The Wayro route from Campos dos Goytacazes to Poços de Caldas is 472 miles (759 km), about 10 h 44 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: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Total distance | 472 mi (759 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 44 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-180 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SP-048 → BR-459 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
How the Campos dos Goytacazes to Poços de Caldas drive plays out
RJ-180 (158 mi) and BR-116 (136 mi) carry about 62% of the 472 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Campos dos Goytacazes to Poços de Caldas
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-180 | 2–160 | 158 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 160–169 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 169–178 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 178–180 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 180–316 | 136 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| SP-048 | 316–331 | 15 | São Paulo |
| BR-459 | 331–467 | 136 | São Paulo, Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 467–472 | 5 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 285 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
- Mile 337 of this route: São Paulo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Stops between Campos dos Goytacazes and Poços de Caldas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 275)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Buraco (mile 155), Itatiaia National Park (mile 275)
- Museums and history: Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá (mile 162), Paço Imperial (mile 165), Museu da Chácara do Céu (mile 168), Museum Dom João VI (mile 172), Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (mile 408)
- With kids: AquaRio (mile 168)
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.
Pedra de Itapuca
Between Icaraí and Flechas beaches in Niterói, Pedra de Itapuca is a rock formation considered one of the symbols of the city.
Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá
Forte de São Domingos de Gragoatá is a fort in the city of Niterói, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Paço Imperial
Built in the 18th century as a residence for the governors of colonial Brazil, the Paço Imperial is a historic building in the center of Rio de Janeiro.
AquaRio
AquaRio, the Marine Aquarium of Rio de Janeiro, is a public aquarium in the Gamboa neighborhood of the city's port zone, with about 26,000 square meters of built area.
Museu da Chácara do Céu
In Rio de Janeiro's Santa Teresa neighborhood, Museu da Chácara do Céu is an art museum that, together with Museu do Açude, makes up the Castro Maya Museums.
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.
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.
Once you reach Poços de Caldas
Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health
Built in 1937 on the site of the original parish church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health (Basílica de Nossa Senhora da Saúde) is a Catholic church in Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais.
More drives to Poços de Caldas
- Limeira to Poços de Caldas
- Campinas to Poços de Caldas
- São Carlos to Poços de Caldas
- Jundiaí to Poços de Caldas
- Araraquara to Poços de Caldas
- Bragança Paulista to Poços de Caldas
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 Poços de Caldas?
About 10 h 44 min of driving without stops, over 472 miles.
How far is Poços de Caldas from Campos dos Goytacazes by car?
About 472 miles (759 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 Poços de Caldas 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 Poços de Caldas?
In order: RJ-180, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SP-048 and BR-459. 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 Poços de Caldas?
Closest to the road: Museum Dom João VI (museum, mile 172, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 275, 0.4 mi from the route); Good Jesus Cathedral, Pouso Alegre (cathedral, mile 408, 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.