Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras Road Trip: Stops & Drive Time

By admin, 13 October, 2026

Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras is about 178 road miles (287 km): roughly 4 h 14 min at the wheel if you don't stop.

U.S. State Department travel advisory: Brazil — Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution
  • 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.”
Catedral de Santo Antônio de JacutingaTijuca National ParkRio de Janeiro Zoological GardenPresbyterian Cathedral of Rio de JaneiroMuseu de Arte do RioPedra de ItapucaMuseu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de JaneiroPraia do BuracoSerra do Barbosão Municipal Nature ParkBarra MansaRio das Ostras
Route from Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras with the 9 stops listed below (blue dots).
Distance178 mi (287 km)
Drive time without stops4 h 14 min
Main roads, in orderBR-116 → BR-101 → RJ-162
States on the routeRio de Janeiro
Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg)about 7.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic
Stops listed below9

On the road from Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras

BR-101 (99 mi) and BR-116 (67 mi) carry about 93% of the 178 miles. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.

Road-by-road breakdown: Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras

RoadRoute miles (from–to)Length, miState
local roads0–22Rio de Janeiro
BR-1162–6967Rio de Janeiro
BR-10169–16899Rio de Janeiro
RJ-162168–1768Rio de Janeiro
local roads176–1782Rio de Janeiro

Breaking up the drive: stops between Barra Mansa and Rio das Ostras

  • Right off the route (under 1 mile): Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 59)
  • Nature and outdoors: Tijuca National Park (mile 77), Praia do Buraco (mile 92), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 115)
  • Museums and history: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 59), Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro (mile 81), Museu de Arte do Rio (mile 81), Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 86)
  • With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 77)

Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga

Mile 59 · Cathedral · 0.9 mi from the route

Also known as Nova Iguaçu Cathedral, the Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga stands on Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto and is the mother church of the Diocese of Nova Iguaçu.

Tijuca National Park

Mile 77 · National park · 5 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.

Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden

Mile 77 · Zoo · 1 mi from the route

Located in the São Cristóvão district, the Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden runs environmental and educational activities built around its animal collection of mainly fish, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Presbyterian Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro

Mile 81 · Cathedral · 3 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Rio de Janeiro's Presbyterian Cathedral is the historic congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and was the first Presbyterian church in the country.

Museu de Arte do Rio

Mile 81 · Museum · 2 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

Opened on March 1, 2013, Museu de Arte do Rio is an art museum maintained through a partnership of municipal institutions and private initiatives.

Pedra de Itapuca

Mile 86 · Rock formation · 2 mi from the route

Between Icaraí and Flechas beaches in Niterói, Pedra de Itapuca is a rock formation considered one of the symbols of the city.

Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Mile 86 · History museum · 2 mi from the route

Also called Museu do Ingá, this history and art museum occupies the Palácio Nilo Peçanha on Rua Presidente Pedreira in Niterói's Ingá area and is linked to the state arts foundation.

Praia do Buraco

Mile 92 · Beach · 4 mi from the route · side trip; actual detour depends on access roads

About four kilometers from Praia Central in Balneário Camboriú, Praia do Buraco borders Praia do Canto; strong waves make it unsafe for swimming, so it draws mostly fishermen and photographers.

Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park

Mile 115 · Protected area · 1 mi from the route

Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park is a protected area in Rio de Janeiro state, set aside by the municipality to safeguard a stretch of Atlantic Forest.

When you get to Rio das Ostras

Iriry Lagoon

Lake · in Rio das Ostras

Also nicknamed Coca-Cola Lagoon, Iriry Lagoon in Rio das Ostras is ringed by a protected area with trails, kiosks, beaches, leisure spots and a lookout.

More drives to Rio das Ostras

From Barra Mansa to other places in Brazil

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras?

About 4 h 14 min of driving without stops, over 178 miles.

What is the driving distance from Barra Mansa to Rio das Ostras?

About 178 miles (287 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 Rio das Ostras 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 Rio das Ostras?

In order: BR-116, BR-101 and RJ-162. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.

What are good stops between Barra Mansa and Rio das Ostras?

Closest to the road: Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (cathedral, mile 59, 0.9 mi from the route); Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (zoo, mile 77, 1 mi from the route); Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 115, 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.