By road, Cariacica and Barra Mansa are about 398 miles (641 km) apart, or roughly 9 h 35 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 | 398 mi (641 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 9 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → CA-M-197 → RJ-238 → RJ-180 → BR-040 → BR-116 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
The Cariacica–Barra Mansa drive in a few lines
RJ-180 (152 mi) and BR-101 (145 mi) carry about 75% of the 398 miles. It runs through 2 states: Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro. None of the 7 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Road-by-road breakdown: Cariacica to Barra Mansa
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–11 | 11 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 11–146 | 135 | Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 146–147 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 147–152 | 5 | Rio de Janeiro |
| CA-M-197 | 152–155 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-238 | 155–159 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-180 | 159–311 | 152 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 311–321 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 321–329 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 329–332 | 3 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 332–397 | 65 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 397–398 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
- Mile 109 of this route: Espírito Santo → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Cariacica and Barra Mansa
- Nature and outdoors: Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 25), Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 73), Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 94), Praia do Buraco (mile 306)
- Museums and history: Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 94), Museu Antônio Parreiras (mile 313), Museu da Chácara do Céu (mile 320)
Paulo César Vinha State Park
Along the Atlantic shore in Guarapari, Paulo César Vinha State Park protects dunes, lagoons and marshes. Its trails lead to the beach and to Lagoa de Caraís.
Frade e a Freira Natural Monument
Created by state decree in 2007, the Frade e a Freira Natural Monument is a state-run protected area in Espírito Santo spanning parts of Itapemirim, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Vargem Alta.
Serra das Torres Natural Monument
Covering about 10,459 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Atílio Vivácqua, Mimoso do Sul and Muqui, the Serra das Torres Natural Monument was created in 2010 to protect the peaks of a mountain range in southern Espírito Santo.
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 Antônio Parreiras
In Niterói's Ingá neighborhood, on Rua Tiradentes, the Museu Antônio Parreiras is devoted to preserving the memory and work of Brazilian painter Antônio Parreiras.
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 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.
More drives to Barra Mansa
- Niterói to Barra Mansa
- Jacareí to Barra Mansa
- São Paulo to Barra Mansa
- Bragança Paulista to Barra Mansa
- Jundiaí to Barra Mansa
- Campinas to Barra Mansa
From Cariacica to other places in Brazil
- Cariacica to Governador Valadares
- Cariacica to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Cariacica to Sete Lagoas
- Cariacica to Itaguaí
- Cariacica to Angra dos Reis
- Cariacica to Resende
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cariacica to Barra Mansa?
About 9 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
What is the driving distance from Cariacica to Barra Mansa?
About 398 miles (641 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.
Is it safe to drive from Cariacica to Barra Mansa?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Cariacica to Barra Mansa?
In order: BR-101, CA-M-197, RJ-238, RJ-180, BR-040 and BR-116. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cariacica to Barra Mansa?
Closest to the road: Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (protected area, mile 73, 1 mi from the route); Museu Antônio Parreiras (museum, mile 313, 2 mi from the route); Theatro Municipal (theater, mile 316, 3 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.