By road, Campos dos Goytacazes and Lavras are about 303 miles (487 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 21 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 303 mi (487 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 21 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-158 → RJ-116 → RJ-200 → MG-285 → CGS-280 → CGS-030 → BR-120 → BR-265 → MG-448 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The Campos dos Goytacazes–Lavras drive in a few lines
BR-265 (118 mi) and RJ-158 (58 mi) carry about 58% of the 303 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 5 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Campos dos Goytacazes to Lavras
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-158 | 2–60 | 58 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-116 | 60–85 | 25 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 85–86 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-200 | 86–90 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| MG-285 | 90–106 | 16 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 106–112 | 6 | Minas Gerais |
| CGS-280 | 112–117 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
| CGS-030 | 117–124 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 124–125 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-285 | 125–128 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-120 | 128–153 | 25 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 153–155 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 155–181 | 26 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-448 | 181–199 | 18 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 199–209 | 10 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-265 | 209–301 | 92 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 301–303 | 2 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 92 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Stops between Campos dos Goytacazes and Lavras
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Solar do Barão de Vila Flor (mile 32), Museu da Loucura (mile 213)
- Museums and history: Solar do Barão de Vila Flor (mile 32), Museu da Loucura (mile 213), Casa do Padre Toledo (mile 241), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei (mile 246), Museu Regional de São João del-Rei (mile 246)
Solar do Barão de Vila Flor
Built in 1847, the Solar do Barão de Vila Flor is a historic mansion facing Praça Guilherme Tito de Azevedo in São Fidélis, in inland Rio de Janeiro state.
Museu da Loucura
Housed in the restored 1922 Torreão of the former Hospital Colônia de Barbacena, the Museu da Loucura opened in 1996 and uses objects, equipment, photos and documents to tell the history of psychiatric care in Minas Gerais.
Casa do Padre Toledo
In Tiradentes, Minas Gerais, this 18th-century mansion was the home of Father Carlos Correia de Toledo e Melo.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, São João del Rei
Also called the São João del Rei Cathedral, this Catholic shrine is a protected heritage site known for colonial-era art, with gold decoration, paintings and statues inside.
Museu Regional de São João del-Rei
Museu Regional de São João del-Rei is a history and art museum in the town of São João del-Rei, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais.
In Lavras itself
Museu Bi Moreira
On the historic campus of the Federal University of Lavras, Museu Bi Moreira holds around five thousand historical, ethnographic, archaeological and science-and-technology artifacts tied to the history of Lavras and the university.
More drives to Lavras
- Barbacena to Lavras
- Juiz de Fora to Lavras
- Barra Mansa to Lavras
- Teresópolis to Lavras
- Itu to Lavras
- Rio de Janeiro to Lavras
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 does it take to drive from Campos dos Goytacazes to Lavras?
About 9 h 21 min of driving without stops, over 303 miles.
What is the driving distance from Campos dos Goytacazes to Lavras?
About 303 miles (487 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 Lavras 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 Lavras?
In order: RJ-158, RJ-116, RJ-200, MG-285, CGS-280, CGS-030, BR-120, BR-265, MG-448 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Campos dos Goytacazes and Lavras?
Closest to the road: Solar do Barão de Vila Flor (museum, mile 32, 0.7 mi from the route); Museu da Loucura (museum, mile 213, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu Regional de São João del-Rei (history museum, mile 246, 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.