Campos dos Goytacazes to Praia Grande is about 480 road miles (772 km): roughly 10 h 17 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 480 mi (772 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 17 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-180 → BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-070 → SP-021 → SP-160 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Campos dos Goytacazes to Praia Grande: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (176 mi) and RJ-180 (158 mi) carry about 70% of the 480 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Campos dos Goytacazes and Praia Grande
| 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 | 180–356 | 176 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 356–357 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 357–399 | 42 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 399–415 | 16 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 415–416 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 416–448 | 32 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 448–450 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 450–477 | 27 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 477–480 | 3 | São Paulo |
- Mile 285 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Praia Grande
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itatiaia National Park (mile 275), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 324)
- Nature and outdoors: Praia do Buraco (mile 155), Tijuca National Park (mile 170), Itatiaia National Park (mile 275), Serra do Mar State Park (mile 461)
- Museums and history: Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (mile 165), Museu da Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (mile 168), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 324), Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 389)
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.
Museu Nacional de Belas Artes
Rio de Janeiro's Museu Nacional de Belas Artes is a national art museum created in 1937 at the initiative of education minister Gustavo Capanema and opened in 1938.
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.
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.
Tijuca National Park
Covering mountains inside the city of Rio de Janeiro, Tijuca National Park is an urban national park within the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
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.
Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves
In 1956, São Paulo state created a set of museums for presidents born in the state, among them this one in Guaratinguetá dedicated to Rodrigues Alves, Brazil's president from 1902 to 1906.
Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley
An 1857 mansion in Jacareí is home to the Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley, where collections range from paintings and religious and popular art to archaeological pottery and stone tools.
Serra do Mar State Park
Covering 778,381 acres of the Serra do Mar mountain range in São Paulo state, this state park protects a vast expanse of continuous Atlantic Forest.
Once you reach Praia Grande
Praia do Canto do Forte (Praia Grande)
At the eastern end of the Praia Grande shoreline in São Paulo state, Praia do Forte sits beside the Fortaleza de Itaipu, the military complex that gives the beach its name.
Xixová-Japuí State Park
On the Atlantic coast of São Paulo state, Xixová-Japuí State Park protects an isolated stretch of well-preserved Atlantic Forest.
Boqueirão Beach
Running 670 meters along the Praia Grande shoreline between Forte and Guilhermina beaches, Praia do Boqueirão has restaurants, kiosks and a tourist information post.
More drives to Praia Grande
- Jundiaí to Praia Grande
- Campinas to Praia Grande
- Piracicaba to Praia Grande
- Ribeirão Preto to Praia Grande
- Bauru to Praia Grande
- Uberlândia to Praia Grande
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 Praia Grande?
About 10 h 17 min of driving without stops, over 480 miles.
How far is Praia Grande from Campos dos Goytacazes by car?
About 480 miles (772 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 Praia Grande drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Campos dos Goytacazes to Praia Grande use?
In order: RJ-180, BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SPI 117/070, SP-070, SP-021 and SP-160. 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 Praia Grande?
Closest to the road: Museu da Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (police museum, mile 168, 2 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 275, 0.4 mi from the route); Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (museum, mile 324, 0.5 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.