | 10 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 193–198 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SP-280 | 198–234 | 36 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 234–235 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-075 | 235–243 | 8 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 243–246 | 3 | São Paulo |
- Mile 40 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Stops between Barra Mansa and Itu
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 30), Museu Frei Galvão (mile 80), Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 119), Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Guarulhos (mile 178), Museu do Computador (mile 187)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 30)
- Museums and history: Museu Frei Galvão (mile 80), Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas (mile 119), Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos (mile 131), Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Guarulhos (mile 178), Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Carmo (mile 186), Museu do Computador (mile 187), Museum of Art of the Parliament of Itapevi (mile 207)
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Museu Frei Galvão
Guaratinguetá's city government and a local association of museum friends jointly maintain the Museu Frei Galvão, a municipal cultural institution in São Paulo state.
Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas
A rare Tucker Torpedo and a 1973 Ford Maverick are among the vintage vehicles and engines on display at the Museu Paulista de Antiguidades Mecânicas in Caçapava.
Museum of Folklore of São José dos Campos
Set inside São José dos Campos' Parque da Cidade, the Museum of Folklore (Museu do Folclore) has explored Brazilian popular culture since 1997 through exhibitions, a specialized library and a toy library.
Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Guarulhos
Also called Guarulhos Cathedral, this Catholic church was built in 1665 in the center of Guarulhos, São Paulo state.
Municipal Theater of Mooca Arthur Azevedo
Designed by architect Roberto Tibau and opened in 1952, the Arthur Azevedo Theater in São Paulo's Mooca district was listed by the city in 1992 as a significant example of 1950s architecture.
Basílica de Nossa Senhora do Carmo
This Catholic basilica in São Paulo is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and was inaugurated in 1934, giving visitors a church stop in the city.
Museu do Computador
Run by a private nonprofit founded in São Paulo in 1998, Museu do Computador restores and exhibits computers and other objects from the history of computing, holding traveling events and temporary shows.
Museum of Art of the Parliament of Itapevi
Named for Emanuel von Lauenstein Massarani, this contemporary art museum is housed in the Itapevi city council building, in the northeast part of the city.
Once you reach Itu
Igreja do Senhor Bom Jesus
Also known as the Bom Jesus Sanctuary, this church in Itu stands where the small chapel that marked the town's founding was built in 1610 by Domingos Fernandes and his son-in-law Cristóvão Dinis.
Museu Republicano "Convencão de Itú"
Set in a townhouse in Itu where opponents of Brazil's monarchy met in 1873, the Republican Museum focuses on the period of the Old Republic.
FAMA Museu
Formerly the Museu São Pedro, FAMA Museu is a private museum open to the public in central Itu that holds the art collection of artist and collector Marcos Amaro.
More drives to Itu
- Araraquara to Itu
- Ribeirão Preto to Itu
- Bragança Paulista to Itu
- São Paulo to Itu
- São Vicente to Itu
- Santos to Itu
From Barra Mansa to other places in Brazil
- Barra Mansa to Trindade
- Barra Mansa to Caraguatatuba
- Barra Mansa to Paranapiacaba
- Barra Mansa to Itanhaém
- Barra Mansa to Mogi Guaçu
- Barra Mansa to Tatuí
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Barra Mansa to Itu?
About 4 h 49 min of driving without stops, over 246 miles.
How far is Itu from Barra Mansa by car?
About 246 miles (396 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 Barra Mansa to Itu?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Barra Mansa to Itu use?
In order: BR-116, SP-060, SP-015, SP-280 and SP-075. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Barra Mansa and Itu?
Closest to the road: Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 30, 0.2 mi from the route); Museu Frei Galvão (museum, mile 80, 0.4 mi from the route); Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral, Guarulhos (cathedral, mile 178, 0.5 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.