The Wayro route from Cabo Frio to Penedo is 197 miles (317 km), about 4 h 33 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance by road | 197 mi (317 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 33 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-140 → RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Cabo Frio to Penedo is like
BR-116 (89 mi) and BR-101 (46 mi) carry about 69% of the 197 miles. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from Cabo Frio to Penedo
| 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 | 104–193 | 89 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 193–197 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cabo Frio and Penedo
- Nature and outdoors: Costa do Sol State Park (mile 12), Araruama Lagoon (mile 18), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 56)
- Museums and history: Museu Antônio Parreiras (mile 85), Espaço Cultural da Marinha (mile 89), Museu Judaico do Rio de Janeiro (mile 89), Museu Militar Conde de Linhares (mile 93)
- With kids: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (mile 93)
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.
Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park
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.
Museu Antônio Parreiras
In Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, on Rua Tiradentes, the Museu Antônio Parreiras is devoted to preserving the memory and work of Brazilian painter Antônio Parreiras.
Espaço Cultural da Marinha
Overseen by the Brazilian Navy, the Espaço Cultural da Marinha is a cultural center on Rio de Janeiro's Orla Conde, between Largo da Candelária and Praça XV, with about 1,100 square meters of exhibits.
Museu Judaico do Rio de Janeiro
Founded in 1977 with the donation of a menorah, the Museu Judaico do Rio de Janeiro keeps permanent exhibits on the city's Jewish community and on Jewish religious, cultural and historical traditions.
Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden
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.
Museu Militar Conde de Linhares
In Rio de Janeiro's São Cristóvão neighborhood, the Museu Militar Conde de Linhares covers military history and is named for the nobleman who accompanied the Portuguese court's move to Brazil.
In Penedo itself
Rio Pombo Nature Park
Formerly the Serrinha do Alambari Municipal Park, Rio Pombo Nature Park is a municipal nature park in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
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.
More drives to Penedo
- Pindamonhangaba to Penedo
- Taubaté to Penedo
- São José dos Campos to Penedo
- Jacareí to Penedo
- Mogi das Cruzes to Penedo
- Caraguatatuba to Penedo
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 Penedo?
About 4 h 33 min of driving without stops, over 197 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cabo Frio to Penedo?
About 197 miles (317 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 Penedo 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 Penedo?
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.
Where can you stop on the way from Cabo Frio to Penedo?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 56, 1 mi from the route); Museu Militar Conde de Linhares (museum, mile 93, 1 mi from the route); Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (zoo, mile 93, 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.