Cabo Frio to Varginha is about 330 road miles (531 km): roughly 8 h 30 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 | 330 mi (531 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 8 h 30 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-140 → RJ-124 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → BR-354 → BR-460 → BR-383 → BR-267 → MG-167 → AMG-1010 → BR-491 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Cabo Frio–Varginha drive in a few lines
BR-116 (101 mi) and BR-101 (46 mi) carry about 45% of the 330 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Cabo Frio to Varginha, road by road
| 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 | 104–205 | 101 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-354 | 205–246 | 41 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 246–250 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-460 | 250–254 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 254–258 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-383 | 258–269 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-267 | 269–299 | 30 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-167 | 299–310 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1010 | 310–316 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-491 | 316–326 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 326–330 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 222 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cabo Frio and Varginha
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 198)
- Nature and outdoors: Costa do Sol State Park (mile 12), Praia do Buraco (mile 79), Itatiaia National Park (mile 198), Nova Baden State Park (mile 295)
- Museums and history: Naval Museum (mile 88), Museu da Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 92), Museum Dom João VI (mile 96)
- 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.
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.
Naval Museum
Dedicated to preserving Brazil's naval history, the Naval Museum (Museu Naval) is in the center of Rio de Janeiro.
Teatro Carlos Gomes
Established in 1868 in the Hotel Richelieu, Teatro Carlos Gomes is a theater in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Museu da Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Museu da Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro is a themed museum that preserves and presents the history of Rio de Janeiro's state military police.
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.
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.
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Nova Baden State Park
Nova Baden State Park in Minas Gerais protects rugged, forested terrain that is home to several rare or endangered mammal species.
When you get to Varginha
Museu Municipal de Varginha
Varginha's municipal museum occupies a building put up in 1920 as the local Banco do Brasil office, in what was then the town's commercial heart.
More drives to Varginha
- Belo Horizonte to Varginha
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Varginha
- Ribeirão Preto to Varginha
- Sete Lagoas to Varginha
- Mogi das Cruzes to Varginha
- Araraquara to Varginha
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 Varginha?
About 8 h 30 min of driving without stops, over 330 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cabo Frio to Varginha?
About 330 miles (531 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 Varginha?
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 Varginha?
In order: RJ-140, RJ-124, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, BR-354, BR-460, BR-383, BR-267, MG-167, AMG-1010 and BR-491. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cabo Frio and Varginha?
Closest to the road: Rio de Janeiro Zoological Garden (zoo, mile 93, 1 mi from the route); Museum Dom João VI (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.