Plan on about 12 h 5 min of driving for the 510-mile (820 km) trip from Caxias to Canoa Quebrada, before any 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Total distance | 510 mi (820 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 12 h 5 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-316 → BR-226 → BR-343 → BR-222 → BR-020 → CE-040 → BR-304 |
| States on the route | Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
The Caxias–Canoa Quebrada drive in a few lines
BR-222 (256 mi) and BR-343 (102 mi) carry about 70% of the 510 miles. It runs through 3 states: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Caxias to Canoa Quebrada: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Maranhão |
| BR-316 | 2–41 | 39 | Maranhão |
| BR-226 | 41–47 | 6 | Maranhão, Piauí |
| BR-343 | 47–149 | 102 | Piauí |
| BR-222 | 149–405 | 256 | Piauí, Ceará |
| BR-020 | 405–421 | 16 | Ceará |
| CE-040 | 421–499 | 78 | Ceará |
| BR-304 | 499–503 | 4 | Ceará |
| local roads | 503–510 | 7 | Ceará |
- Mile 45 of this route: Maranhão → Piauí (state line)
- Mile 194 of this route: Piauí → Ceará (state line)
Places worth a stop between Caxias and Canoa Quebrada
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Anthony Cathedral, Campo Maior (mile 99)
- Nature and outdoors: Sete Cidades National Park (mile 163), Ubajara National Park (mile 235), Parque Botânico de Caucaia (mile 404), Praia das Fontes (mile 462)
- Museums and history: Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora das Dores (mile 47), St. Anthony Cathedral, Campo Maior (mile 99), Museu Madi (mile 273)
Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora das Dores
Locally called the Igreja das Dores, the Catedral Metropolitana Nossa Senhora das Dores is Teresina's Catholic cathedral and the seat of the Archdiocese of Teresina in Piauí.
St. Anthony Cathedral, Campo Maior
In Campo Maior, Piauí, St. Anthony Cathedral is a Catholic church on Bona Primo Square, also known as Campo Maior Cathedral.
Sete Cidades National Park
Sete Cidades National Park is a national park in the state of Piauí, Brazil.
Ubajara National Park
Ubajara National Park is a national park in the state of Ceará, best known for the Ubajara grotto, a cave that gives the park its reputation.
Teatro São João (Sobral)
Teatro São João is a cultural venue in the city of Sobral, Ceará, a place to check for performances while passing through town.
Museu Madi
On the banks of the Acaraú River in Sobral, Ceará, the Museu Madi was the first Madi museum opened in Brazil.
Parque Botânico de Caucaia
Covering 190 hectares in Caucaia, 15 km from Fortaleza, the Ceará State Botanical Park sits along highway CE-090, the road to Icaraí, Cumbuco and other beaches.
Praia das Fontes
Praia das Fontes in Beberibe, Ceará, takes its name from the many freshwater springs that flow out of its cliffs.
Once you reach Canoa Quebrada
Canoa Quebrada
About 164 km from Fortaleza in the municipality of Aracati, Canoa Quebrada is a fishing village and beach resort set among dunes and cliffs on Ceará's east coast.
Praia de Majorlândia
About 12 km from the center of Aracati and 6 km from neighboring Canoa Quebrada, Praia de Majorlândia is a beach on the Ceará coast, 170 km from Fortaleza.
More drives to Canoa Quebrada
- Parnamirim to Canoa Quebrada
- Campina Grande to Canoa Quebrada
- Olinda to Canoa Quebrada
- Recife to Canoa Quebrada
- Garanhuns to Canoa Quebrada
- Cabo de Santo Agostinho to Canoa Quebrada
From Caxias to other places in Brazil
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Caxias to Canoa Quebrada?
About 12 h 5 min of driving without stops, over 510 miles.
How far is Canoa Quebrada from Caxias by car?
About 510 miles (820 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 Caxias to Canoa Quebrada?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Caxias to Canoa Quebrada?
In order: BR-316, BR-226, BR-343, BR-222, BR-020, CE-040 and BR-304. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Caxias to Canoa Quebrada?
Closest to the road: St. Anthony Cathedral, Campo Maior (cathedral, mile 99, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu Madi (museum, mile 273, 1 mi from the route); Teatro São João (Sobral) (theater, mile 273, 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.