Cabo Frio to Pindamonhangaba is about 269 road miles (433 km): roughly 5 h 53 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance by road | 269 mi (433 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 5 h 53 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 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Cabo Frio to Pindamonhangaba: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (161 mi) and BR-101 (46 mi) carry about 77% of the 269 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Cabo Frio to Pindamonhangaba: 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 | 104–265 | 161 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| local roads | 265–269 | 4 | São Paulo |
- Mile 208 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cabo Frio and Pindamonhangaba
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Baths of King João VI at Caju (mile 91), Museu da Maré (mile 95), Itatiaia National Park (mile 198), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 252)
- Nature and outdoors: Araruama Lagoon (mile 18), Tijuca National Park (mile 93), Itatiaia National Park (mile 198)
- Museums and history: Palácio do Ingá (mile 85), Museu de Arte do Rio (mile 89), Baths of King João VI at Caju (mile 91), Museu da Maré (mile 95), Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida (mile 252)
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.
Pedra de Itapuca
Between Icaraí and Flechas beaches in Niterói, Pedra de Itapuca is a rock formation considered one of the symbols of the city.
Palácio do Ingá
In Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, the Palácio do Ingá (Palácio Nilo Peçanha) houses the Museu de História e Arte do Rio de Janeiro.
Museu de Arte do Rio
Opened on March 1, 2013, Museu de Arte do Rio is an art museum maintained through a partnership of municipal institutions and private initiatives.
Baths of King João VI at Caju
Also known as the Museu da Limpeza Urbana, the Baths of King João VI (Casa de Banho de Dom João VI) is a museum on Praia do Caju in Rio de Janeiro's Caju neighborhood.
Tijuca National Park
Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
Museu da Maré
Recording the history of the Maré communities in Rio de Janeiro, Museu da Maré centers on a permanent exhibition and also runs oral history research, storytelling and traveling exhibitions.
Itatiaia National Park
Straddling the line between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, Itatiaia National Park dates to 1937, when it became the first national park Brazil ever created.
Basilica of Our Lady of Aparecida
In 1717, fishermen on the Paraíba do Sul River pulled up an image of Our Lady Aparecida. Today it rests in Brazil's National Shrine in Aparecida, a basilica consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1980.
In Pindamonhangaba itself
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Dom Pedro I e Dona Leopoldina
Founded in 1957, the Museu Histórico Pedagógico Dom Pedro I e Dona Leopoldina is a history museum in the town of Pindamonhangaba.
Palacete Tiradentes
Palacete Tiradentes is a building located in the city of Pindamonhangaba, in São Paulo state, Brazil.
More drives to Pindamonhangaba
- São José dos Campos to Pindamonhangaba
- Jacareí to Pindamonhangaba
- Mogi das Cruzes to Pindamonhangaba
- São Paulo to Pindamonhangaba
- Bragança Paulista to Pindamonhangaba
- Jundiaí to Pindamonhangaba
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 Pindamonhangaba?
About 5 h 53 min of driving without stops, over 269 miles.
How far is Pindamonhangaba from Cabo Frio by car?
About 269 miles (433 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.
Is it safe to drive from Cabo Frio to Pindamonhangaba?
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 Pindamonhangaba?
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 Pindamonhangaba?
Closest to the road: Baths of King João VI at Caju (museum, mile 91, 0.2 mi from the route); Museu da Maré (museum, mile 95, 0.4 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.