The Wayro route from Cabo Frio to Guaratinguetá is 249 miles (401 km), about 5 h 27 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance | 249 mi (401 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 5 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-140 → RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.0 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Cabo Frio–Guaratinguetá drive in a few lines
BR-116 (144 mi) and BR-101 (46 mi) carry about 76% of the 249 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Cabo Frio to Guaratinguetá: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-140 | 2–9 | 7 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 9–12 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-124 | 12–47 | 35 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 47–93 | 46 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 93–102 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 102–104 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 104–248 | 144 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| local roads | 248–249 | 1 | São Paulo |
- Mile 208 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Stops between Cabo Frio and Guaratinguetá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Geodiversidade (mile 96), Itatiaia National Park (mile 198)
- Nature and outdoors: Araruama Lagoon (mile 18), Praia do Buraco (mile 79), Itatiaia National Park (mile 198)
- Museums and history: Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 85), Naval Museum (mile 88), Museus Castro Maya (mile 92), Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 93), Museu da Geodiversidade (mile 96)
Araruama Lagoon
In Rio de Janeiro state's Região dos Lagos, Araruama Lagoon is a permanent hypersaline lagoon covering 220 km², about 40 km long and 13 km wide.
Praia do Buraco
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.
Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
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.
Naval Museum
Dedicated to preserving Brazil's naval history, the Naval Museum (Museu Naval) is in the center of Rio de Janeiro.
Convento do Carmo
Convento do Carmo in Rio de Janeiro stands near Praça XV in the city center; the present convent is on Rua Morais e Vale.
Museus Castro Maya
The Museus Castro Maya are two federal public museums in Rio de Janeiro: Museu do Açude beside the Tijuca Forest and Museu da Chácara do Céu in Santa Teresa, both showing the art collection of Raymundo Ottoni de Castro Maya.
Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
The Museu Penitenciário do Estado do Rio de Janeiro covers the history of the state's prisons and displays contraband seized in prison units, from cell phones to tools used in escape attempts.
Museu da Geodiversidade
Created in December 2008, the Museu da Geodiversidade is dedicated to the history of planet Earth and the life that has developed on it.
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.
In Guaratinguetá itself
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
Guaratinguetá's history museum honors Francisco de Paula Rodrigues Alves, Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906, who lived in the town. São Paulo state created it in 1956 along with museums for other presidents born in the state.
Museu Frei Galvão
The Museu Frei Galvão is a municipal cultural institution in Guaratinguetá, in São Paulo state, maintained jointly by the city government and a local association of the museum's friends.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Within the Aparecida basilica complex, the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida) gathers objects from the region, including archaeological pieces and sacred items. It opened in 1956.
More drives to Guaratinguetá
- Jacareí to Guaratinguetá
- São Paulo to Guaratinguetá
- Jundiaí to Guaratinguetá
- Sorocaba to Guaratinguetá
- Itu to Guaratinguetá
- Limeira to Guaratinguetá
From Cabo Frio to other places in Brazil
- Cabo Frio to Nova Friburgo
- Cabo Frio to Teresópolis
- Cabo Frio to Itaguaí
- Cabo Frio to Barra Mansa
- Cabo Frio to Angra dos Reis
- Cabo Frio to Resende
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cabo Frio to Guaratinguetá?
About 5 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 249 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cabo Frio to Guaratinguetá?
About 249 miles (401 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 Cabo Frio to Guaratinguetá drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cabo Frio to Guaratinguetá?
In order: RJ-140, RJ-124, BR-101, BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cabo Frio and Guaratinguetá?
Closest to the road: Museu de História e Artes do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (history museum, mile 85, 2 mi from the route); Museu da Geodiversidade (museum, mile 96, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 198, 0.2 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.