By road, Caxias do Sul and Rio Grande are about 272 miles (437 km) apart, or roughly 6 h 36 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: “Driving on Brazil’s roads poses significant risks.”
| Distance by road | 272 mi (437 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 36 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-116 → ERS-452 → ERS-122 → ERS-240 → BR-392 → ERS-734 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
On the road from Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande
BR-116 (124 mi) and BR-392 (33 mi) carry about 58% of the 272 miles. Of the 9 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–2 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 2–13 | 11 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-452 | 13–30 | 17 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 30–31 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 31–48 | 17 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-240 | 48–57 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-116 | 57–170 | 113 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 170–229 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 229–231 | 2 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| BR-392 | 231–264 | 33 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-734 | 264–268 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 268–272 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
What to see on the way from Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 59), Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 70), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 170)
- Museums and history: Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante (mile 58), Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (mile 59), Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (mile 70), Galeria Chaves (mile 77), Godoy House (mile 77), Estância das Pedras Brancas (mile 90), Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (mile 170), Catedral São Francisco de Paula (mile 235), Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo (mile 236)
Casa da Feitoria Velha - Atual Museu do Imigrante
The Casa da Feitoria in São Leopoldo, in the Rio dos Sinos valley, housed a royal hemp-linen farm from 1788 until March 1824 and is also known as the Casa do Imigrante.
Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo"
Dedicated to the history of São Leopoldo and German colonization in Rio Grande do Sul, the Museu Histórico Visconde de São Leopoldo keeps a collection of objects, images and documents about the settlers. It is a privately run museum.
Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas
Canoas's history museum and archive keeps photos, newspapers, maps, documents, audiovisual material and objects that tell the story of the city in Rio Grande do Sul.
Galeria Chaves
Between Rua dos Andradas and Rua José Montaury in Porto Alegre's Historic Center, Galeria Chaves is a historic building that houses a shopping arcade.
Godoy House
On Independência Avenue in Porto Alegre, the Godoy House is an Art Nouveau building from 1907, one of the few in that style left in the city.
Estância das Pedras Brancas
Estância das Pedras Brancas is a historic ranch tied to the history of Rio Grande do Sul and the town of Guaíba. Its first owner was Antônio Ferreira Leitão.
Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves
Created by state decree in 1972 and linked to Rio Grande do Sul's culture department, this historic park stands on the old Sesmaria do Cristal, land once granted to the father of Farroupilha leader Bento Gonçalves da Silva.
Catedral São Francisco de Paula
Seat of the Archdiocese of Pelotas, the Catedral Metropolitana de Pelotas is a Catholic church in Rio Grande do Sul dedicated to Saint Francis of Paola.
Museu de Arte Leopoldo Gotuzzo
Opened in 1986 on Praça 7 de Julho, across from the Mercado Central in downtown Pelotas, this art museum is part of the Federal University of Pelotas arts center.
Once you reach Rio Grande
Museu Náutico
Housed in Warehouse 4 of Rio Grande's old port, the Museu Náutico belongs to the city's university foundation and highlights Rio Grande's ties to the sea and the Lagoa dos Patos estuary.
Catedral de São Pedro
Seat of the Diocese of Rio Grande, the Catedral de São Pedro in the city of Rio Grande is a church of historic and artistic value whose construction began in 1755.
Eco-Museu da Ilha da Pólvora
Opened in April 1999 in the city of Rio Grande, the Eco-Museu da Ilha da Pólvora was created with support from the Brazilian Army and the Federal University of Rio Grande Foundation.
More drives to Rio Grande
- Porto Alegre to Rio Grande
- São Leopoldo to Rio Grande
- Novo Hamburgo to Rio Grande
- Santa Maria, Brazil to Rio Grande
- Passo Fundo to Rio Grande
- Criciúma to Rio Grande
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 Itajaí
- Caxias do Sul to Blumenau
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande?
About 6 h 36 min of driving without stops, over 272 miles.
What is the driving distance from Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande?
About 272 miles (437 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 Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande 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 Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande use?
In order: BR-116, ERS-452, ERS-122, ERS-240, BR-392 and ERS-734. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Caxias do Sul to Rio Grande?
Closest to the road: Museu Histórico "Visconde de São Leopoldo" (museum, mile 59, 0.5 mi from the route); Arquivo Histórico e Museu de Canoas (museum, mile 70, 0.1 mi from the route); Parque Histórico General Bento Gonçalves (museum, mile 170, 0.6 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.