Caraguatatuba to Barbacena is about 337 road miles (543 km): roughly 7 h 57 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: “Flooding makes some roads through the Amazon impassable for much of the year.”
| Distance | 337 mi (543 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 57 min |
| Main roads, in order | SPI-065/099 → SP-070 → SP-060 → RJ-159 → RJ-143 → BR-494 → Ramal de Jacutinga → MG-353 → BR-040 |
| States on the route | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Caraguatatuba to Barbacena drive plays out
SP-060 (99 mi) and BR-040 (57 mi) carry about 46% of the 337 miles. It runs through 3 states: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais. Of the 7 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Caraguatatuba to Barbacena
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–5 | 5 | São Paulo |
| SPI-065/099 | 5–50 | 45 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 50–68 | 18 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 68–71 | 3 | São Paulo |
| SP-060 | 71–170 | 99 | São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-159 | 170–174 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 174–175 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-143 | 175–188 | 13 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-494 | 188–219 | 31 | Rio de Janeiro |
| Ramal de Jacutinga | 219–227 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 227–229 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| MG-353 | 229–272 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 272–273 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 273–307 | 34 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 307–311 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-040 | 311–334 | 23 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 334–337 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 144 of this route: São Paulo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 234 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
Places worth a stop between Caraguatatuba and Barbacena
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 100), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 104), Itatiaia National Park (mile 153), Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga (mile 216)
- Nature and outdoors: Itatiaia National Park (mile 153)
- Museums and history: Museu Monteiro Lobato (mile 75), Museu Mazzaropi (mile 76), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 100), Museu Histórico Pedagógico Conselheiro Rodrigues Alves (mile 104), Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga (mile 216), Fazenda São Paulo (mile 216)
Museu Monteiro Lobato
Taubaté's tribute to children's author Monteiro Lobato dates to 1958. The museum occupies the grounds known as the Sítio do Picapau Amarelo, with a historic main house and exhibitions.
Museu Mazzaropi
On the grounds of comedian and filmmaker Amácio Mazzaropi's former studio in Taubaté, this museum displays more than 20,000 items, including photos, furniture, props and equipment his PAM Filmes used from 1950 to 1980.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Within the Aparecida basilica complex, the Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida) gathers objects from the region, including archaeological pieces and sacred items. It opened in 1956.
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.
Itatiaia National Park
Created in 1937, Parque Nacional do Itatiaia holds the distinction of being Brazil's first national park. It sits on the border of two states, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.
Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga
Listed as a tourist attraction, Santa Clara Farm (Fazenda Santa Clara) lies in the municipality of Santa Rita de Jacutinga in Minas Gerais.
Fazenda São Paulo
Fazenda São Paulo, in the Conservatória district of Valença, is an example of Rio de Janeiro state rural architecture tied to the 19th-century coffee boom. The state heritage institute INEPAC has protected the whole complex since 2008.
In Barbacena itself
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.
More drives to Barbacena
- Rio de Janeiro to Barbacena
- Niterói to Barbacena
- Pouso Alegre to Barbacena
- Araruama to Barbacena
- Cabo Frio to Barbacena
- Poços de Caldas to Barbacena
From Caraguatatuba to other places in Brazil
- Caraguatatuba to Tatuí
- Caraguatatuba to Jaú
- Caraguatatuba to Araxá
- Caraguatatuba to Ituiutaba
- Caraguatatuba to Itumbiara
- Caraguatatuba to Penedo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Caraguatatuba to Barbacena?
About 7 h 57 min of driving without stops, over 337 miles.
What is the driving distance from Caraguatatuba to Barbacena?
About 337 miles (543 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 Caraguatatuba to Barbacena 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 Caraguatatuba to Barbacena use?
In order: SPI-065/099, SP-070, SP-060, RJ-159, RJ-143, BR-494, Ramal de Jacutinga, MG-353 and BR-040. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Caraguatatuba and Barbacena?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 100, 0.4 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 153, 0.4 mi from the route); Santa Clara Farm, Santa Rita do Jacutinga (historic site, mile 216, 0.4 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.