By road, Cabo Frio and Nova Friburgo are about 87 miles (140 km) apart, or roughly 2 h 53 min of driving.
- 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 | 87 mi (140 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 2 h 53 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-140 → RJ-124 → BR-101 → RJ-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 3.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Cabo Frio–Nova Friburgo drive in a few lines
RJ-140 (20 mi) and RJ-124 (10 mi) carry about 34% of the 87 miles. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Cabo Frio to Nova Friburgo
| 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 | 12–22 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 22–26 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 26–29 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-140 | 29–42 | 13 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 42–52 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 52–53 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 53–80 | 27 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-116 | 80–86 | 6 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 86–87 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cabo Frio and Nova Friburgo
Costa do Sol State Park
Scattered along the coast of Rio de Janeiro state, Costa do Sol State Park protects fragments of Atlantic Forest coastal habitat under pressure from urban growth.
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.
Coqueiral
Coqueiral is a beach in Araruama, Rio de Janeiro state, in a neighborhood of the same name along the Amaral Peixoto highway.
Três Picos State Park
Três Picos State Park protects a large mountainous area of Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro state.
More drives to Nova Friburgo
- Niterói to Nova Friburgo
- Petrópolis to Nova Friburgo
- Jacareí to Nova Friburgo
- São Paulo to Nova Friburgo
- Jundiaí to Nova Friburgo
- Santos to Nova Friburgo
From Cabo Frio to other places in Brazil
- Cabo Frio to Teresópolis
- Cabo Frio to Itaguaí
- Cabo Frio to Barra Mansa
- Cabo Frio to Angra dos Reis
- Cabo Frio to Resende
- Cabo Frio to Penedo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cabo Frio to Nova Friburgo?
About 2 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 87 miles.
How far is Nova Friburgo from Cabo Frio by car?
About 87 miles (140 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 Nova Friburgo 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 Nova Friburgo?
In order: RJ-140, RJ-124, BR-101 and RJ-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cabo Frio to Nova Friburgo?
Closest to the road: Costa do Sol State Park (state park, mile 12, 7 mi from the route); Araruama Lagoon (hypersaline lagoon, mile 18, 4 mi from the route); Coqueiral (beach, mile 22, 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.