The Wayro route from Belo Horizonte to Itaperuna is 226 miles (364 km), about 6 h 42 min of driving without 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 226 mi (364 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 42 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → BR-356 → AMG-1730 → MG-262 → BR-120 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 9.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The Belo Horizonte–Itaperuna drive in a few lines
BR-356 (112 mi) and MG-262 (38 mi) carry about 66% of the 226 miles. It runs through 2 states: Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Belo Horizonte to Itaperuna
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–7 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 7–19 | 12 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 19–58 | 39 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 58–62 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1730 | 62–66 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 66–68 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-262 | 68–106 | 38 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 106–110 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-120 | 110–147 | 37 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 147–188 | 41 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 188–190 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 190–193 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 193–225 | 32 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 225–226 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 206 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
What to see on the way from Belo Horizonte to Itaperuna
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa Guignard museum (mile 62), Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos (mile 68), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 110)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra do Rola-Moça State Park (mile 12), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 140)
- Museums and history: Casa Guignard museum (mile 62), Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos (mile 68), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 110), João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 140)
- With kids: João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 140)
Serra do Rola-Moça State Park
On the edge of metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park protects rugged ridges of the Espinhaço range where cerrado savanna meets Atlantic Forest.
Casa Guignard museum
Officially opened in 1986 in Ouro Preto, the Museu Casa Guignard holds works by painter and draftsman Alberto da Veiga Guignard, who featured the town in many of them.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos
Built between 1752 and 1758, Mariana's Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos has a ceiling painting attributed to the artist Manoel da Costa Ataíde.
Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge
Opened in 1911 to serve the Leopoldina Railway, the Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge is a metal bridge over the Piranga River in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais.
João Moojen Zoology Museum
Part of the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas Gerais, the João Moojen Zoology Museum is a public natural history museum tied to the Department of Animal Biology.
More drives to Itaperuna
- Rio de Janeiro to Itaperuna
- Niterói to Itaperuna
- Barra Mansa to Itaperuna
- Itaguaí to Itaperuna
- Pindamonhangaba to Itaperuna
- São José dos Campos to Itaperuna
From Belo Horizonte to other places in Brazil
- Belo Horizonte to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Belo Horizonte to Juiz de Fora
- Belo Horizonte to Muriaé
- Belo Horizonte to Passos
- Belo Horizonte to Araxá
- Belo Horizonte to Teresópolis
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Belo Horizonte to Itaperuna?
About 6 h 42 min of driving without stops, over 226 miles.
What is the driving distance from Belo Horizonte to Itaperuna?
About 226 miles (364 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 Belo Horizonte to Itaperuna drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Belo Horizonte to Itaperuna?
In order: BR-040, BR-356, AMG-1730, MG-262 and BR-120. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Belo Horizonte and Itaperuna?
Closest to the road: Casa Guignard museum (museum, mile 62, 0.1 mi from the route); Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos (church, mile 68, 1 mi from the route); Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (historic bridge, mile 110, 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.