The Wayro route from Cabo Frio to Resende is 191 miles (308 km), about 4 h 23 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 191 mi (308 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 4 h 23 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 7.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Cabo Frio–Resende drive in a few lines
BR-116 (86 mi) and BR-101 (46 mi) carry about 69% of the 191 miles. None of the 8 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cabo Frio to Resende
| 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 | 104–190 | 86 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 190–191 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
Stops between Cabo Frio and Resende
- Nature and outdoors: Costa do Sol State Park (mile 12), Araruama Lagoon (mile 18), Praia do Buraco (mile 79)
- Museums and history: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (mile 85), Palácio do Ingá (mile 85), Civil Police Museum (mile 92), Museum Dom João VI (mile 96)
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.
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.
Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói
Built in a late colonial style, the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Niterói Cathedral) is the Catholic cathedral of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro state.
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.
Teatro Glauce Rocha
Teatro Glauce Rocha is a theater in Campo Grande named for actress Glauce Rocha, a Campo Grande native who became a legend of Brazilian acting.
Civil Police Museum
Through permanent and temporary exhibitions, the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Museum shows documents and objects tracing the work of the Civil Police in the city since colonial times.
Museum Dom João VI
Museu Dom João VI is an art and history museum linked to the School of Fine Arts at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, on Ilha do Fundão.
More drives to Resende
- Niterói to Resende
- São José dos Campos to Resende
- Jacareí to Resende
- Mogi das Cruzes to Resende
- São Paulo to Resende
- Jundiaí to Resende
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 Penedo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cabo Frio to Resende?
About 4 h 23 min of driving without stops, over 191 miles.
How far is Resende from Cabo Frio by car?
About 191 miles (308 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 Resende?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Cabo Frio to Resende use?
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 Resende?
Closest to the road: Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Niterói (cathedral, mile 85, 1 mi from the route); Palácio do Ingá (museum, mile 85, 2 mi from the route); Museum Dom João VI (museum, mile 96, 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.