By road, Campos dos Goytacazes and Araxá are about 510 miles (821 km) apart, or roughly 13 h 50 min of driving.
- 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Total distance | 510 mi (821 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 13 h 50 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-356 → BR-120 → MG-262 → AMG-1730 → BR-040 → BR-381 → BR-262 → BR-146 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Campos dos Goytacazes–Araxá drive in a few lines
BR-262 (205 mi) and BR-356 (183 mi) carry about 76% of the 510 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Campos dos Goytacazes to Araxá: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-356 | 2–145 | 143 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| BR-120 | 145–181 | 36 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 181–185 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-262 | 185–223 | 38 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 223–226 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| AMG-1730 | 226–231 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 231–233 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 233–273 | 40 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 273–288 | 15 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 288–292 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 292–300 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 300–505 | 205 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-146 | 505–510 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 86 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Araxá
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Mariana (mile 224), Museu da Música da Arquidiocese de Mariana (mile 224), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (mile 231)
- Nature and outdoors: João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 153), Serra do Rola-Moça State Park (mile 280)
- Museums and history: João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 153), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Mariana (mile 224), Museu da Música da Arquidiocese de Mariana (mile 224), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (mile 231), Pampulha Art Museum (mile 290), Catedral Diocesana Nossa Senhora da Luz (mile 410)
- With kids: João Moojen Zoology Museum (mile 153)
João Moojen Zoology Museum
Part of the Federal University of Viçosa in Minas Gerais, the João Moojen Zoology Museum is a public natural history museum tied to the Department of Animal Biology.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Mariana
Often called the Sé of Mariana, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption is a Catholic cathedral in Mariana, Minas Gerais, and the seat of the Archdiocese of Mariana.
Museu da Música da Arquidiocese de Mariana
Founded in 1973 by Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira, the Museu da Música da Arquidiocese de Mariana keeps historic musical instruments and music collections, mostly from the Archdiocese of Mariana.
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi
Work on this Rococo Catholic church in Ouro Preto began in 1766 to a design by architect and sculptor Antônio Francisco Lisboa, known as Aleijadinho.
Serra do Rola-Moça State Park
On the edge of metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park protects rugged ridges of the Espinhaço range where cerrado savanna meets Atlantic Forest.
Pampulha Modern Ensemble
Laid out around the artificial Lake Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, the Pampulha Modern Ensemble is an urban project that includes a casino, a ballroom, the Golf Yacht Club and the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Pampulha Art Museum
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer as the Cassino da Pampulha, the Pampulha Art Museum in Belo Horizonte is part of the Pampulha Modern Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2016.
Catedral Diocesana Nossa Senhora da Luz
In the town of Luz, Minas Gerais, the diocesan Cathedral of Our Lady of Light is regarded as the town's leading cultural landmark and was listed as historic heritage in November 2016.
More drives to Araxá
- Ribeirão Preto to Araxá
- Bauru to Araxá
- Limeira to Araxá
- Mogi Guaçu to Araxá
- Bragança Paulista to Araxá
- São Paulo to Araxá
From Campos dos Goytacazes to other places in Brazil
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Itaguaí
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Barra Mansa
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Angra dos Reis
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Resende
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Penedo
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Fumaça
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Campos dos Goytacazes to Araxá?
About 13 h 50 min of driving without stops, over 510 miles.
What is the driving distance from Campos dos Goytacazes to Araxá?
About 510 miles (821 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 Campos dos Goytacazes to Araxá drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Campos dos Goytacazes to Araxá?
In order: BR-356, BR-120, MG-262, AMG-1730, BR-040, BR-381, BR-262 and BR-146. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Campos dos Goytacazes to Araxá?
Closest to the road: Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Mariana (cathedral, mile 224, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu da Música da Arquidiocese de Mariana (museum, mile 224, 0.3 mi from the route); Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (church, mile 231, 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.