Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus is about 398 road miles (641 km): roughly 11 h 24 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: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance by road | 398 mi (641 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 11 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | MG-129 → BR-356 → MG-262 → MG-329 → BR-262 → MG-108 → BR-474 → BR-259 → ES-248 → BR-101 |
| States on the route | Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
On the road from Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus
BR-262 (66 mi) and MG-108 (66 mi) carry about 33% of the 398 miles. It runs through 2 states: Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo. Of the 6 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-129 | 1–31 | 30 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-356 | 31–42 | 11 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-262 | 42–86 | 44 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-329 | 86–107 | 21 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 107–111 | 4 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-262 | 111–177 | 66 | Minas Gerais |
| connecting roads | 177–178 | 1 | Minas Gerais |
| MG-108 | 178–244 | 66 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-474 | 244–267 | 23 | Minas Gerais |
| BR-259 | 267–306 | 39 | Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo |
| ES-248 | 306–347 | 41 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 347–349 | 2 | Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 349–398 | 49 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 270 of this route: Minas Gerais → Espírito Santo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to São Mateus
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Mariana (mile 41), Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana (mile 41)
- Nature and outdoors: Andorinhas Falls (mile 35)
- Museums and history: Museu do Chá (Ouro Preto) (mile 30), Museu do Oratório (mile 33), Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Mariana (mile 41), Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana (mile 41), Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge (mile 82)
Museu do Chá (Ouro Preto)
The Museu do Chá is a museum in the administrative headquarters of Itacolomi State Park, set within the park's intensive-use and historic-cultural zones.
Museu do Oratório
Set in a three-story historic mansion in Ouro Preto, next to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, the Museu do Oratório displays a collection of 162 oratories and 300 religious images.
Andorinhas Falls
Inside the Andorinhas Municipal Nature Park in Ouro Preto, this waterfall (Cachoeira das Andorinhas) is considered the source of the Rio das Velhas, the largest tributary of the São Francisco River.
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Mariana
Often called the Sé of Mariana, the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Assumption is a Catholic cathedral in Mariana, Minas Gerais, and the seat of the Archdiocese of Mariana.
Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana
Housed in the Casa Capitular, a Rococo building from the late 1700s and early 1800s, the Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana opened in 1962 under Archbishop Oscar de Oliveira.
Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge
Opened in 1911 to serve the Leopoldina Railway, the Manoel Cavalcanti de Albuquerque Iron Bridge is a metal bridge over the Piranga River in Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais.
Arriving in São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral in the municipality of São Mateus is a Catholic church regarded as a reference for modern religious art in Brazil.
Igreja Velha
Listed as historic heritage of São Mateus in Espírito Santo, Igreja Velha was planned as the town's biggest church, but construction was never finished for lack of municipal funds.
Museu Eclesiástico de Arte Sacra
Set in a former seminary chapel in São Mateus, Espírito Santo, this museum of sacred art was founded by Bishop Dom Aldo Gerna.
More drives to São Mateus
- Rio das Ostras to São Mateus
- Nova Friburgo to São Mateus
- Teresópolis to São Mateus
- Juiz de Fora to São Mateus
- Sete Lagoas to São Mateus
- Petrópolis to São Mateus
From Conselheiro Lafaiete to other places in Brazil
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Barra do Piraí
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Passos
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Guaratinguetá
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Trindade
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Paranapiacaba
- Conselheiro Lafaiete to Cubatão
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus?
About 11 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 398 miles.
How far is São Mateus from Conselheiro Lafaiete by car?
About 398 miles (641 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 Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Conselheiro Lafaiete to São Mateus?
In order: MG-129, BR-356, MG-262, MG-329, BR-262, MG-108, BR-474, BR-259, ES-248 and BR-101. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Conselheiro Lafaiete and São Mateus?
Closest to the road: Museu do Oratório (museum, mile 33, 1 mi from the route); Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Assumption, Mariana (cathedral, mile 41, 0.6 mi from the route); Museu de Arte Sacra de Mariana (museum, mile 41, 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.