Plan on about 11 h 2 min of driving for the 487-mile (783 km) trip from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Pouso Alegre, before any 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 | 487 mi (783 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 2 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-482 → BR-101 → CA-M-197 → RJ-238 → RJ-180 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-048 → BR-459 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Pouso Alegre
RJ-180 (152 mi) and BR-116 (135 mi) carry about 59% of the 487 miles. It runs through 4 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Pouso Alegre
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-482 | 1–7 | 6 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 7–72 | 65 | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 72–73 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 73–78 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| CA-M-197 | 78–81 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-238 | 81–85 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-180 | 85–237 | 152 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 237–247 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 247–255 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 255–258 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 258–393 | 135 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-048 | 393–408 | 15 | São Paulo |
| BR-459 | 408–485 | 77 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 485–487 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 35 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 362 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 414 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Pouso Alegre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museum of Life (mile 249), Itatiaia National Park (mile 352)
- Nature and outdoors: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 21), Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (mile 210), Itatiaia National Park (mile 352)
- Museums and history: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 21), Janete Costa Museum (mile 239), Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição (mile 244), Museum of Life (mile 249)
- With kids: Museum of Life (mile 249)
Serra das Torres Natural Monument
Covering about 10,459 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Atílio Vivácqua, Mimoso do Sul and Muqui, the Serra das Torres Natural Monument was created in 2010 to protect the peaks of a mountain range in southern Espírito Santo.
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.
Janete Costa Museum
The Janete Costa Museum of Popular Art occupies an 1892 mansion in Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, with about 1,400 square meters including its annex.
Pedra do Índio
On Icaraí beach in Niterói, Pedra do Índio is a rock formation used by local anglers and beachgoers, with views over Guanabara Bay.
Theatro Municipal
Built in the early 20th century, the Theatro Municipal is an opera house in Rio de Janeiro's Centro district, regarded as one of Brazil's notable theaters.
Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição
Fortaleza de Nossa Senhora da Conceição is a fort located in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Museum of Life
The Museum of Life is located at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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.
When you get to Pouso Alegre
Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre
Good Jesus Cathedral is the Catholic seat of the Archdiocese of Pouso Alegre, in the city of the same name in Minas Gerais.
More drives to Pouso Alegre
- São José dos Campos to Pouso Alegre
- São Paulo to Pouso Alegre
- Itu to Pouso Alegre
- Santos to Pouso Alegre
- São Vicente to Pouso Alegre
- Sorocaba to Pouso Alegre
From Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to other places in Brazil
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Rio das Ostras
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Teresópolis
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Barra do Piraí
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Itaguaí
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Barra Mansa
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Pouso Alegre?
About 11 h 2 min of driving without stops, over 487 miles.
How far is Pouso Alegre from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim by car?
About 487 miles (783 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 Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Pouso Alegre drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Pouso Alegre?
In order: BR-482, BR-101, CA-M-197, RJ-238, RJ-180, BR-040, BR-116, SP-048 and BR-459. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Pouso Alegre?
Closest to the road: Serra do Barbosão Municipal Nature Park (protected area, mile 210, 1 mi from the route); Museum of Life (science museum, mile 249, 0.2 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 352, 0.3 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.