Barretos to Barbacena is about 411 road miles (661 km): roughly 9 h 9 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance | 411 mi (661 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 9 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | SP-425 → SP-345 → MG-444 → MG-344 → MG-050 → MG-164 → MG-260 → BR-494 → BR-381 → BR-265 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
How the Barretos to Barbacena drive plays out
MG-050 (129 mi) and SP-345 (92 mi) carry about 54% of the 411 miles. It runs through 2 states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais. None of the 5 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Which roads connect Barretos and Barbacena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-425 | 3–12 | 9 | São Paulo |
| SP-345 | 12–104 | 92 | São Paulo |
| MG-444 | 104–119 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-344 | 119–135 | 16 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-050 | 135–264 | 129 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-164 | 264–278 | 14 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 278–280 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-260 | 280–295 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 295–318 | 23 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 318–333 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-494 | 333–373 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 373–376 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 376–408 | 32 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 408–411 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 104 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Stops between Barretos and Barbacena
- Nature and outdoors: Cachoeira da Capivara (mile 171)
- Museums and history: José Chiachiri Municipal Historical Museum (mile 81), Memorial Tancredo Neves (mile 375), Museu de Sant'Ana (mile 380)
José Chiachiri Municipal Historical Museum
Franca's municipal history museum opened to the public in 1959 and bears the name of its first director, journalist José Chiachiri. Its eclectic collection, donated piece by piece by local residents, ranges from antique furniture to parts of the city's old animal-drawn tram.
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.
Memorial Tancredo Neves
This museum in São João del-Rei, Minas Gerais, covers the life and political career of Tancredo Neves, the former governor and first civilian president elected after military rule, who died before taking office in 1985.
Teatro Municipal
São João del-Rei's municipal theater (Theatro Municipal) was built in 1893 and went through a major renovation between 1922 and 1925.
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.
When you get to Barbacena
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Barbacena
- Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena
- Niterói to Barbacena
- Pouso Alegre to Barbacena
- Araruama to Barbacena
- Cabo Frio to Barbacena
- Poços de Caldas to Barbacena
From Barretos to other places in Brazil
- Barretos to Assis
- Barretos to Ourinhos
- Barretos to Paranapiacaba
- Barretos to Itanhaém
- Barretos to Guaratinguetá
- Barretos to Penedo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Barretos to Barbacena?
About 9 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 411 miles.
How far is Barbacena from Barretos by car?
About 411 miles (661 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 Barretos to Barbacena drive?
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 Barretos to Barbacena use?
In order: SP-425, SP-345, MG-444, MG-344, MG-050, MG-164, MG-260, BR-494, BR-381 and BR-265. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Barretos and Barbacena?
Closest to the road: Cachoeira da Capivara (waterfall, mile 171, 1 mi from the route); Teatro Municipal (theater, mile 375, 1 mi from the route); Memorial Tancredo Neves (museum, mile 375, 2 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.