Plan on about 4 h 34 min of driving for the 186-mile (299 km) trip from Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria, Brazil, 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night.”
| Distance by road | 186 mi (299 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 4 h 34 min |
| Main roads, in order | ERS-122 → RSC-453 → VRS-313 → RSC-287 |
| States on the route | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 7.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Caxias do Sul–Santa Maria drive in a few lines
RSC-287 (95 mi) and RSC-453 (64 mi) carry about 85% of the 186 miles. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| ERS-122 | 1–5 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 5–10 | 5 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 10–14 | 4 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| VRS-313 | 14–23 | 9 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| connecting roads | 23–24 | 1 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-453 | 24–83 | 59 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| RSC-287 | 83–178 | 95 | Rio Grande do Sul |
| local roads | 178–186 | 8 | Rio Grande do Sul |
What to see on the way from Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 7)
- Nature and outdoors: Salto Ventoso (mile 12)
- Museums and history: Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (mile 7), St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul (mile 97), Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (mile 121)
Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp
A few kilometers from central Caxias do Sul, in the Forqueta district, the Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp is a history museum themed on grapes and wine.
Salto Ventoso
Salto Ventoso is a waterfall in Farroupilha, Brazil, and a tourist attraction of regional importance.
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Santa Cruz do Sul
Facing Getúlio Vargas Square in central Santa Cruz do Sul, St. John the Baptist Cathedral is the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.
Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum
In the town of Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum is part of the Paleorrota Geopark and offers information about the region.
Aqueduto de Candelária
In Candelária, Rio Grande do Sul, the Aqueduto de Candelária stands in the Linha Curitiba area. It was commissioned by João Kochenborger, one of the first German immigrants to reach the municipality, in 1862.
Planetário Professor José Mariano da Rocha Filho
Founded in 1971 at the Federal University of Santa Maria, this planetarium seats 120 people and has used a Digistar 4 digital projector since 2011.
Arriving in Santa Maria
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción
Seat of the Archdiocese of Santa Maria in Rio Grande do Sul, this eclectic cathedral mixes neo-Baroque and neoclassical styles; construction started in 1902 under parish priest Caetano Pagliuca, and it opened in 1909.
Theatro Treze de Maio
Facing Praça Saldanha Marinho in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, the Theatro Treze de Maio is a theater protected as a municipal heritage property.
Educational Museum Gama D'Eça
The Gama D'Eça Educational Museum sits at Rua do Acampamento 81 in central Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul.
More drives to Santa Maria
- Porto Alegre to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Joinville to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Itajaí to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Blumenau to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Florianópolis to Santa Maria, Brazil
- Corrientes to Santa Maria, Brazil
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 Paranaguá
- Caxias do Sul to Itajaí
- Caxias do Sul to Blumenau
- Caxias do Sul to Jaraguá do Sul
Continue Your Adventure
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria, Brazil?
About 4 h 34 min of driving without stops, over 186 miles.
How far is Santa Maria, Brazil from Caxias do Sul by car?
About 186 miles (299 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 Santa Maria drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Caxias do Sul to Santa Maria?
In order: ERS-122, RSC-453, VRS-313 and RSC-287. 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 Santa Maria?
Closest to the road: Museu da Uva e do Vinho Primo Slomp (museum, mile 7, 0.4 mi from the route); Aristides Carlos Rodrigues Museum (museum, mile 121, 1 mi from the route); Aqueduto de Candelária (aqueduct, mile 122, 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.