The Wayro route from Caxias do Sul to Itajaí is 341 miles (548 km), about 7 h 10 min of driving without 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 | 341 mi (548 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 7 h 10 min |
| Main roads, in order | RSC-453 → BR-453 → ERS-486 → BR-101 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Caxias do Sul to Itajaí is like
BR-101 (238 mi) and RSC-453 (47 mi) carry about 84% of the 341 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina. Of the 9 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Caxias do Sul to Itajaí
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–3 | 3 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 3–12 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-453 | 12–40 | 28 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 40–78 | 38 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-486 | 78–98 | 20 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 98–99 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-101 | 99–337 | 238 | Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina |
| local roads | 337–341 | 4 | Santa Catarina |
- Mile 127 of this route: Rio Grande do Sul → Santa Catarina (state line)
Stops between Caxias do Sul and Itajaí
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Willy Zumblick (mile 207), São Miguel Aqueduct (mile 296)
- Nature and outdoors: Aparados da Serra National Park (mile 71), Itapeva State Park (mile 122), Lagoa de Ibiraquera (mile 245), Praia do Ribeirão da Ilha (mile 273), Praia do Balneário do Estreito (mile 287), Praia do Pinho (mile 327), Praia das Taquaras (mile 328)
- Museums and history: Museu Willy Zumblick (mile 207)
Aparados da Serra National Park
Created in 1959 to protect Itaimbezinho canyon, Aparados da Serra National Park spans 25,328 acres in the Serra Geral range and also includes the Fortaleza, Malacara and Índios Coroado canyons.
Itapeva State Park
Itapeva State Park is a protected area managed at the state level in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, one of the parks in the state system.
Museu Willy Zumblick
In downtown Tubarão, Santa Catarina, the Museu Willy Zumblick keeps a permanent exhibition of part of the collection of local-born artist Willy Zumblick.
Lagoa de Ibiraquera
Lagoa de Ibiraquera is a coastal lagoon in Imbituba, Santa Catarina, whose sandbar along the shore gives names to Barra de Ibiraquera and Praia de Ibiraquera.
Praia do Ribeirão da Ilha
On the south bay of Florianópolis, Praia do Ribeirão da Ilha is made up of several small beaches. Ribeirão da Ilha was the first part of Florianópolis to be settled, inhabited by the Carijó people in the 16th century.
Praia do Balneário do Estreito
Praia do Balneário do Estreito stretches 1.8 km on the mainland side of Florianópolis, with views of small islands in North Bay, the Hercílio Luz Bridge and, to the other side, the city of Biguaçu.
São Miguel Aqueduct
Built in the 19th century to carry water from the São Miguel waterfall dam to the beach, this aqueduct is part of the Vila de São Miguel ensemble in Biguaçu, listed as national heritage in 1969.
Praia do Pinho
Officially founded in 1984, Praia do Pinho in Balneário Camboriú is Brazil's first official naturist beach. The roughly 500-meter cove lies off the Interpraias road between Laranjeiras and Estaleirinho, with marked nude and clothing-optional areas.
Praia das Taquaras
Reached by the Interpraias road, Praia das Taquaras (Praia de Taquaras) in Balneário Camboriú has about 1.1 km of coarse sand and calm but deep water, popular for surf casting, plus a small fishing community.
Arriving in Itajaí
Palácio Marcos Konder
In the city of Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Palácio Marcos Konder is a 20th-century building listed as protected heritage by the FCC.
More drives to Itajaí
From Caxias do Sul to other places in Brazil
- Caxias do Sul to Francisco Beltrão
- Caxias do Sul to Campo Mourão
- Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Caxias do Sul to Paranaguá
- Caxias do Sul to Blumenau
- Caxias do Sul to Jaraguá do Sul
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Caxias do Sul to Itajaí?
About 7 h 10 min of driving without stops, over 341 miles.
What is the driving distance from Caxias do Sul to Itajaí?
About 341 miles (548 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 do Sul to Itajaí?
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 Caxias do Sul to Itajaí use?
In order: RSC-453, BR-453, ERS-486 and BR-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Caxias do Sul and Itajaí?
Closest to the road: Museu Willy Zumblick (museum, mile 207, 0.2 mi from the route); Lagoa de Ibiraquera (lagoon, mile 245, 1 mi from the route); São Miguel Aqueduct (aqueduct, mile 296, 0.1 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.