Cariacica to Nova Serrana is about 394 road miles (634 km): roughly 10 h 31 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance by road | 394 mi (634 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 10 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-262 → BR-381 |
| States on the route | Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Cariacica to Nova Serrana: the shape of the trip
BR-262 (298 mi) and BR-381 (78 mi) carry about 95% of the 394 miles. It runs through 2 states: Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Cariacica to Nova Serrana: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–14 | 14 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-262 | 14–244 | 230 | Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 244–314 | 70 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 314–321 | 7 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 321–324 | 3 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-381 | 324–332 | 8 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 332–393 | 61 | Minas Gerais |
| local roads | 393–394 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
- Mile 122 of this route: Espírito Santo → Minas Gerais (state line)
Stops between Cariacica and Nova Serrana
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu do Tropeiro (mile 99), Museu de Ciências Morfológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (mile 316)
- Nature and outdoors: Pedra Azul State Park (mile 55), Caparaó National Park (mile 117), Serra do Rola-Moça State Park (mile 324)
- Museums and history: Museu do Tropeiro (mile 99), Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha (mile 316), Museu de Ciências Morfológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (mile 316), Casa de Cacos (mile 328), Francisco Firmo de Mattos Filho Cultural Center (mile 329)
Pedra Azul State Park
Pedra Azul State Park in Espírito Santo was created by a 1991 state law from an earlier reserve and covers about 3,064 acres of protected land.
Museu do Tropeiro
Opened in 2011 in Ibatiba, in the Caparaó region of Espírito Santo, the Museu do Tropeiro displays items tied to the muleteers who opened roads and trade in the area.
Caparaó National Park
Created in 1961, Caparaó National Park protects the Caparaó Mountains on the Minas Gerais–Espírito Santo border, including Pico da Bandeira, one of Brazil's highest peaks.
Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, Pampulha
Designed by Oscar Niemeyer in an organic modern style, the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a chapel in the Pampulha area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.
Museu de Ciências Morfológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
The Museum of Morphological Sciences at the Federal University of Minas Gerais' Institute of Biological Sciences is a science museum focused on people, health and science education for the public.
Serra do Rola-Moça State Park
On the edge of metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Serra do Rola-Moça State Park protects rugged ridges of the Espinhaço range where cerrado savanna meets Atlantic Forest.
Casa de Cacos
Casa de Cacos in Contagem is a museum and an example of fantastic architecture, built and decorated entirely by geologist Carlos Luís de Almeida and considered the only one of its kind in Brazil.
Francisco Firmo de Mattos Filho Cultural Center
The Centro Cultural Francisco Firmo de Mattos Filho is a public museum set in three historic buildings in Contagem, remnants of the town's original Portuguese Crown tax post.
Vale Verde
Vale Verde Parque Ecológico sits in the municipality of Betim, Minas Gerais, on a farm with a still where Cachaça Vale Verde is produced.
More drives to Nova Serrana
- Itabira to Nova Serrana
- Barbacena to Nova Serrana
- Poços de Caldas to Nova Serrana
- Governador Valadares to Nova Serrana
- Resende to Nova Serrana
- Pindamonhangaba to Nova Serrana
From Cariacica to other places in Brazil
- Cariacica to Governador Valadares
- Cariacica to Conselheiro Lafaiete
- Cariacica to Sete Lagoas
- Cariacica to Itaguaí
- Cariacica to Barra Mansa
- Cariacica to Angra dos Reis
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cariacica to Nova Serrana?
About 10 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 394 miles.
How far is Nova Serrana from Cariacica by car?
About 394 miles (634 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 Cariacica to Nova Serrana drive?
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 Nova Serrana?
In order: BR-262 and BR-381. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Cariacica to Nova Serrana?
Closest to the road: Museu do Tropeiro (museum, mile 99, 0.1 mi from the route); Museu de Ciências Morfológicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (museum, mile 316, 1 mi from the route); Vale Verde (distillery, mile 342, 2 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.